The Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet: A Literary Analysis
In the work “Romeo and Juliet Fate Essays” we will research the theme of fate in the poem.
“From ancient grudge, break to new mutiny/ where civil blood makes civil hands unclean/ A pair of star crossed lovers take their life/ whose murdered piteous overthrows.” (Prologue)
William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is a renowned tragic love story nevertheless, it is a tragedy of fate. The opening lines of the prologue speak of an ancient grudge into which the star-crossed lovers are born into. It is a coincidence that Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight. Besides, all throughout the play, there is evidence that the lover’s disastrous demise occurs because of coincidence and misunderstanding. First of all, there are numerous indications through the character’s own words that foreshadow that fate eventually leads to their passing. Tybalt’s demise shortly after Romeo and Juliet’s confidential marriage is also due to fate. Finally, it was destiny that delays the letter sent by Friar Laurence. Thus, Romeo and Juliet are innocent victims of a seemingly malicious and unrelenting fate.
Certainly, the ill-fated lovers struggle to break free from what fate controls them in dreams and premonitions. In a like manner, Romeo foreshadows his demise and clearly indicates that fate controls him. After listening to Mercutio’s speech about dreams he says, “ I fear too early, for my mind misgives/ Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,/ Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/ With this night’s revels and expire the term/ Of a despised life closed in my breast/ By some vile forfeit of ultimately death./ But he hath the steerage of my course”. Here, Romeo clearly indicates that his life is in the hands of fate. He foreshadows his demise as the beginning of this fateful encounter. Romeo is convinced that he is trapped in the hands of fate and it is something controlling their lives. In other words, he implies that he does not have any control over his life and turns to God or Fate who determines his course. Juliet also refers to fate while she is alone in her room and consumes the potion After all, it was written in her fate for her and Paris’s wedding to be moved a day early, thus, she decides to fake her death. “Farewell, God knows when we shall meet again” During this scene, She emphasizes that fate will act in a particular way and the exact hour she awakens is known solemnly to God. Again, Juliet says “O God, I have an ill-divining soul!/Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,/As one dead in the bottom of a tomb./ Either my eyesight fails or thou looks pale”. Likewise, she forebodes Romeo's death. This, of course, is a premonition of how she will see Romeo for the last time. Later on, Romeo also has a dream. “ I dreamt my lady came found me dead”. Here, it seems surprising, that Romeo declares that this dream is great news. Indeed, he believes that death is the only aspect that is able to reunite him with Juliet. Therefore, it is believed that death is foretold by the stars and it determines the course of their lives.
Furthermore, it is clear that fate controls this tragedy. Fortune is mentioned once again when Tybalt dies. Shortly after his wedding, Romeo witnesses the death of his best friend Mercutio. “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend; This but begin the woe others must end”. He predicts that this is the first of the evil days to come. Romeo is oblivious and kills Tybalt, in retaliation of Mercutio's brutal murder. Although he attempts to separate Mercutio and Tybalt from fighting, he is shocked of the outcome of this event and says: “Oh, I am fortune’s tool!”. Romeo believes that what is written for him in destiny is trapping him in life. Henceforth, The Prince decides not to execute Romeo but instead orders his banishment from Verona. This then leads to a sudden turn of events in his life. Little does he know that he was fated to disaster. This indicates that it was predetermined that Romeo and Juliet’s love cannot exist in the real world with their family's constant feud. It was fate, that decided that their “ancient quarrel” would only be resolved through their tragic death, and together they would lie in heaven.
The delay of the letter sent by Friar Laurence is another remark of fate. All of a sudden, the Friar’s plans backfire. Father John is unable to go to Mantua with the message for Romeo because he is being detained in the house of someone having the plague. His reaction is mixed and he feels that fortune has gone against him. “Unhappy fortune, By my brotherhood!”. In reality, it was a coincidence rather than a mistake that the plague would occur at the same time. The outbreak leads the lovers to their ultimate demise. Since the letter didn’t fall into Romeo’s hands, he is notified of Juliet’s supposed death. This is his defiant challenge when he hears of his true love’s death. “Is it even so? Then I defy you stars!”. At this point, Romeo challenges fate to change its present course and while in grief, intends to purchase the poison from the poor apothecary. Unfortunately, Romeo mistakenly thinks that Juliet is dead and drinks the poison. Though before doing so, he proclaims: “And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars”. He clearly mentions that this is a burden of an adverse fate. On the other hand, the Friar mentions of a woeful chance upon seeing both Paris and Romeo dead. “ A greater power than we can contradict/ Hath thwarted our intents.” Again, he refers to fate being responsible. Juliet on awakening kills herself and follows him after his demise. The Prince arrives and mentions that this was a means of discipline for both families. “And bear this work of heaven with patience”. Similarly, all of the events that occur are due to fate. Therefore, Romeo and Juliet indicate that fate does not always act in their favor.
In the play Romeo and Juliet, fate seems to never act in the character's desire. It is believed that fate controls our lives and this idea is persistent all throughout the story. Romeo and Juliet struggle to break free of what fate threatens in dreams and premonitions. Nor does fate help during Tybalt’s demise and, with the delivery of Friar Laurence’s letter. After all, oppositions and contrasts led to Romeo and Juliet’s death and as the play went on, division and conflicts beset the doomed lovers. Nothing could change the course of their fate, as the stars were in great control. “Doth with their death bury their parents' strife... For never was a story more woe / than this of Romeo and Juliet”. It was fate that determined that this “ancient quarrel” would never be set until this tragic end. Nonetheless, Romeo and Juliet were never meant to meet by accident, they were destined to fall in love. For the most part, fate always determines the events in your life even though they may seem disastrous or joyful. In this case, the fate of love seems too little, and not even love and desires were able to defeat the power of fate.
