The Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet - 2091 Words

Most of Shakespeares plays are conceived around a foundation in either tragedy or comedy, this polarity of themes allowing him to experiment with the full range of human emotions. Typically, an integral part of a Shakespearean tragedy is love, which is frustrated by a breakdown in order, or the character of the hero, due to some human limitation. The play Romeo and Juliet has all these typical characteristics. However, the resultant conclusion of events for the characters in this tragedy is adversely affected by the hands of fate, and not solely the product of human limitations. Fate in fact has a decisive role in the events of the play; it is a series of rapid coincidental events, which lead to the final tragedy. Romeo and Juliet are†¦show more content†¦Participants in the action, some of them in parts that are minor and seem insignificant, contribute one by one the indispensable stitches which make the pattern, and contribute them not knowing; that is to say, they act when they do not know the truth of the situation in which they act, this truth being known, however, to us who are spectators. (The Brevity of Friar Laurence, 850) The idea that Fortune dictates the course of mankind dates back to ancient times. Those writers of the medieval world incorporated the goddess Fortune into Christianity and made her Gods servant, responsible for adding challenges to our lives so that we would see the importance of giving up our tumultuous earthly lives to God. The most influential treatise on the theme of Fate was The Consolation of Philosophy, written by the scholar Boethius (A.D. 475-525). Written while he awaited execution, it is a dialogue between himself and his guide Philosophy, who e xplores with him the true nature of happiness and fate, and leads him to hope and enlightenment. Here is an excerpt from Book IV: |To human acts alone denied | |Thy fit control as Lord of all. | |Why else doesShow MoreRelatedThe Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet2082 Words   |  9 PagesThe play Romeo and Juliet has all these typical characteristics. However, the resultant conclusion of events for the characters in this tragedy is adversely affected by the hands of fate, and not solely the product of human limitations. Fate in fact has a decisive role in the events of the play; it is a series of rapid coincidental events, which lead to the final tragedy. Romeo and Juliet are described during the prologue as a pair of star-crossed loversà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The play Romeo and Juliet was oneRead MoreThe Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet Essay507 Words   |  3 PagesIn the book Romeo Juliet by William Shakespeare, fate plays a large role in moving the plot along. It does this by bringing people together. Fate also plays a role in a couple people’s deaths, including the main characters, Romeo and Juliet. The bringing of people together by fate played a huge role in moving along Romeo and Juliet’s plot. A great example of this is how Romeo’s â€Å"true love† Rosaline has vowed to remain chaste her whole life. This makes Romeo more open to dating someone else.Read MoreRole of Fate in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare623 Words   |  2 PagesRole of Fate in Romeo and Juliet â€Å"Who would think that fate and destiny would play a big role in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet? Fate is the belief that an individuals life is being decided for them and there is nothing they can do to change it. Based on Dictionary.com definition, fate is something that unavoidably befalls a person. However, in this play, Romeo and Juliet, fate is a reality. It seems like a constant happening and is always creating trouble especially between the Capulets andRead MoreEssay about Fates Role in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet604 Words   |  3 Pages Fate’s Role in â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† In William Shakespeare’s play, â€Å"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet†, fate plays one of the largest roles in the plot. In order to understand how fate plays a role it is important to examine how the story begins, when Romeo meets Juliet, and when Romeo fights Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One reason why fate plays a big role is that the play begins by hinting that Romeo and Juliet will be affected by fate. The chorus begins the playRead More The Role of Fate in William Shakespeares The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet2378 Words   |  10 PagesThe Role of Fate in William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet, the first romantic tragedy was based on a poem translated from the French Novella (1595). Romeo Montague, who is in love with Rosaline, goes to a party in an attempt to take his mind off her. At this party he meets Juliet Capulet and immediately falls in love with her. Later he finds out that she is a Capulet, the rival family of the Montagues. He decides that he loves her in spite ofRead MoreSome May Argue That It Is Not In The Stars To Hold Our1182 Words   |  5 Pagesconnection with fate and destiny. furthermore, The plot of Romeo and Juliet and midsummer night dream was both leads by the idea of fate. Because The characters in both plays display signs of destiny being a factor in how things turned out either bad or good at the end of each play.The belief of fate destiny played a big role in both plays because the era the plays were written in belief fortune was common, the genre of drama it meant to determine the fate of the ending, and fate help guides Romeo JulietRead MoreThe Role of Fate in Shakespeares Romeo and Juiliet807 Words   |  3 PagesFate. Who would have guessed that this four letter, one-syllable word would play such a big role in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet? Many people believed that it was free choices that led to the tragic ending of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, but it was really fate. When looking up fate using dictionary.com, it says that fate’s something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune, but in Romeo and Juliet, fate is reality. Perhaps the biggest and most overlooked example of fate was in the PrologueRead MoreAre Humans Consciously Making All Of Their Own Decisions,1312 Words   |  6 Pageshumans consciously making all of their own decisions, or is there a deciding factor? In the play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, there are two feuding families, the Montagues, and the Capulets. The children of the two families fall in love and the play is the based on their story. Tragic events happen throughout the play based on the previous actions. In the play Romeo and Juliet, fate is the cause of all the tragic events as seen through the attitude of the characters, the fightRead MoreRomeo and Juliet Fate Essay1103 Words   |  5 Pages‘Shakespeare intends the audience to see that the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was destined to happenâ €™ In the play, Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, is about two â€Å"star crossed† lovers who are destined to end in a tragic accident. Fate is the path that leads to the future and cannot be altered no matter the outcome. Set in Shakespearean time, fate was believed to be in control of people’s lives. The fact that Romeo and Juliet would never live a peaceful life, none of the tragedies wouldRead MoreThe Demise Of Romeo And Juliet993 Words   |  4 PagesThe demise of Romeo and Juliet began when fate brought the two love struck children together. At the beginning of the play, William Shakespeare writes a line showing the readers and audiences how Romeo and Juliet’s demise was by fate. In the prologue, while giving a background about the play he states, â€Å"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes/ A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life† (Shakespeare Prologue.5-6). Shakespeare is saying that Romeo and Juliet are born in two separa te families