The very first coincidence is that both Romeo and Juliet ‘share’ the unfortunate fate that they are both from feuding families. They are both a perfect match for each other, and it is mere fate that one is a Montague and the other a Capulet; basically they are really very unlucky! They both show their grief when they learn that the other is from the opposite family. "O dear account! My life is my foe's debt." and "My only love sprung from my only hate” are the two expressions that Romeo and Juliet exclaim. Besides the fact that they probably would have never been able to live a peaceful life, none of the tragedies would have occurred had they not met in the first place.
Juliet had the right idea when she shows her frustration with the feud, and its influence on Romeo and Juliet's relationship, in her soliloquy on the balcony, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet...”
The scene, where the Montagues find out about the Capulet ball is another ‘twist of fate’. The servant of Capulet, who happens to be illiterate, is given the job of telling people about the party, but only those specifically on a list written up by his master. Since he cannot read, he is forced to ask two strangers to explain it to him. Those two people could have been anyone, but they just happened to be Romeo and Benvolio. It is fate that makes the encounter, therefore, between Romeo and Juliet possible. Before Romeo enters the house of the Capulets, he speaks about an unknown danger “hanging in the stars”. Romeo senses that something bad and tragic may happen, based on his fate.
When Romeo learns that Juliet is dead, he immediately says he defies fate, by saying that he defies what is written in the stars. He refuses to accept that Juliet is dead. What Romeo doesn’t realize here is that he has no control over his destiny. No matter how angry or motivated he is to change what is written in the stars, he cannot. It is already predetermined.
The audience are reminded that Romeo’s fate is already predetermined when Friar Laurence warns Romeo that people who act impulsively often have very negative consequences (and also perhaps destructive). This indicates that there will, in fact, be negative consequences to Romeo’s actions.
The next fate occurrence is when Mercutio yells out in anger “A plague o’ both you houses!” three times. These words are another reminder to the tragedy that is ‘fated’, as if it were, to occur. It is also an example of a foreshadow. Romeo and Juliet have very little to do with what happens to them at the end of the play. It is sheer misfortune and fate that lead to the tragic ending.
As when Juliet tells Romeo of her vision of him dead at the bottom of a tomb, she is foreshadowing to the already destined event these two lovers will soon face – death. Something closely related to Juliet’s vision is Romeo’s dream that Juliet finds him dead. This is also again foreshadowing their death. This is yet another example where fate has a role in the lives of Romeo and Juliet; it is something that they simply cannot control.
When Juliet is "buried" twenty-four hours before Friar Laurence planned, it gave Friar John less time to get the message to Romeo. Beside that, Balthasar came in on one day only to see how Juliet was doing. If Juliet would have been able to take the potion as scheduled, Balthasar would have seen Juliet doing well and been able to come back to Romeo with a report of good news. Romeo would then have had no reason to buy the poison and commit suicide. Friar Laurence would have sent another messenger and all would have been well. Fate here has really disturbed and had an enormous impact on the characters’ lives and the situations that they are in.
Although Romeo and Juliet are responsible for their own physical deaths, fate still plays a big role in getting the two to even think about committing suicide. The most obvious example of fate is the quarantine in Mantua. Friar Laurence's plan is that Juliet would be laid in the tomb, appearing to be dead, and when she wakes up, Romeo will be there to meet her. Friar Laurence is supposed to get a message to Mantua, where Romeo is at because of his banishment, and inform him about the plan. This is a seemingly perfect plan, and gives the readers a sense of hope, but the plan is ruined when they discover that there was a quarantine in Mantua, and Romeo was unable to get the letter. This is the point in which Romeo decides that it would be best if he committed suicide.
Also, when Juliet wakes up from the sleeping potion and asks where the Friar is, the Friar responds by saying that some ‘higher power’ has changed their original plans. That higher power is none other than what people have no control over – fate. Through fate, the friar does not make it to Juliet’s tomb on time. Romeo kills himself before the friar tells him that Juliet isn’t really dead. This is not the friar’s fault; rather it is fate that that he doesn’t get there in time.
In conclusion, William Shakespeare had countless times where he could have saved both of them, but he does not. He gives the reader a little hope that the two will survive, but with each event, that hope is crushed. Although Romeo and Juliet did not have to kill themselves, none of the tragedies would have occurred, had the story not been so unpredictable. Truly, fate is the most dominant force in the play, and is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
