Fate is defined as an event (or course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future. Could such a force exist? Could there be such a power that controls our lives, and if so, why? Romeo and Juliet, the two young lovers in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, seemed destined by fate. It seemed to direct their lives and force them together, becoming a large part of their love, and the ending of their families" hatred. It was evident that fate directed this play and perhaps it plays a large part in modern everyday life, even if we aren't aware of it. Maybe we don't recognize it because we choose not to, or because man kind doesn't have faith like we used to, but it remains true that fate played an essential role throughout this play. .
A large part of the beliefs for both Romeo and Juliet involve fate. They believed in the stars, and that their actions weren't always their own. Early on in the play, Romeo makes this statement: "Some consequence yet hanging in the stars .By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage over my course Direct my sail."(1.4.107) He's mainly saying that he had a dream which leads him to believe that he will die young because of something in the stars, something beyond his control. He ends with "But he that hath steerage over my course" (1.4.112) which implies that a superior force has control over his destiny and will direct him. .
Romeo and Juliet throughout the play have dreams or visions of their deaths. For instance, after Romeo was exiled from Verona and he was about to leave Juliet, she says "Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, / As one dead in the bottom of a tomb." ( 3.5.55) This suggests that Juliet is destined to find Romeo dead in a tomb, not when, how or why. This foreshadows a later scene in the play where Juliet awakens only to find Romeo dead on top of her, in a tomb. .
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A final part of the play suggesting that Romeo and Juliet were destined by fate occurs at the end of the play, when the Prince discovers Romeo and Juliet dead and Friar Laurence reveals their hidden love.
