Fate, whether we control our own destinies or not, is one of the most debated about topics. The answer may not be known in real life, but in the world of the Capulets and Montagues, the verdict is clear. People are living already mapped-out lives and can’t change what happens to them, therefore being rendered powerless to alter their fates. Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet shows the lack of power humans have in the face of fate due to timing, and the inability to change their nature, and further make this evident through prophetic visions and references to it by the characters themselves. Tragic timing is a common theme used by authors like in Antigone, and Shakespeare is no exception, using one ironically and coincidentally
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After doing away with Tybalt, Romeo becomes self aware and laments, “O, I am fortune’s fool.” (3.1.142), as well as, “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend./This but begins the woe others must end.” (3.1.124-125). Backtracking to before the party, when he tries to convince himself to go after the bad dream, he says, “But he that hath steerage of my course/Direct my sail.” (1.4.119-120). Speaking of Romeo’s banishment, Juliet even brings up the goddess Fortuna, “O, Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle./If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him/That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune/For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long,/But send him back.” (3.5.60-64). Friar Lawrence makes some references of his own, with, “Unhappy fortune!” (5.3.17) upon getting returned the letter for Romeo, as well as “Ah, what an unkind hour” (5.3.150), and “A greater power than we can contradict/Hath thwarted our intents.” (5.3.158-159) upon finding Romeo dead. Ever since the prologue, “stars” are an underlying theme, which are really just references to fate as well, such as in “star-crossed lovers”. Apart from Romeo mentioning consequence “hanging in the stars” during his first dream sequence, he says, “Will I set up my everlasting rest/And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars/From this world-wearied flesh!” (5.3.110-112) before he takes his own life. He believes that by doing so, he is …show more content…
Shakespeare demonstrates this within a number of ways, including timing, human tendencies, foreshadowing dreams, and direct allusions to its existence. It is still unsure if the same applies outside of the play, but if people heed the signs of those around them and react accordingly in a rational, well-thought out way, perhaps unfortunate events could be avoided. If only the young Shakespearean characters knew this as
After doing away with Tybalt, Romeo becomes self aware and laments, “O, I am fortune’s fool.” (3.1.142), as well as, “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend./This but begins the woe others must end.” (3.1.124-125). Backtracking to before the party, when he tries to convince himself to go after the bad dream, he says, “But he that hath steerage of my course/Direct my sail.” (1.4.119-120). Speaking of Romeo’s banishment, Juliet even brings up the goddess Fortuna, “O, Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle./If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him/That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune/For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long,/But send him back.” (3.5.60-64). Friar Lawrence makes some references of his own, with, “Unhappy fortune!” (5.3.17) upon getting returned the letter for Romeo, as well as “Ah, what an unkind hour” (5.3.150), and “A greater power than we can contradict/Hath thwarted our intents.” (5.3.158-159) upon finding Romeo dead. Ever since the prologue, “stars” are an underlying theme, which are really just references to fate as well, such as in “star-crossed lovers”. Apart from Romeo mentioning consequence “hanging in the stars” during his first dream sequence, he says, “Will I set up my everlasting rest/And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars/From this world-wearied flesh!” (5.3.110-112) before he takes his own life. He believes that by doing so, he is …show more content…
Shakespeare demonstrates this within a number of ways, including timing, human tendencies, foreshadowing dreams, and direct allusions to its existence. It is still unsure if the same applies outside of the play, but if people heed the signs of those around them and react accordingly in a rational, well-thought out way, perhaps unfortunate events could be avoided. If only the young Shakespearean characters knew this as