Fates Role in Romeo and Juliet

Fate’s Role in “Romeo and Juliet”

In William Shakespeare’s play, “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, fate plays one of the largest roles in the plot. In order to understand how fate plays a role it is important to examine how the story begins, when Romeo meets Juliet, and when Romeo fights Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio.

One reason why fate plays a big role is that the play begins by hinting that Romeo and Juliet will be affected by fate. The chorus begins the play by giving the general idea of the story. He explains to the audience that Romeo and Juliet are doomed from the start. “From the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” (Prologue, 5-6). The chorus says that the two children of rivaled families are born to love each other and die by suicide. This quote shows what fate already has in store for them before they are born. It displays that fate will be a large factor in the story and the end will be tragic. The quote also shows that the two that are born to love are born into a bitter and hateful grudge between the two families. Their “star-crossed” destiny makes us as if fate has given them an unlucky place in life. All of these things allow us to believe that fate will determine the out-come of the play.

Another reason why fate plays a role is that it is by fate that Romeo and Juliet meet. Romeo goes to a party of his rival house, uninvited, hoping to see his Rosaline that he became so lovesick for. Instead Romeo sees Juliet, and at this site he has a quick change of heart. Romeo becomes convinced that Juliet is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen and ever will see. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (I, 5, 57-58). Romeo says that his heart has never loved before that moment and that his eyes confirm that Juliet is truly a beauty to be sought. This quote shows how Romeo quickly forgets his