Romeo and Juliet Victims of Fate
One view of the play sees Romeo and Juliet as victims of fate. To what extent do you agree with this? Having a complex plot, and too many deeply involved characters, we cannot simply state that Romeo and Juliet were purely victims of fate. The tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and the play itself, are anchored on three notions: that of fate, chance and choice. Fate contributed, though it was not the sole factor in the deaths of the young lovers. The many 'unstoppable' events, Shakespeare's telling us of their love being told in the stars, and the ancient grudge between the families, are prime examples of fate being a part of Romeo and Juliet. Chance in the undetermined figure in Romeo and Juliet, with coincidence and misadventure playing in every readers mind as the many events unfold. Choice; vital decisions by each character, and judgments based on what an individual believed to be right or wrong, once again shows how many varied outcomes there may have been. At the end of the day though, due to fate, chance and choice, Romeo and Juliet committed suicide together, completing a tragic five days in which they fell in love, married and eventually died. Romeo and Juliet, many believe, was a tragedy brought upon by destiny.
Contradicting its stance on fate, the prologue tells us of chance: their "misadventur'd piteous overthrows. These coincidences lead to the 'love at first sight' meeting of Romeo and Juliet. Three simple words by Prince Escalus, "Romeo is banished," may have permanently changed the rocky course of love and life for Romeo and Juliet. "In one respect I'll thy assistant be. In the case of the Apothecary, "My poverty, not my will consents," he said, as he sold the poison to end Romeo's life. Many events were shaped as fate in Romeo and Juliet. " This illustrates as the story progresses, that like Juliet, he cares not of a name. "It may be so, for it is not mine own," says Juliet, of her proclaimed 'fortune'; or what she believes to be misfortune and bad timing. "From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. We are not offered a simple solution in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and whether it was their destiny, misadventure, coincidence, or choices made by certain characters, we cannot blame the deaths of Romeo and Juliet on one aspect. "What's in a name?" A love-sick Juliet complains of her ill-fate of being Capulet, as does Romeo of being Montague, when he tells a servant, "Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. Fate may well have brought Romeo and Juliet together, or at least contributed along the rocky path to their deaths. " A major coincidence that shaped the entire story, would be the chance meeting by Romeo and Benvolio with a servant who could not read. Romeo and Juliet did, after all, kill themselves, and even chose to continue their relationship - both knowing the disastrous consequences it may bring.
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