Did Fate Have A Role To Play In Romeo And Juliet? (Essay Sample)

First and Last Name Professor Class June 8, 2018 Fate in Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet treats fate as the guiding force for many of the significant events described. It seems that whenever tragedy arrives, it is due to fate. However, on most occasions, it is a human weakness that leads to tragic events, and thus, fate may not be entirely to blame when they occur. Romeo and Juliet forces one to think about preordained destiny. Rather than fate, it a series of accidents and coincidences, paired with wrong decisions which result in the tragedy that is Romeo and Juliet. The birth of Rome and Juliet in two feuding families can be attributed to fate in some part. However, everything that follows and leads up to their deaths is due to the choices made by the characters rather than bad luck.  Their destinies are not pre-ordained, but they still fall in love with each other due to accidental events and their own choices. Romeo is a character with many flaws that are required of a tragic hero. As he goes about making his decisions, these flaws become more and more apparent. In fact, if he had been a perfect and virtuous hero, the story would not have been a tragedy.  Romeo tends to be guided more by emotions than rationality. Added on to this is impetuous nature. These are two significant flaws in his character, which lead to his crashing the Capulet’s ball disregarding the danger in which he put himself. The emotional drive of Romeo drives willingly to avenge Mercutio’s death. He knowingly did this, aware that the law would kill Tybalt. It is further evident in his decision to commit suicide, and in fact, see it through. Shakespeare makes it clear that Juliet’s beauty is still visible, even though she is supposedly dead. It is seen when Romeo says that her lips and her cheeks are still crimson (Romeo and Juliet. 5.3.95).  Had he allowed himself clear thought, Romeo would have been able to stop himself from making an irrational decision to kill himself. He would have realized that Juliet was still alive. Instead, he chose to be guided by his emotion which leads to the tragedy Other characters in the play are also governed by their own choices. Montague and Capulet have both allowed their violent and intense feelings make their choices for them. Their decisions ultimately lead to the tragedy of the play. This is pointed out by Prince Escalus when he says "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!" (Romeo and Juliet. 5.3.302-303). This shows that it is not destiny or luck that has caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Instead, it is Montague’s and Capulet’s decision to prolong their feud due to their hate that was an additiona...