Fate in Romeo and Juliet

"Two households, both alike in dignity, / In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, / From ancient grudge brakes to new mutiny, / Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. / From forth the fatal lions of these foes / A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; / Whose misadventured piteous overthrows / Doth with their death bury their parent's strife. / The fearful passage of their death-marked love, / And the continuance of their parent's rage, / Which, but their children's end, naught could remove..." -The Prologue, Romeo and Juliet

Fate plays a major role in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The prologue describes Romeo's and Juliet’s fate, which we see come up many times later on in the play. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet realize they cannot exist in such reality and that a tragic fate is inevitable. The two families, the Montagues and the Capulets continue being rivals all the way to the end of the play until the inevitable event takes its place.

In the play, there are many events that prove that the fate predicted in the prologue will come true. Even as early as the first scene of the play, we already see some evidence to support the prologue. "[Romeo]...And makes himself and artificial night." (I, i, 3

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

The quarrel between Tybalt and Mercutio is the result of Romeo's appearance at the Capulet's Ball. Many times in the play the two families have to confront each other in uncomfortable situations.

(T, vi, lines 139-142)

The first time Juliet meets Romeo and falls in love with him, she finds out he is from the house of Montagues, and realizes how impossible their love is. As tough as reality might be, it gets even worse for Juliet and Romeo. Only at the end of the play, after their children's death they realize how unfair their hate was, and how meaningless it was to pursue their ancestors’ sins towards one another. Through Romeo's mellow mood we see how desperate he is for love. Romeo is in love with Juliet, who is the daughter of an enemy to the house of Montagues. As rich shall Romeo's by his lady lie-

Poor sacrifices of our enmity

(V, III, 302-303)

In this exchange of apologies and forgiveness we see that both fathers are ready to put everything behind and honor each others child, for being messengers of love driven by fate to stop the cycle of fights. Here is another passage which underlines the effect of Romeo's and Juliet's deaths: "For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancor to pure love. The tragic cycle of events is leaving Romeo no choice but to escape from Verona and keep hiding until his name is forgotten and he can return. " (VI, I, 34) If only he would have known that Juliet was alive, he would not go that far. There shall no figure at such rate beset

As that of true and faithful Juliet. Both destined lovers realize their love cannot be pure and simple, and that no matter what they do, it will be tragic. From the moment they meet to the moment they die, they know their love is forbidden and cannot survive in their reality.

Approximate Word count = 1881
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.