One of the most important issues in The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is that of choice.

                         Shall bitterly begin this fearful date

                         With this night revels and expire the term

                         Of a despised life closed, in my breast

                         By some vile forfeit of untimely death (1, 4, 116-121).

Romeo here states his fear of the upcoming night, which foretells of dreadful events occurring. Romeo is alarmed by the great power of the sky, which enlightens him what fate has in store for him. He rightly believes that his destiny is to die. Ironically the masquerade ball is where he encounters his true love, Juliet. After slaying Tybalt Romeo is banished from Verona and his beautiful wife. However, he believes that once again he will be reunited with Juliet. Nevertheless, when Balthazar informs Romeo that Juliet has died, Romeo tries to go against the power of fate: “Is it e’en so? / Then I defy you stars! / Thou knowest me lodging”(5, 1, 25-26)

As much as Romeo tries to escape the stars, his future is determined from the beginning. Romeo’s downfall is inescapable despite how hard he tries to alter his life.

Other characters, such as Juliet, also believe in the power of fate and destiny. From their first encounter, Juliet foreshadows her own future with Romeo: “Go ask his name: if he be married. / My grave is like to be my wedding bed”(1, 5, 150-151).  Once Romeo and Juliet are married they are soon destined to die, hence their grave becomes their wedding bed, ironically foreshadowing her death with Romeo. Another example of Juliet’s belief in providence is when Romeo is banished to Mantua. She says:

                        O Fortune, Fortune! All men call the fickle.

                          If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him

                          That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune,

                         For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long

                         But send him back (3, 5, 60-65).

Juliet shows that she not only believes in the power of fate over her situation, but that of Romeo’s.  She begs fortune or fate to return her lover back to her. She questions fate asking it why it needs Romeo, and hopes for his safe return back swiftly.

The minor characters also believe in the power of the stars. When Juliet awakens and finds Romeo dead, Friar Laurence informs Juliet:

I hear some noise. Lady, come from the nest

 Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:

 A greater power than we can contradict

 Hath thwarted our intents (5,3,163-167).

That a “Higher Power”, fate, has ruined their plans. And it seems that friar Laurence doesn’t want to take any responsibility for the part he played in Romeo’s death. After all he is the one who came up with the idea for Juliet to drink the sleeping potion that would make everyone think she was dead, so she and Romeo would be able to escape to Mantua peacefully. Friar Laurence also blames “Unhappy fortune”, from preventing the letter that explains that Juliet isn’t really dead to Romeo:

                        Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?

                         Friar John

                         I could not send it—here it is again,

                         Nor send a messenger to bring it thee,

                         So fearful were they of infection,

                         Friar Laurence

                        Unhappy fortune! (5, 2, 14-18).

Friar Laurence requests Friar John to give a letter to Romeo, which states that Juliet isn’t really died, and is just a part of his plan to reunite the two lovers. However, because of an apprehensive infection Friar john was unable to give the letter to Romeo or send a messenger to do so. Therefore Friar Laurence blames “Unhappy Fortune” for preventing the letter to reach to Romeo. One of the most important minor character in Romeo and Juliet, but one that no one accounts for is the servant who got this tragedy started. The servant of Lord Capulet, who happens to be illiterate, was given the job of telling people about the party, but only the specific people on the list. Since he could not read nor write he was forced to ask two complete strangers, which happens to be Romeo and Benvolio.

                          God gi’go-den. I pray sir can you read

                          Romeo

                          Ay, mine own fortune in my misery…

                          Stay fellow; I can read

                          Servant

                          Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master

                           Is the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the

  house of Montague’s pray come and crush a cup

  of wine. Rest you merry. (1, 2, 62-63,67,85-90)

                        

Even though many unfortunate events played a key role in the death of the lovers, it was really due to the fact that Romeo and Juliet were “Death marked lovers” and at the end destiny was victorious. Romeo and Juliet were fated to bring peace to Verona with their death ending their parent’s feud. Truly fate is the most dominant force in the play, and most responsible for the unfortunate events that occurred in Romeo and Juliet.