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Fates Role in Romeo and Juliet


            
             From the very beginning of his timeless love story Shakespeare proclaims Romeo and Juliet are "star-crossed lovers." This couldn't be more true. Throughout the entire play Romeo and Juliet's lives are governed and ended by the fate which brought them together and ignited their love.
             Within the first few lines of the play, the audience is made aware that it is fate which is in control of these two young lovers lives. The prologue boldly proclaims "A pair of star crossed lovers take their life, whose misadventures piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents" strife (I, IV, 117-119)." The audience is also made aware that the characters themselves believe in fate. Romeo declares "Some consequence yet hanging in the stars. by some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he hath the steerage over my course direct my sail (I,IV, 115-120)." This suggests that Romeo feels that fate holds "consequences" that he does not yet know of. The end of the quote, "but he hath the steerage over my course direct my sail," suggests that Romeo knows he does not have control over his life and looks to another power above him for direction, fate. He also cries out "I defy thee stars (V, I, 27)!," which implies that he could defy fate and somehow change the destiny written out for him in the stars.
             Romeo and Juliet's tragic demise can be divided up into two main segments : the occurrences in fate which bring them together and those which tear them apart. Romeo and Juliet's meeting is the first major illustration of fate working in their lives, and their tragic deaths, the second.
             "Romeo's first involvement with fate is when a servant inadvertently happens upon Romeo and asks if he knows how to read (Chance, 1)." Romeo does, and he reads the guest list for the illiterate servant. Romeo is later invited to the party by the servant as a token of gratitude. Romeo agrees to attend, for he sees Rosaline, the girl he is in love with's, name on the list, and sees it as a chance to further court her.


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