Fate in Romeo and Juliet In modern times, and in the Elizabethan era, fate plays an important role in people 's lives. Many people believe it to be written in stone, and unchangeable. Many others believe it to be controlled by a person 's own actions. In Romeo and Juliet, fate is one of the main themes, described as having power over many of the events in the play. Fate is often called upon, wondered about, and blamed for mishaps. However, where fate is blamed in the play as the ultimate cause for a mishap, there is always an underlying action, or combination of them, on the part of human beings that decides the consequences. Human weakness, the loss of self-control, is always the direct cause of a bad choice or mishap, and not fate itself. One of the most noted instances where fate is blamed for a mishap is when Romeo cries out the he supposedly is fortune 's fool. He claims that fate has brought on Mercutio 's death, and has lead him to kill Tybalt in revenge. In Act 3, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is seen to be upset at Mercutio 's death and predicts that the "days black fate on more days doth depend." (III, I, 118) Tybalt then re-enters and Romeo becomes more upset that Tybalt is triumphant with Mercutio being dead (III, I, 121). As Romeo becomes overwhelmed with Mercutio 's death and Tybalt 's joy over it, he suddenly declares that either he or Tybalt must die with Mercutio (III, I, 128).
In Shakespearse’s classic play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the two star-crossed lovers created one of the most notorious tragedies known to man. Romeo and Juliet met as an act of a single force known as fate. Fate is the idea used to describe a circumstance when it is meant to happen; fate is the living body responsible for controlling everything, except the decisions you personally make.
Love also cannot be affected by other people. Romeo thinks he knows what love is with Rosaline, but when it comes to Juliet, all other people are inexistent. Love should be powerful enough to drive someone completely crazy about the other, in a good way. Right when Romeo meets Juliet he says, “For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (1.5.60). From this point forward, Romeo’s love is dedicated to Juliet. No one can stand in the way. Next, Shakespeare deceits the reader by bringing in Paris for Juliet to marry. However, Juliet speaks her mind and says, “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, From off the battlements of any tower, Or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk Where serpents are” (4.1.78-81). Paris seems like a good guy, but he really shouldn’t interfere with Romeo and Juliet. In fact, this act of marrying sooner brings more conflict for the star-crossed lovers to commit suicide sooner. Still, Romeo and Juliet did that act out of love and didn’t listen to anyone’s advice. Lastly, all family members of the Capulets and Montagues are not a problem for Romeo and Juliet’s love. Neighbors are supposed to be comforting and welcoming, but as for Romeo and Juliet’s families, they want the other family dead. Juliet says, “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore are thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (2.2.36-39). Just by chance, Romeo and Juliet have to be enemies. Loving an enemy can be pretty
The ideology that everything in the universe has a specific place and rank in order of their hierarchy importance created by God is known as the concept of The Great Chain of Being. The order of this concept consisted levels according to highest rank to the lowest accordingly: God, angels, humanity, animals, vegetation life, leading all the way down to crud. Within each category, more specific classification existed, placing these subcategories in a specific order. This concept was believed to be a way to keep the universe in order. As this was believed during Elizabethan times, William Shakespeare also believed in the Great Chain of Being, as many of his plays are prominently based on this concept. Some of his plays include characters that accept their place on the Chain, but others are not so complacent. By examining three different characters from Shakespeare’s tragedies, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and The Tragedy of King Lear, it is obvious to readers who is content with their place on the Chain and which characters have a difficult time accepting their place. Romeo and Juliet do not obey their parents’ orders, therefore suffer harsh consequences towards the end of the play. Macbeth is another Shakespearean character that violates the Chain, due to the committing of several murders, in order to gain the throne. In stark contrast, Cordelia, is content with her place on the Chain as she does not want anything greater in life, unlike her
In William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare presents characters in difficult situations in Romeo and Juliet through various language techniques and structure. Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers. Both Romeo and Juliet were from feuding families that would not approve of their marriage. In the play they are presented with many difficult circumstances. The play was set in the Elizabethan era; there was a significant change in religion, family and politics. Attitudes and key scenes highlight the theme of love in difficult circumstances and prepare the audience for Romeo and Juliet’s suicides at the end of the play. In this essay I will be exploring the ways Shakespeare presents characters in difficult situations.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet focus on the two young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love and die within a span of three days. Romeo and Juliet illustrate how the love brings them together to over power the control of their relationship. The moment that Romeo and Juliet declare their love for one another, they try to keep their love a secret since they are the children of the feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Initially their families would be outraged against their relationship that Romeo and Juliet propose to hide the truth of their love. Once Romeo and Juliet reveal to the Nurse and Friar Lawrence their plans to marry, their relationship is nothing but a risk of problems. Romeo is unafraid to show his love that he teases Tybalt teasing him about falling in love with Juliet, although not explicitly. However, the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt, occur when Romeo and Juliet take actions to protect themselves, but they are not however, protected. Juliet protects her relationship by committing a false death only for Romeo to believe it as true. As a result, the act to protect Romeo and Juliet’s relationship a secret are examples of the failed actions both Romeo and Juliet try to prevent; however, it is not ‘fate’ that control their lives and deaths.
In the play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, we learn of the many hardships and highs Romeo and Juliet go through over the course of the story. The play Romeo and Juliet is based off two star-crossed lovers who are separated from each other due to a feud between their two families. Their love is so strong that at the end of the story Romeo and Juliet both end up committing suicide because they can’t live without each other. Whether it is problems with love, or them complimenting each other on how they feel about the other person, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to make the reader dig deeper into the context to find the meaning behind the sentence. Some of the literary devices are; similes, metaphors, and personification.
“O, I am fortune’s fool!” (Rom. 3.1.14). Romeo says this line in shock as he realizes that he killed Tybalt. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, star crossed lovers are faced with the hardest challenge in life, and fate is not on their side. Fate is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now.” (act 3 scene 1 line 86) This is clear inacutstin that romeo is blinded by his anger like tybalt justs was a moment before this story changing moment happen. “Fire-eyed fury” is a incomprehensible wrath, this
Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.’What makes a story so compelling?(5.3.10-12) In Shakespeare's tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet, the author makes fated occurrences to introduce the next event. In the story, many are fated occurrences that is not impacted by the decision of the characters but, happens naturally. Further, exploring these events will tells us how fate changes outcome.
Fate is a powerful thing, people see have fate in many movies such as Final Destination, where death is unstoppable. Every decision and action made by the characters can be fated by the universe. William Shakespeare clearly shows fate in this play Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare uses foreshadowing to illustrate the idea of predetermined death. Others may say that the feud and Paris are responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet but it’s clear that fate is responsible.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is the question we hear so many times as children. Yet, growing up does not necessarily mean becoming an adult. Rather, growing up is the change within one’s self that is illustrated by a heightened awareness, the ability to think reasonably, and the proficiency to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. In adolescence, we turn to the adults in our lives to aid us in understanding our choices as we become increasingly responsible for our own actions. During this time in our lives, adults with worldly experience direct us down the path of good judgment in order that we may learn how to make good decisions. They near essential to us, even though not everyone has this advantage. William Shakespeare’s famous and celebrated tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, depicts several instances in which the title characters, though still naïve, behave more responsibly and maturely than the misguided adult figures in their lives–those of the Houses of Capulet and Montague, especially Juliet’s parents, and the culpable Friar Laurence.
Romeo is saying he has a premonition that he will be controlled by fate and eventually lead to a
In the play ‘‘Romeo and Juliet’’ there is a lot of scenarios that could be held responsible for the downfall of the two lovers Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet go through a lot to be together, even though it doesn’t work out in the end due to the risk of what Romeo and Juliet are trying to accomplish. There is a lot of people that could be to blame like the Capulets and how they throw Juliet’s feelings to the side or Friar Lawrence for being irresponsible or simply just Romeo and Juliet’s fault for letting themselves get blinded by love and not think straight.
William Shakespeare often uses other worldly themes and powers in his works. One of the most prominent ones is his use of fate, or fortune as it is more often referred to as. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare alludes to the role that fate plays in the story of this "pair of star cross'd lovers" (Rom. Prologue 6). Shakespeare's opening line in the prologue states from the beginning that fate will be playing a pivotal position in this work.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story between two young lovers. But, what if it the ending could have been changed? These two individuals love was doomed by the people closest to them. They were robbed of their true love by a feud between two families and the ignorance of the ones they had trusted most. The deaths of Romeo and his love, Juliet, was not their fault. The mistakes of the foolish adults around them caused death to claim their lives.