Fate in Romeo and Juliet - Essay

Many people do not believe in fate, or changing their fate. This portion of the population believes that there is not anything that is meant to be or not meant to be. They trust that whatever happens in their lives was a result of the decisions they made. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet fate plays a very powerful role in the play, it is fate that gives the play the intense and tragic ending. Fate caused Romeo and Juliet to make certain choices that affected their lives both together and apart. Furthermore, Friar Laurence’s plans of saving the protagonists’ love had to have been rejected because of unfortunate events that were caused by fate. Lastly, throughout the play we hear that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed lovers”, meaning that fate will bring them together in the end. Overall throughout the play Romeo and Juliet are set up as victims of fate.
Throughout the play we see Romeo and Juliet make certain choices that the audience would disagree with, although it is fate that led them to make these choices. For example, Capulet sends a servant with a list of names of people who are invited to his party, but the servant does not know how to read. The servant asks for help from Romeo: “God 'i' good e'en. I pray, sir, can you read?”(Shakespear, 1.2.58) Fate had brought the Servant to Romeo to ask for his help. He could have asked anyone else in the streets of Verona, but fate brought him to Romeo. After reading the list of names Romeo notices that Rosaline, his previous love, will be attending this party at the Capulet’s house. The servant invites Romeo and Benvolio to come to the feast unless they belong to the house of Montague’s. Romeo agrees to go to the ball but only to see his love, Rosaline: “I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown, But to rejoice in splendor of mine own.”(1.2.102-103) Romeo was unsure about going to the feast at the house of Capulet’s but in the end he decides to go because he is set up as a victim of fate. Once Romeo arrives...