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How is the...
4 months ago
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Henry Walker
I would like a comprehensive response about how fate is inevitable in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and please include quotations to support each idea/
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4 Answers
Repeated references to fate and fortune throughout the play underscore Shakespeare’s suggestion that humans are merely pawns in a larger cosmic scheme—invisible but inescapable fates, Shakespeare argues throughout the play, steer the course of human lives, and any and all actions that attempt to subvert those fates are futile and doomed to fail.
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A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.”
This foreshadows not only their tragic deaths but also the reconciliation of their feuding families, underscoring the predetermined nature of events. By framing the play as a tragedy of fate, Shakespeare invites the audience to view every action as a step toward an unavoidable conclusion.
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Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.The theme of fate is present throughout Romeo and Juliet, and many believe that it is the force that drives the play's tragic events. Here's a comprehensive look at how fate is portrayed as inevitable in the play:
2. Romeo's Premonitions: Romeo has several premonitions throughout the play that suggest he is aware of his impending doom. For example, before attending the Capulet ball, he says:
3. Juliet's Premonitions: Juliet also has a premonition about Romeo's death when she sees him leaving her room after their wedding night:
4. Friar Laurence's Actions: Friar Laurence's attempts to help Romeo and Juliet ultimately contribute to their deaths. His plan to reunite them goes awry, and he is unable to prevent Romeo from taking his own life.
5. The Role of Chance: Several events in the play can be attributed to chance or bad luck, such as Tybalt's death, Romeo's banishment, and the failure of Friar Laurence's letter to reach Romeo. These events, while seemingly accidental, contribute to the tragic outcome and reinforce the idea that fate is at work.
6. The Chorus: The chorus in the play repeatedly emphasizes the role of fate in the lives of Romeo and Juliet. They describe the lovers as being "star-crossed" and their deaths as being predetermined.
7. Romeo's Defiance: In the final act of the play, Romeo attempts to defy fate by taking his own life.14 However, this act of defiance only serves to fulfill the prophecy of his death.
In conclusion, the theme of fate is woven throughout Romeo and Juliet, and it is portrayed as an inevitable force that ultimately leads to the tragic deaths of the two lovers. The prologue, the characters' premonitions, Friar Laurence's actions, the role of chance, the chorus, and Romeo's defiance all contribute to the sense that fate is in control of the play's events.
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