Fates Role in Romeo and Juliet

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

Because Tybalt so fatefully discovered Romeo at the party, he confronts him on the street the next day. He attempts to instigate Romeo’s emotions enough to get him to fight, giving him the opportunity to kill Romeo without blame, but fate will not allow Romeo to be so easily aroused that day. Romeo knows that Tybalt is now his cousin and refuses to fight. Mercutio, embarrassed by what appears to be his friend’s cowardice, takes up the battle for him. Romeo tries to intervene but in his efforts he allows Tybalt to stab and kill Mercutio. “Chance again causes Mercutio to take the quarrel, and, by sheer ill luck, in trying to part the combatants, Romeo causes Mercutio to miss his parry of Tybalts thrust (GB Harrison).” This encounter may be blamed on fate once again, for Verona, in Romeo and Juliet’s time was a fairly large city and coincidentally meeting an acquaintance was unlikely. One last drop of fate plagued this murderous scene. When Mercutio is struck dead, Romeo and Benvilio assume he is simply joking, for Mercutio is usually quite the jokester. However, this time, he truly hurt and his friends cannot summon a doctor in enough time to save him. Romeo, unable to maintain his so far peaceful disposition, kills Tybalt and avenges Mercutio's death. As a result, Romeo is banished and Romeo and Juliet's marriage begins to unwind.

However much chance and fate play in the begin

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