How far do fate and destiny play their parts in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
"Romeo and Juliet", is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Romeo and Juliet come from feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets, but they defy the feud and fall in love. Many events take place during the five short days that they share their love. Romeo's and Juliet's love finds a tragic way to overcome the differences between their families. The story revolves mostly around Juliet while she grows up and falls in love, only to have fate keep her from complete happiness.
The power of fate is introduced in the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet when it states,
"A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." (Prologue Line 6)
From the first lines of the play the audience is made aware of the ultimate deaths of the lovers. Instantly aware that fate is at work the audience know the outcome is inevitable. However, the rich imagery in the text is used well, so one can not help but hope that Fate will be thwarted. Fate, rather than being personified as in earlier times, is given power and substance through cosmic imagery. So from the outset, fate deals the lovers its worst and ends as predicted, with death. Fate is the force that predetermines events, but since the story takes place in a Christian context, fate can also be interpreted as Providence, or God. In Romeo and Juliet, fate is the biggest force opposing Romeo and Juliet. It is more powerful than the hate between the families because the lovers found ways to combat the hate, but there is no way to evade a predestined death. Some might call these events coincidences, but it is written as fate in the Prologue.
William Shakespeare begins his play with the Prologue to make it clear that the fate of the lovers is not their fault; they are not entirely responsible for their misfortune. The Prologue directs our attention to the important part which fate plays in the lives of the two young lovers, who are to some extent the victims of their parents' strife. The Prologue states,
"The fearful passage of their
The power of fate is introduced in the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet when it states,
"A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." (Prologue Line 6)
From the first lines of the play the audience is made aware of the ultimate deaths of the lovers. Instantly aware that fate is at work the audience know the outcome is inevitable. However, the rich imagery in the text is used well, so one can not help but hope that Fate will be thwarted. Fate, rather than being personified as in earlier times, is given power and substance through cosmic imagery. So from the outset, fate deals the lovers its worst and ends as predicted, with death. Fate is the force that predetermines events, but since the story takes place in a Christian context, fate can also be interpreted as Providence, or God. In Romeo and Juliet, fate is the biggest force opposing Romeo and Juliet. It is more powerful than the hate between the families because the lovers found ways to combat the hate, but there is no way to evade a predestined death. Some might call these events coincidences, but it is written as fate in the Prologue.
William Shakespeare begins his play with the Prologue to make it clear that the fate of the lovers is not their fault; they are not entirely responsible for their misfortune. The Prologue directs our attention to the important part which fate plays in the lives of the two young lovers, who are to some extent the victims of their parents' strife. The Prologue states,
"The fearful passage of their