How is the theme of fate inevitable in the play?

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.

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.