Fate is an essential part in Shakespeare’s
play “Romeo and Juliet”, from Romeo and Juliet being STAR- crossed lovers, to
everything being mapped out and written in the stars.
Shakespeare often refers to Romeo and Juliet
being star-crossed lovers, like they were always meant to be together. This
theme of fate is what the whole play revolves around, as Romeo and Juliet
believe that it is their destiny to be together. This is partly why their
relationship is so spontaneous and happened very rapidly, because they
automatically believe that they have to be together.
Another factor of fate in the play is how
Romeo believes that is whole life is planned out for him, therefore when
something bad happens, he takes no responsibility for it and he thinks that
fate and fortune is playing him. This is exemplified by the quote, “then I defy
you stars”, (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 24). This quotation shows how Romeo is angry
with the stars for playing with him. In this example fate and fortune are referred
to as people by using the technique of personification.
Another theme that goes hand in hand with
fate is the theme of tragedy, as Shakespeare outlines to the audience from the
start of the play, that something horrible is going to happen, however it must
happen because it is fate and their destiny. This is shown in the following quotation,
“The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, (Act 1, Prologue, Line 9),
This is exemplifying the technique of foreshadowing, when we are informed that
something bad is going to happen soon. This technique of foreshadowing is used
a lot with the theme of fate because, in the play fate is inevitable and is
sometimes a tragedy.
As you can see fate is a major influence on
the play of Romeo and Juliet as it is what provides a foundation for all the
other themes to occur. Without fate, it would not be the same story of romance
and tragedy.
