Romeo and Juliet Victims of Fate

A detailed Summary of Romeo and Juliet Victims of Fate

One view of the play sees Romeo and Juliet as victims of fate. To what extent do you agree with this?

Having a complex plot, and too many deeply involved characters, we cannot simply state that Romeo and Juliet were purely victims of fate. The tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and the play itself, are anchored on three notions: that of fate, chance and choice. Fate contributed, though it was not the sole factor in the deaths of the young lovers. The many 'unstoppable' events, Shakespeare's telling us of their love being told in the stars, and the ancient grudge between the families, are prime examples of fate being a part of Romeo and Juliet. Chance in the undetermined figure in Romeo and Juliet, with coincidence and misadventure playing in every readers mind as the many events unfold. Choice; vital decisions by each character, and judgments based on what an individual believed to be right or wrong, once again shows how many varied outcomes there may have been. At the end of the day though, due to fate, chance and choice, Romeo and Juliet committed suicide together, completing a tragic five days in which they fell in love, married and eventually died.

Romeo and Juliet, many believe, was a tragedy brought upon by destiny.

Fate by the stars, is given to us a factor in Romeo and Juliet's deaths. In the prologue where we are told, "A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their lives." From this, it is easy to see that Shakespeare wanted us to have the idea of Romeo and Juliet being killed by fate heavily weighing on our minds. Another look at the play being determined by the stars sees Romeo trying to alter fates destructive path: "Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!", Romeo exclaims, saying that fate has played role enough; he will dictate what is to come. Once inside the tomb with Juliet, Romeo again challenges fate: "Will I set up my everlasting rest, or shake the yoke of inauspicious stars." Even as the stars supposedly hold the fate of Romeo and Juliet, the families of Montague and Capulet still have much to contribute.

With coincidence being beneficial to the cause of Romeo and Juliet, another aspect of chance; misadventure, was quite the opposite. Contradicting its stance on fate, the prologue tells us of chance: their "misadventur'd piteous overthrows." Misadventure in Romeo and Juliet relates mainly to the title characters, whose death may have come about due to Misadventure's winding path. Many characters often indicate that Romeo and Juliet's misadventure is their own fault for being passionate, young lovers, such as Balthasar, when warning Romeo not to be rash. "I do beseech you, sir, have patience: your looks are pale and wild, and do import some misadventure." Juliet too experiences great misadventure, after her secret marriage to Romeo, her parents arrange for her to marry the County Paris. "It may be so, for it is not mine own," says Juliet, of her proclaimed 'fortune'; or what she believes to be misfortune and bad timing.

Chance: coincidence and misadventure, may well have brought the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. The ever analytical Juliet ponders the role o

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Approximate Word count = 1262
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English