FATE

What role has FATE played in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet?

Fate is one extremely important factor in the famous play, Romeo and Juliet. Fate is described as the will, principle, or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are. In the very beginning of the play, the chorus lays out the fate of the two main characters. The Chorus summarizes Romeo and Juliet's inevitable fate in one sentence, "A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." This means that no matter what they do, it is the to lover's fate to fall in love and die.

Fate is also arguably the reason that Romeo and Juliet met in the first place. Romeo, who is love sick over a girl Rosaline, downheartedly agrees to attend a party hosted by the Capulet house. Romeo's only will for going to this party is to see the girl which he thinks he is in love with, Rosaline. While searching for Rosaline at the party, he sees the daughter of Capulet, Juliet. Romeo falls head over heels in love at first sight. He musters up the courage to go over and talk to this new girl. Juliet also falls in love with this Romeo, even though she had only known him for several minutes. Fate is the reason that they met because Romeo was not even planning on attending to party at first, and he only goes to see Rosaline. Not only does Romeo fall in love with a different girl, but he eventually gets married to her.

Unfortunately for the pair of "star-crossed" lovers, fate was not on their side. Their relationship was doomed from the start. Romeo and Juliet could never had been together in peace due to their families ancient rivalry. Their opposite families could not be in each other's company without brawling. the two children test fate's limits by secretly getting married. Everything seems to be in good shape for the newly married couple, but then fate throws a curve ball and tragedy strikes.

Tybalt, who was defending his family's honor, killed Romeo's best friend Mercutio in a duel. Romeo is put into such a rage that he kills Tybalt. By killing Tybalt, Romeo had ended any hope of he and Juliet being together happily. Romeo is exiled out of Verona, but the good Friar Laurence comes up with a plan that will bring the couple together once again. Unfortunately for the leading characters, what they don't realize is that this plan seals their fate once and for all.

The Friar sent a messenger in order to inform Romeo of his plan. Fate stops this plan by confining the messenger in a town, forcing him to not give Romeo word. When Romeo returns to Verona, he is a man possessed, thinking that Juliet is dead, while meanwhile Juliet is actually only in a deep sleep. Romeo kills County Paris and Poison's himself in Juliet's tomb. When Juliet wakes up she kills herself because she can no longer be with Romeo. Fate had taken its ultimate toll on the characters' lives.

Romeo and Juliet's fate is determined for them because of their families feud. Due to the rivalry, they couldn't be together peacefully and attempt to take matters into their own hands, resulting in their eventual deaths. If the families would have put away their differences, their children would not have ended up dead.

To conclude, almost all of the entire play revolves around fate and its effects.