Fate and Free Will in Romeo and Juliet
By Dougal Perrers
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a classic tragedy about two young lovers born into feuding families. The conflict of fate and free will is a recurring theme throughout the text, and Shakespeare frequently uses literary techniques to shape the direction of the story. Romeo and Juliet are ultimately responsible for their own end, but their deaths were undeniably influenced by the philosophies of their time. Shakespeare relies heavily on the Elizabethan philosophy of the ‘Chain of Being’ to explain the power of fate over free will. This is not to say Romeo and Juliet were only victims of fate, because they made choices that directly led to their deaths.
Shakespeare uses foreshadowing …show more content…
Romeo and Juliet is directly influenced by Shakespeare’s use of this philosophy. The religious language and symbols throughout the play reinforce a sense of fate or consequence, which relate to the views of the time. The religious language of Romeo and Juliet’s conversations, is relevant to the conflict of fate and free will in the context of the ‘Chain of Being.’ Juliet’s description of Romeo in this scene, as “the god of [her] idolatry” (I.II.114), is an example of Shakespeare’s representation of their love as religious worship. This would have been considered a disruption of the ‘Chain of Being,’ for it means she positions Romeo above God. A disruption of the ‘Chain of Being’ such as this would anger God and so therefore he would punish the two lovers. The friar warns Romeo about the intense love the two seem to embody, suggesting they go “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast” (II.III.94). This warning may be read as a warning not only to Romeo, but to Shakespeare’s audience, that actions disobeying the ‘Chain of Being’ will have negative consequences. Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love could also be classified as an interference of the ‘Chain of Being’ for Romeo and Juliet were not supposed to marry. This choice made by the young lovers to disobey the ‘Divine Order’ and God, may have sealed Romeo and Juliet’s
By Dougal Perrers
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a classic tragedy about two young lovers born into feuding families. The conflict of fate and free will is a recurring theme throughout the text, and Shakespeare frequently uses literary techniques to shape the direction of the story. Romeo and Juliet are ultimately responsible for their own end, but their deaths were undeniably influenced by the philosophies of their time. Shakespeare relies heavily on the Elizabethan philosophy of the ‘Chain of Being’ to explain the power of fate over free will. This is not to say Romeo and Juliet were only victims of fate, because they made choices that directly led to their deaths.
Shakespeare uses foreshadowing …show more content…
Romeo and Juliet is directly influenced by Shakespeare’s use of this philosophy. The religious language and symbols throughout the play reinforce a sense of fate or consequence, which relate to the views of the time. The religious language of Romeo and Juliet’s conversations, is relevant to the conflict of fate and free will in the context of the ‘Chain of Being.’ Juliet’s description of Romeo in this scene, as “the god of [her] idolatry” (I.II.114), is an example of Shakespeare’s representation of their love as religious worship. This would have been considered a disruption of the ‘Chain of Being,’ for it means she positions Romeo above God. A disruption of the ‘Chain of Being’ such as this would anger God and so therefore he would punish the two lovers. The friar warns Romeo about the intense love the two seem to embody, suggesting they go “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast” (II.III.94). This warning may be read as a warning not only to Romeo, but to Shakespeare’s audience, that actions disobeying the ‘Chain of Being’ will have negative consequences. Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love could also be classified as an interference of the ‘Chain of Being’ for Romeo and Juliet were not supposed to marry. This choice made by the young lovers to disobey the ‘Divine Order’ and God, may have sealed Romeo and Juliet’s