Romeo and Juliet - Death by Coincedence

The play Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare tells the story of two very young lovers who die. It just appears that fate controlled the outcome of the story. But if you really study and interpret the story you will realize it is a series of a few simple coincidences, which made the outcome so tragic.

It was just a coincidence that Romeo happened to meet Juliet. Near the beginning to the story Capulet decides to throw a party, where Juliet and Romeo first meet. Romeo was not an invited guest at this party because of the Capulet’s hatred for his family. He would not have even attended the party if it were not for Capulet sending a servant who could not read to deliver the invitations. The Servant happens to ask Romeo to read the invitation list for him. Romeo then finds out about the party and also that Rosaline will be attending. He then decided to attend this party as an uninvited guest. If it were not for Capulet sending incompetent help to do his tasks or if Romeo had been in a different spot at that time and did not come in contact with the servant, then Juliet and Romeo would have never even met in the first place. Also, while attending that party, Romeo is discovered at the party by Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. Tybalt has a strong hatred for all Montague’s and when he discovers that one is attending his own family’s party it really angers him. He then goes straight to the head of the Capulet family and asks for permission to fight the intruder. Capulet does not want a fight at his party so he tells Tybalt to be patient and ignore him. This of course makes Tybalt very angry, but he obeys his uncle and lets Romeo stay. If Capulet had been in an angry mood, then he might not have been so lenient at the party. If Tybalt had not gone to him and just acted under his own judgement, then Romeo would have never met Juliet, and would have been forced to leave the party or even killed. These facts prove that it was just a coincidence that Romeo and Juliet came to meet and fall in love that night. If things had not happened exactly the way they did the outcome would have been completely different.

It is just a coincidence that things are so tragic for Romeo and Juliet and they do not end up together. It was just a series of event that did not go in their favour. For instance when Romeo kills Tybalt in revenge for Mercutio’s death, the Prince investigates the crime. He decides to punish Romeo and says, “Let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when he is found, that hour is his last.” (III, i, 93-94). He then chooses Romeo’s punishment to be banishment. If Romeo had not killed Tybalt then the Prince would not have banished him and Juliet and he might have found away to be together. Also, when Juliet was grieving for the death of Tybalt and Romeo’s banishment her Father pushes ahead the date of Juliet and Paris’s marriage. Her mother then breaks the news to her. The thought of marriage to Juliet only makes her more upset and she goes to Friar Lawrence in search of help. He suggests a plan to drug Juliet to get her out of the situation. If her father had not tried so hard to make her happy, or did not try to force a marriage on her, then they would have had time to think of a logical solution to the problem and Juliet and Romeo might have been able to find away to stay together. If not for a series of events