Introduction
Romeo and Juliet is the title of an intriguing love story narrated by William Shakespeare. The play is about love between two young stars from noble families that are not on good terms. The theme of fate propels most of the occurrences in the play.
The love story was written 1591-1595 and has remained to be one of the most popular and most performed plays across the world. Many romantic narrations associated with young lovers have been developed based on the story of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.
The play was set up in Verona, Italy, and depicts quarrels between members of two different families of Lord Capulet and Montague.
The story of Romeo and Juliet depicts people’s lives and destinies that are predetermined. The story is often seen as a series of unfolding events which are controlled by fate, accompanied by bad decisions and bad luck.
When writing this essay, you should always keep in mind that the thesis statement for the play, revolving around the theme of Fate. Fate is described as an inevitable force that controls our lives. It is neither seen nor heard. Many topics about fate in the story of Romeo and Juliet have been written by different scholars, each giving different examples as presented in the play. This play by William Shakespeare uses fate as an exceptionally crucial element that is against the free will of Romeo and Juliet.
How Fate Takes Control of Events in the Play
In the Play, the love story of Romeo and Juliet is death marked, and the two lovers have no control over what happens, showing clearly the tragedy of fate in their love story.
In the opening lines of the play, Shakespeare reveals to the audience that the lives of the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, are controlled by the powerful nature. The two lovers are forewarned that they are star-crossed lovers, meaning that their destinies cannot end up together successfully.
The two lovers are born into feuding families, and their fate is to die so that peace can be regained. The enmity between Lord Capulet’s family and Montagues is so strong that nothing short of losing a child could stop it.
Romeo and Juliet fail to take a step together in life without their family interfering and hindering their relationship. Fate shreds in their love with death and sadness. After getting married, and even before properly enjoying their honeymoon, Tybal comes with ill intentions and kills Mercutio, Romeo’s friend, eliciting the urge to plan for revenge by Romeo.
The abusive and violent nature of Tybal eventually leads to his death, and this is a way of fate manifesting itself in the play.
After Tybalt’s death, Capulet wants to marry Juliet off to Paris, not knowing that she was already married to the love of her life, Romeo, which was also as a result of fate.
Juliet spoke to Friar Lawrence who helped her to fake her death until her lover, Romeo came back. Friar Lawrence, together with John sent an urgent letter addressed to Romeo, but the letter never reached him.
Fates Lead to Their Death
Romeo took his own life, thinking that his wife, Juliet was already dead even though she wasn’t. Having no strength to handle the death of her husband, Juliet killed herself too. This was fates own way of uniting the Montague’s and Capulet’s.
It is fate that controlled the movement of Romeo. He was seen to be in the right places at the right time. He took a walk around the house of Capulet’s and attended the party. He had Juliet proclaim her love for him at the balcony. He realized how truly Juliet loved him and ended up responding by proclaiming his love for her as well.
Fate causes Romeo and Juliet to be near each other at that time so they can proclaim their love for each other. They end up falling in love, and thus fate assumes the responsibility of uniting them. More so, it is destiny that causes the downfall of the two lovers.
The stars prove to be against Romeo and Juliet, and the unfolding of events in the play is entirely controlled by the cruel plan of fate and powerful nature. Shakespeare talks of higher powers changing the original plans of Romeo and Juliet.
Several factors that led to the death Romeo and Juliet, but destiny takes the highest share. Shakespeare shows how destiny has changed and defied the events in the play leading to an expected and tragic ending. No one but fate is to blame for the death of Romeo and Juliet.
Conclusion
The motif of fate in the love story of Romeo and Juliet has not only taken control of both their lives but also made a very unfortunate ending to the play. Romeos belief in destiny seems to connect with the death of both of them in the end. Juliet on the other hand, through fate, convinces herself that Romeo is much better than what he is, and gives him her undivided love.
It is for the fact that things would have turned out differently had fate never interfered with the love story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
