“Oh I am fortune’s fool.” (III, i, 128)
Romeo and Juliet shows us that the characters were at the mercy of fate. Do you agree?
The Shakespearean play of Romeo and Juliet details the tale of two star-crossed teenaged lovers, whose tragic ends ultimately unite their quarrelling families. It is demonstrated throughout the play that the untimely demise of the two main characters were undoubtedly as a result of the mercy of fate, rather than free will.
The theme of fate is immediately bestowed upon the audience in both the prologue and the first act of the play, before Romeo and Juliet actually meet. The Chorus observes that Romeo and Juliet are that of ‘star-cross’d lovers’, suggesting that their love is a product of destiny controlled by the …show more content…
Tension undoubtedly rises between the Capulets and Montagues, particularly at the hands of Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. Once Tybalt stabs Mercutio in an outrage, the tragic events that are to unfold are yet again foreseen after Mercurio screams ‘A plague o’ both your houses!’ (A3, S1, L104) before he dies. In revenge, Romeo then kills Tybalt, who then proceeds to shout ‘O, I am fortune’s fool!’ (A3, S1, L142). Romeo suggests that he has killed Tybalt not by free will, but instead as a result of the mercy of fate, and thus indirectly makes reference to the prologue. Furthermore, he acknowledges that his relationship with Juliet is doomed, and that he is not in control of his future. Romeo continues to make indirect references to the prologue in a later instance where he believes that Juliet is dead, shouting ‘Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!’ (A5, S1, L25). This quote suggests that Romeo is defiant in ensuring that he and Juliet continue their relationship, despite the course of fate that awaits him. In doing so, Romeo chooses to commit suicide, believing that he is taking his fate into his own hands to be with Juliet forever, ‘O, here will I set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world wearied flesh!’ (A5, S3, L106-112). Since Romeo is unaware that Juliet has faked her death with the help of Friar Laurence, he does not make a choice of free will, but instead fulfils his own destiny by meeting a tragic death. Juliet follows in the same course, as predicted by the prologue, as she wakes to see Romeo in his final
Romeo and Juliet shows us that the characters were at the mercy of fate. Do you agree?
The Shakespearean play of Romeo and Juliet details the tale of two star-crossed teenaged lovers, whose tragic ends ultimately unite their quarrelling families. It is demonstrated throughout the play that the untimely demise of the two main characters were undoubtedly as a result of the mercy of fate, rather than free will.
The theme of fate is immediately bestowed upon the audience in both the prologue and the first act of the play, before Romeo and Juliet actually meet. The Chorus observes that Romeo and Juliet are that of ‘star-cross’d lovers’, suggesting that their love is a product of destiny controlled by the …show more content…
Tension undoubtedly rises between the Capulets and Montagues, particularly at the hands of Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. Once Tybalt stabs Mercutio in an outrage, the tragic events that are to unfold are yet again foreseen after Mercurio screams ‘A plague o’ both your houses!’ (A3, S1, L104) before he dies. In revenge, Romeo then kills Tybalt, who then proceeds to shout ‘O, I am fortune’s fool!’ (A3, S1, L142). Romeo suggests that he has killed Tybalt not by free will, but instead as a result of the mercy of fate, and thus indirectly makes reference to the prologue. Furthermore, he acknowledges that his relationship with Juliet is doomed, and that he is not in control of his future. Romeo continues to make indirect references to the prologue in a later instance where he believes that Juliet is dead, shouting ‘Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!’ (A5, S1, L25). This quote suggests that Romeo is defiant in ensuring that he and Juliet continue their relationship, despite the course of fate that awaits him. In doing so, Romeo chooses to commit suicide, believing that he is taking his fate into his own hands to be with Juliet forever, ‘O, here will I set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world wearied flesh!’ (A5, S3, L106-112). Since Romeo is unaware that Juliet has faked her death with the help of Friar Laurence, he does not make a choice of free will, but instead fulfils his own destiny by meeting a tragic death. Juliet follows in the same course, as predicted by the prologue, as she wakes to see Romeo in his final