I am fortune’s fool”. To what

Romeo's fatal flaw is impetuousness. From the beginning, Romeo acts without thinking of the consequences. For example, when a Capulet servant asks for a list of invited people for a party to be read out, Romeo reads it out, but decides to go to the party himself; knowing Capulet is his enemy. Secondly, Romeo kills Tybalt out of rage, even though he knows it makes things all the worse for his current situation with Tybalt's cousin, Juliet. After Romeo kills Tybalt, he regrets his mistake by saying, "O, I am fortune's fool!". Lastly, if Romeo had just taken some time to say prayers or thought about what he was doing before he resorted to suicide, he could have been in the tomb in time for the Friar to arrive and explain everything.

People who do not believe in fate might say Romeo is just a victim of severe bad luck. For example, the fact that he, Romeo- the only son of Montague, falls in love with Juliet- the only daughter of Capulet. And their two families happen to be ‘ancient’ enemies. One other example, at the Capulet’s ball- which is full to the brim with Capulets, Tybalt is the ONLY Capulet who manages to recognise Romeo in his disguise. This recognition later leads to Tybalt wanting revenge on Romeo. When Tybalt seeks to get revenge on Romeo, Romeo won’t fight him because he is married to Tybalt’s cousin. Because Romeo won’t fight Tybalt, Mercutio gets killed, ‘A plague on both your houses!’ he shouts out in his last breath. The death of Mercutio causes Romeo to kill Tybalt in a fit of rage, and Prince Elscalus banishes Romeo to Mantua- where he is no longer in contact with Juliet. Another way that Romeo could be classed as unlucky is the point that Romeo does not hear of Friar Lawrence’s plan in time which leads to the tragic ending of the play.

There are, however, points in the play where events can only be explained by fate: ‘I fear too early for my mind misgives/ some consequence yet hanging in the stars/ shall bitterly begin is fearful date/ with this night’s revels’- Romeo has a premonition before he goes into the Capulet’s ball- before he meets Juliet- telling him that what ever is about to happen will end bitterly. The reference to fate is ‘hanging in the stars’ it relates back to the Elizabethan attitude and beliefs towards fate.

Elizabethans accepted the belief that Heaven was behind all acts of reward and punishment, that God can look into the future and see all things and can cause things to happen as he wills. Although our destiny or fate is planned, because the manner of ou

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