unknown to Tybalt. Furthermore, when Romeo states “thou knowest me not”, he is suggesting that Tybalt has misjudged his inclination to violence.
Romeo, even when provoked by a serious insult, will take extra measures to avoid violence. On this occasion, ignoring Tybalt’s provocation could make Romeo seem dishonorable, yet he refuses to fight back. This hesitancy to fight is in direct contrast with Romeo’s later actions in this scene. After Romeo has killed Tybalt in a fit of rage, he exclaims, “O, I am Fortune’s fool!” (3.1.142) By saying that he is “Fortune’s fool”, Romeo is stating that Fortune or Fate is controlling him like a puppet, and making him do foolish things. This statement reveals that not even Romeo believes that he was in control of this event, or his own actions. Romeo previously wished to avoid violence, even when doing so would make him seem dishonorable and mark him as a coward. Now, he has killed one who he previously stated that he had “reason to love”, showing that some other force has driven him to the violent action of killing Tybalt, in this case, fate. Fate has shown itself as able to manipulate characters and their behavior, making it capable of pulling the strings behind the major events of this
play.