Romeo and Juliet: Fate

Romeo and Juliet: Fate

  • Submitted By: veriviki
  • Date Submitted: 02/08/2009 7:40 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 966
  • Page: 4
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Romeo and Juliet: Fate

The definition of fate is the power that is supposed to settle ahead of time how things are supposed to happen. It is said to be unchangeable. Could there really be such a power that rules our lives, and if so, why? Romeo and Juliet’s life and loves were governed by fate. It gave them, and their families’ tragedy, heartbreak, and fear, but it also gave them happiness. One could say that fate is the ultimate controller in this play. The prologue states that the two lovers are “death-marked” and that they have no control over what happens to them. Shakespeare also chooses to refer to Romeo and Juliet as “star-crossed lovers”, meaning that they are doomed from birth. Could something like this truly happen, or is Romeo and Juliet just another piece of art showcasing the belief that people had in fate back in the Elizabethan era?
One could say that Romeos relation to love is complex and his character even more so. In the beginning of the play Romeo pines for Rosaline’s love. He says she is the epitome of women and is heartbroken over her lack of love for him. His love for her is rather juvenile, and is based solely on looks alone. Romeo is an avid reader of love poetry and one could claim that he is trying to recreate the feelings he has read about into a real
situation. It is fate that allows Romeo to meet Juliet, and allows him to forget about Rosaline. Romeos love for her was a mere crush compared to the deep love he shares with Juliet. Over the course of the play, from the time he spends pining for Rosaline, to meeting and falling in love with Juliet, Romeo matures a great deal. This is, in part, due to Juliet. Romeo is very romantic, and is full of love filled notions. Juliet brings him back to earth a little bit by sharing her rational observations, such as when they first meet at the ball, and share a kiss. “You kiss by the book.” (Bevington, p.69) This can be understood as either that Romeo is an expert kisser, or he is an...

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