Unlike most of the other acts, Romeo is not the person most disturbed by fate in Act IV. Instead, it's Juliet. Let me just mention though, there’s a difference between the main character and the character most affected by the central theme. In Romeo and Juliet the main character was always Juliet, but, with the absence of Act IV, it’s usually Romeo who is the person played most by fate, the theme of the play. In fact, all of my other quotes in this project revolve around him! Of course, this can’t be the case in Act IV, as Romeo has been banished to Mantua, not to be seen again in this act. Conversely, fate decides to focus solely on Juliet, and she starts to change. She becomes more desperate, reclusive, and infatuated with Romeo than we have
…show more content…
Keeping that in mind, here in Act IV Juliet is threatening Friar Laurence with her suicide out of her desperation and anguish: “If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, do thou but call my resolution wise, and with this knife I’ll help it presently” (IV.I 53-55). She hasn’t only abandoned almost all her hope: she’s abandoned her resolve. If Juliet truly wants to be with Romeo she would try to stay alive in hope of seeing him again. Forget that she will be forced to marry Paris Wednesday- instead look at how quickly her attitude has changed. Fate has twisted Juliet’s decisions into having her make a very rash and poor decision. In response, Friar then says “Hey, let's just fake your death and listen to this masterful plan of mine. I’m sure it’ll work!” Firstly, your plan failed, Friar, so shame on you. Secondly, take a nice, long look at his response. By Juliet faking her own death in accordance with Friar’s plan, she is foreshadowing her own death and suicide at the end of the play. Moreover, it is once again fate that Friar’s plan failed, even though it was a risky plan to begin with. Fate and destiny walks side-by-side with Juliet in this Act, and in the end, Juliet still ends up taking her own life. As far as Juliet’s promise to kill herself goes, fate was the one who made real what Juliet said, and ironically it is these lines that are the most truthful in the entire
Keeping that in mind, here in Act IV Juliet is threatening Friar Laurence with her suicide out of her desperation and anguish: “If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, do thou but call my resolution wise, and with this knife I’ll help it presently” (IV.I 53-55). She hasn’t only abandoned almost all her hope: she’s abandoned her resolve. If Juliet truly wants to be with Romeo she would try to stay alive in hope of seeing him again. Forget that she will be forced to marry Paris Wednesday- instead look at how quickly her attitude has changed. Fate has twisted Juliet’s decisions into having her make a very rash and poor decision. In response, Friar then says “Hey, let's just fake your death and listen to this masterful plan of mine. I’m sure it’ll work!” Firstly, your plan failed, Friar, so shame on you. Secondly, take a nice, long look at his response. By Juliet faking her own death in accordance with Friar’s plan, she is foreshadowing her own death and suicide at the end of the play. Moreover, it is once again fate that Friar’s plan failed, even though it was a risky plan to begin with. Fate and destiny walks side-by-side with Juliet in this Act, and in the end, Juliet still ends up taking her own life. As far as Juliet’s promise to kill herself goes, fate was the one who made real what Juliet said, and ironically it is these lines that are the most truthful in the entire