Romeo And Juliet Free Will Analysis

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet are victims of free will because their decisions lead to their ultimate death. Several times throughout the play either Romeo or Juliet’s decisions leads them farther and farther apart. Firstly, after Capulet’s ball, Tybalt fights Murcutio and Romeo decides to intervene in the fight. This leads to Tybalt stabbing Murcutio and Romeo taking revenge by killing Tybalt. After this incident, the Prince declares “Let Romeo hence in haste, / Else when he is found, that hour is his last” (3.1.204-205). This incident turns the plot of the whole story because it tears Romeo and Juliet’s dreams apart. On the other hand, after hours of grieving for Romeo, Juliet asks the Friar to clean up her
predicament. The Friar comes up with a plan, and Juliet decides to attack this plan without even considering the consequences that could occur. After several bad moves by the Friar, and the changing of the date of Juliet new marriage, the plan takes a massive turn for the worst. This whole story could be overthrown by one small decision that Romeo makes in the beginning of the play. Romeo, once he gets the list of who is attending Capulet’s ball, decides to go there to see Rosaline. If Romeo did not create this decision, the lives of Romeo and Juliet would still be alive. Overall, Romeo and Juliet’s death is because their decisions lead to vengeance, death and tragedy.