Discuss the Role of Fate In Romeo and Juliet
Discuss the role of fate in Romeo and Juliet
From the start of the play, we have a sense that the love of Romeo and Juliet is doomed.
The prologue even suggests this by mentioning heavenly imagery and the stars, which were then believed to change people's fate.
The prologue proposes that Romeo and Juliet's love would be doomed, by mentioning the stars.
' A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.'
This indicates that the stars have decided from birth that Romeo and Juliet's love would never succeed, and their fate from the stars, hang over them from the beginning.
'Death' also lingers in the prologue, insinuating that something bad lies ahead for Romeo and Juliet.
'The fearful passage of their death-marked love.'
This is almost telling us that their love will not last forever and may end in death.
Later in the play, when Romeo first sees his love, Juliet he describes her. One of the lines suggests Juliet is to precious for this world.
'Beauty too rich for use, for Earth too dear.'
This line tells us that Romeo thinks Juliet is so perfect and beautiful, she should not be on this Earth, but somewhere much more special, such as heaven or with the stars.
When Romeo and Juliet finally meet, they start with a dance and they almost instantly 'click', and their conversation shows this, as they carry on the metaphor throughout the conversation.
They both keep mentioning the words, 'blessed', 'holy', 'pilgrim' and 'prayer' in their sentences, indicating heavenly imagery, which also suggests that fate will win over their love in the end.
'Ay pilgrim lips, that they must use in prayer.'
This and the whole sonnet, shows their chemistry and lustrous bond with each other, but also hints something dreadful will happen in time to come.
When the two lovers meet again, for the second time, there are hints of heavenly images and themes. The audience, feel so content when we see Romeo and Juliet are so in love. Then, when we are reminded by subtle hints in the conversation, we feel impotent of changing what will happen to them both, as fate decides everything. We then realise no matter what they do; they cannot stop their destiny ...
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This and the whole sonnet, shows their chemistry and lustrous bond with each other, but also hints something dreadful will happen in time to come.
When the two lovers meet again, for the second time, there are hints of heavenly images and themes. The audience, feel so content when we see Romeo and Juliet are so in love. Then, when we are reminded by subtle hints in the conversation, we feel impotent of changing what will happen to them both, as fate decides everything. We then realise no matter what they do; they cannot stop their destiny controlling them.
This also causes a dramatic tension in the audience when we are reminded what is going to happen to them.
Even the way Romeo and Juliet are positioned shows us an image of heavenly-like features, when Juliet stands on the balcony above Romeo, implying she is higher and nearer to heaven, like an angel, as he calls her.
When Romeo describes Juliet, he compares her with the stars and heaven,
'Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do intreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.'
Even though Romeo's words are very romantic, they are slightly hubris, which in the sixteenth century was not a good sign, because they believed the stars controlled fate and destiny. So when Romeo compares or says Juliet I better than the stars, this is a signal that something bad is going to happen.
'The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars.'
This implies that their love is potent and fate cannot touch them what ever happens. This again, is a hubris comment, which suggests that something fearful may happen to Romeo and Juliet, later on.
All through the balcony scene (II, ii), Romeo and Juliet refer to each other as, 'bright angel', 'dear saint' and 'a winged messenger from heaven'.
These conjure heavenly pictures in our minds, reminding us of what lies ahead for them, stirring up a tension in the audience, remembering that Romeo and Juliet are two 'star-crossed lovers'.
'This bud of love by summer's ripening breath may prove a beauteous flower when we next meet.'
Juliet mentions a flower in a positive sense, symbolising the growth of their relationship. Although in a negative aspect, flowers also die soon after, which could also propose what is going to happen.
When Friar Lawrence speaks with Romeo (II, iv), the Friar warns Romeo of what may happen to him and Juliet, but metaphorically.
'Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.'
Friar Lawrence reminds us that with Romeo and Juliet's love also includes death, even though Romeo and the Friar do not know it yet.
Later when Juliet and nurse speak, heavenly images are seen again but only as subtle hints.
'Therefore do nimble-pointed doves draw love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift cupid wings.'
This again, shows us that the roll of fate between Romeo and Juliet will turn from love into death.
When Romeo talks to friar Lawrence again, Romeo seems as if he makes a hubris comment.
'Then love-devouring death, do what he dare,
It is enough I may but call her mine.'
This remark is hubris because it indicates that Romeo is challenging death. This makes the audience feel fearful that a disaster will strike, as destiny cannot be changed and because Romeo keeps saying hubris comments, it is almost certain that Romeo and Juliet's love, will come to an end.
When Romeo has killed Tybalt and they decide to banish Romeo from Verona, it is as if death hangs over him if he ever comes back.
This then gives us a slight hint that if he does come back than a disaster will happen, as we already know it does.
'And for that offence/Immediately we do exile on him hence.'
This makes it quite perceptible that there will be a catastrophe soon because we know that Romeo will go back for Juliet.
When Juliet talks to the nurse again, she makes strange remarks and comparisons when talking about love.
'Come gentle night, come loving black-browed night,
Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine.'
This sentence suggests that death be involved with Romeo and Juliet's love. When she refers to her love of Romeo, she mentions death and heaven in the same sentence, which normally does not get mentioned when someone is on the subject of love.
When Romeo has been banished from Verona, he says exile is as bad as being dead, so why not just kill him. But it then becomes apparent to us that this will happen soon, making the audience again, feel impotent of what will happen knowing they cannot change what Romeo will do.
'They are free men, but I am banished.
And sayest thou yet that exile is not death?'
This makes the audience feel a great tension, which makes the story more intriguing to read or listen to because we know Romeo will end up dying.
Friar Lawrence talks of Juliet but it becomes apparent that his metaphor soon is reality.
'Wilt thou slay thyself,
And slay thy lady that in thy lives,
By doing damned hate upon thyself?'
It becomes evident that the friar is saying Juliet's life will be destroyed if Romeo takes his life, it will be like killing her as well. The difference is, Friar Lawrence uses this metaphorically but later, this becomes real.
Even though this is only meant as a metaphor, the audience knows it is a sign that fate will overtake their love and Romeo and Juliet will end up dying.
After Romeo and Juliet's first night of love together, he leaves and Juliet gets a sense of something-bad happening.
'O God, I have an ill-divining soul.
Methinks I see thee now thou art so low,
As one dead in a bottom of a tomb.'
This indicates that Juliet feels something bad is going to happen and it shows her feelings will soon be right.
When Juliet has drunk the liquor that Friar Lawrence gives her to fool Paris and her family into thinking she is dead, Balthasar tells Romeo this.
'Is it even so? Then I defy you stars.'
This suggests that Romeo has had enough.
He does not accept fate, destiny or any rules of the heavens.
This is a very potent line for the sixteenth century because the whole world 'controlled by fate'.
Defying the stars is as strong as saying 'I defy God.' It would make a terrible catastrophe.
At the end, it becomes evident that all of these subtle hints of heavenly images were warnings that Romeo and Juliet's love was doomed.
Gemma Carey
