Theme Of Fate In Romeo And Juliet Fate

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“Fate Can Not Be Escaped”
Madison Tiemstra

Throughout all of time people’s lives have been determined by the inescapable, uncontrollable, fate. In the play Romeo and Juliet by, William Shakespeare, Shakespeare says that significant events that happen in a person 's life do not have an impact on an individual 's ability to determine their own fate. “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life” (Prologue lines 5 & 6). The prologue says right from the beginning that fate has decided that Romeo and Juliet will fall in love and die. It starts with the Capulet party. Lord Capulet sent out a servant with a guest list, however the servant can not read. So he runs into Romeo and Benvolio and asks them
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However, when Mercutio falls some of his last words to Romeo and Tybalt are “A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing?” (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 90 & 91). So as if fate were not enough to ensure that the Montague and Capulet families would suffer, Mercutio just cursed the families. After Mercutio died Romeo and Tybalt fight until Romeo slays Tybalt. When the Prince finds out about all of this instead of killing Romeo, he banishes him. Banishing Romeo is worse than death itself in Romeo’s eyes because that means he can not be with Juliet. “Ha, banishment! Be merciful, say “death”; For exile hath more terror in his look Much more than death. “Do not say “banishment!”” (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 12-14). Romeo gets banished to Mantua, so this will cause miscommunications between him and Juliet, which will lead to his death. Fate could have had the Prince kill Romeo, however since the Prince was related to Mercutio he chose not to kill Romeo. This event would not change the death of the pair, for if Juliet learned that her husband had died because of the Prince she would have killed herself. Fate decided to keep the two alive though and end the lives of others first. Now, when Juliet found out what happened to Tybalt she becomes upset because Romeo killed him. “Indeed, I shall never be satisfied With Romeo till I behold him--dead--” (Act 3, Scene 5, Lines 94 & 95). This is foreshadowing …show more content…
When Juliet is mourning the loss of Tybalt and when she is upset that Romeo killed Tybalt her parents make the decision to marry her to Paris as soon as possible. “Monday! ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon, O’ Thursday let it be,--o’ Thursday, tell her, She shall be married to this noble earl.” (Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 19-21). This sends Juliet into a wave of panic because she is already married to Romeo, she will get banished if she does not marry Paris and Friar Lawrence would be sinning in the eyes of God to marry Paris to Juliet who is already married to Romeo. So Friar Lawrence gives Juliet a sleeping potion that puts her in a dead like state. Romeo believes that Juliet is dead and heads to Verona to kill himself beside Juliet. “A dateless bargain to engrossing death!” (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 15). Romeo is saying that death has finally won everything, because he and Juliet will be dead together. From the beginning Romeo and Juliet 's fate has been to die and bring peace to the Capulet and Montague families. They could have died earlier, however their deaths had been perfectly timed with the outbreak of more fights between the families, which finally has ended the feud. “O brother Montague, give me thy hand. (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 296). Capulet says in that line that the feud between the families is over. Romeo and Juliet 's fate ended the war between the

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