Fate In Romeo And Juliet By William Shakespeare

Throughout the 21st century, our views on fate and the control of our lives have drastically changed since the Elizabethan Era. It was once thought that one's fate was determined by the stars and God had planned one’s destiny in advance. Nowadays, people believe that one’s actions determine their destiny. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a play about two feuding families from Verona, Italy whose children fall in love at first sight. Romeo and Juliet are both blindsided by their overwhelming romantic love which causes their actions to be a leading factor in their downfall. Although some scholars support the idea that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet were a result of the powerful external forces of fate, based on the poor choices and actions made by them
Romeo’s appearance at the Capulet party plays a significant part in his death. After Rosaline broke his heart, he began to undergo depression to cope with the heartbreak. As a good friend, Benvolio suggested that going to the feast would clear his mind and ease his heartbreak. As Tybalt saw Romeo at the party, he refers to him as, “a villain that is hither come in spite; to scorn at our solemnity this night” (Shakespeare I. V. 69-71). Tybalt is insisting that the only reason why Romeo and his Montague friends had shown up to the gathering was to provoke trouble, thus creating more tension between the two families. On Romeo’s behalf, this was a poor decision because first and foremost, he was trespassing, and second of all, Tybalt now desires revenge. Like Prince Escalus said before, whoever disturbs the streets of Verona again, their lives shall pay for the disturbance, which means there is a possibility that Romeo will be executed very soon. In Sarah Carter’s Romeo and Juliet: Critical Introduction to the Play, she explains possible factors and reasonings that could have contributed to Romeo and Juliet’s death. Although she