The impacts of fate and free will surround us everyday. A major symbol for fate is the stars. Similar to fate, the stars go untouched and cannot be altered. Shakespeare uses fate and free will in Romeo and Juliet to show fate is a predetermined force and free will is by choice. Fate is shown through Romeo and Juliet’s doomed love, the characters reaction to fate, and the ending can be seen to be a reply of fate. The idea that the story of Romeo and Juliet was based around doomed love is given from before the story even starts, in the Prologue “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;” This showing that destiny awaited them.
Before Romeo met Juliet he claimed to be in love with Rosaline and didn’t think he could have anyone else compare to her. “One fairer than my love? The all- seeing sun Ne ” er saw her match since first the world began” (I ii lines 92) Romeo thought that he was truly in love with Rosaline, however when he sees Juliet it is love at first sight. He then questions his love for Rosaline. ” Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne ” er saw true beauty till this night” (I v lines 50) He became aware that it was wrong for him to love her once he knew whom Juliet belonged to. “My only love sprung from my only hate” (I v line 137) Once they knew, they continued to follow their hearts, Romeo couldn’t help but love Juliet, and she felt the same about Romeo. Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love through fate, the events leading up to the conclusion involved the characters reply to fate and resulted in their deaths.
The Essay on The Different Types of Love in “Romeo & Juliet”
There are many types of love that are portrayed in Shakespeare’s play “Romeo & Juliet”. One of them being sincere, dignified love that both the main characters, Romeo and Juliet, have for each other. Although it seems that Romeo and Juliet do love each other with true, whole-hearted love, it does seem that they want to rush things in their relationship, for instance they fall ...
When Tybalt was instigating a duel, Romeo encouraged Mercutio to fight Tybalt. “Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up” (III i line 83) Romeo came between them and then Mercutio got stabbed. Romeo replies he “thought all for the best” (III i line 104) although Mercutio continues to wish a plague on both their houses. Romeo’s best friend was Mercutio, so when this happened Romeo decided to fight Tybalt. “Alive in triumph and Mercutio slain. Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire- eyed fury by my conduct now- Now Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again That late thou gav ” st me; for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company; Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.” (III i line 122- 129) Deciding to fight results in Tybalt’s death.
The plot then takes a dramatic turn. After Romeo kills Tybalt he is banished from Verona, which is a dilemma because he was just previously married to Juliet. “Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, An hour but married, Tybalt murdered, Doting like me, and like me banished” (III iii lines 65- 67) Romeo then goes to Mantua. Juliet decides to ask the first for advice. He then tells her to take a potion, and the result would be that she would fall asleep for 48 hours and then, everyone would be fooled believing that she was dead and then secretly she could be with her Romeo. However the message could not be sent to Romeo so here never found out she was really not dead.
” I could not send it- here it is again- Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection” (V ii line 14-16) Messages could not get sent in to and out of Verona because they were afraid of illness because Juliet had just died. While in Mantua Romeo he says ” I dreamt my lady came and found me dead- ” (V i line 6) which makes the audience think because it is already known that they will die. Romeo is foreshadowing a future event. When Balthasar arrives in Mantua with news from Verona, because Romeo did not receive the Friars’ message, he bases his actions on what he knows. Balthasar tells Romeo “Her body sleeps in Capel’s monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault, And presently took post to tell it you.” (V i line 20) Romeo hears this and decides to go against fate because he is so distraught.
Theme of fate in Romeo & Juliet – GCSE coursework
Despite fate’s grasp on Romeo and Juliet being clear from the beginning, their choices in the play cause fate to build momentum and accelerate their lives to their inevitable end. Shakespeare’s original presentation of fate is of an inescapable event, but how the characters get there is less certain and more chance. Whereas Luhrmann’s fate is cruller and more controlling, but both interpretations ...
“Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!” (V i line 24) He feels as though he can no longer wait for fortune to determine what will happen and he will now act in defiance. Romeo is devastated by the thought of life without his love Juliet. Soon after hearing Juliet is dead, Romeo decides he wants to be too. This is Romeos reaction to fate. He visits the Apothecary to get drugs that will kill him. ” A dram of poison, such soon- speeding gear As will disperse itself through all the veins That the life- weary taker may fall dead” (V i line 60) Romeo then receives it, and is off to go to see Juliet.
When Romeo arrives in Verona to Juliet’s tomb it is at the same time that Paris is there. The two of them attempt to battle the other one off. The result being Paris dies. Romeo sees Juliet, looking lifeless.
To his eyes she’s dead. Romeo then takes the poison because he can’t live with the thought of life without Juliet. “Here’s to my love! [Drinks] O true apothecary, Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (V iii line 121- 122) The timing of Romeos death and the time that Juliet awoke could have altered the entire ending.
The reply of fate is being shown. After Juliet wakes up, she sees Romeo, her plan was not fulfilled, Romeo was dead. Although the Friar wanted her to leave, she didn’t. She felt her life could not go on. This time it wasn’t a hoax. “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; [Stabs herself] there rust, and let me die.” (V iii line 168) Once Romeo and Juliet are both dead, the friar explains the situation to everyone who had just arrived at the scene.
After explaining, the prince then realizes that Romeo and Juliet’s lives ended because of the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. “Where be these enemies? – Capulet! Montague! See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.” (V iii line 290) The death of the two star crossed lovers resulted in a reconciliation between the Capulets and Montagues. In conclusion the path that destiny took Romeo and Juliet down started with doomed love and ended with it. The route of fate cannot be avoided; the outcome in this case was the death of Romeo and Juliet.
The Essay on Romeo & Juliet – Why Is Cosmic And Celestial Imagery Used In Act 2, Scene 2?
William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, set in 15th century Verona, tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, who find each other in the midst of violence and rivalry fuelled by an ancient feud between their families. Within the well-known balcony scene in Act 2, Scene 2, both characters use a variety of imagery, including cosmic and celestial, that which relates to objects and scenery ...
