Providence In Romeo And Juliet

Shakespeare writes of a world marred by the petulant idiocy of the Montagues and the Capulets, requiring God to intervene in order for the quarrel to end. Romeo and Juliet are fated to be “A pair of star-cross’d lovers…” and are the living sacrifice necessary to end the feud. Providence utilizes the pressures of society and time to create whirling events established as fate within the play in order to impose a gentle ending for the lovers. Shakespeare establishes a forcefulness of fate and a great will of God in the life and death of Romeo and Juliet as a means to bring peace to the corrupted society of Verona.
The public and private lives of Romeo and Juliet are greatly influenced by God’s unequivocal desire to end the disorder and
The Friar agrees to oversee the marriage as it is his idea that the two families will be united through a sacrament between the couple and God. “For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.” (2.3.91-92) Friar Laurence recognizes the need to end the feud as the quarrel between the two families will otherwise completely disunify society through violence and death. However, Friar is aware that the rash and impulsive decision to marry will cause the couple “[to] stumble as [they] run fast.” (2.3.94)- as Shakespeare is referring to the lovers, he evokes the death of the couple.
Shakespeare establishes fairness within the law whilst also establishing Providence’s ability to manipulate fate through Romeo’s banishment. Romeo acts out of foolishness as a result of vengeance and fate. Romeo, after killing Tybalt in an attempt to avenge Mercutio’s death, is sentenced, by the law- giver Prince, to banishment as an acknowledgement of Romeo killing the murderer, Tybalt. Shakespeare evokes Providence’s desire to establish unity within Verona as the law is given fairly through Prince and additionally the tragedy of the lover’s demise is continued as a means to end the feud and restore
Shakespeare utilizes speed as evidence of the force of fate acting upon Romeo and Juliet as well as, an aid in the destruction of the lovers. Shakespeare builds a fast- paced world around Romeo and Juliet which results in swift and hazardous decision making. The final scene of the play, which details the death of the lovers, occurs quickly and hastily as Romeo swiftly slays Paris, drinks the poison, and dies within the tomb having Juliet, moments later, immediately commit suicide at seeing her love lying deceased upon the ground. Shakespeare establishes the reliance of time in regards to assisting Providence in the death of the lovers. Events happen at such a rapid pace, it results in an inability for characters to adhere to the Friar’s wisdom of properly contemplating situations and an inability to ponder a solution other than that of suicide which would attempt to counter