Shakespeare, the author of the play Romeo and Juliet, tells the story of two teenagers from the sixteenth century whom fall in love with one another while their family’s loathe each other. Although the story of Romeo and Juliet has many themes, one of them being most important is fate because it determines the play’s tragic ending through a higher power, the feuding families, love, and death. As a result, fate leaves Romeo and Juliet with no other choice than to die for each other.
Throughout the story of Romeo and Juliet, fate controls the characters through being a higher power. One example of fate playing the role of the higher power is when the Prologue points out that Romeo and Juliet have fate against them. It says that their love is "death-marked"(Prologue.9) and they have no control over what happens. Their misfortune of fate making decisions for them leads to the sorrowful and tragic ending of the play. Another example of fate’s playing the role of the higher power is when Romeo, the hasty lover, enters the house of the Capulets for a party. He speaks about an unknown danger when he says, “ Some yet consequence yet hanging in stars” (1.4.114). This notion of events expected to occur being written in the stars explains how life is predetermined by fate. With fate controlling Romeo’s life, Romeo senses that something bad may occur.
The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues cause Romeo and Juliet to be left with no choice by fate. An example of when the two families cause Romeo and Juliet to be left with no choice by fate is when Mercutio speaks his last words after being wounded by Tybalt in a battle. Mercutio says, “A plague o’ both your houses!” (3.3.111). The plague that is fated upon both families is unstoppable. Because of the feud between the two families, both Romeo and Juliet would have never been able to live a peaceful life together. Another example of when the two families cause Romeo and Juliet to be left with no choice by...