Furthermore the prologue depicts the love of Romeo and Juliet as “death mark’d” (Prologue, line 9) this signifies that not only are they going to die but their love is condemned to destruction. Fate does not want them to be together, so shall be it.
Fate makes its next appearance in Act 1 Scene 4 Line 112 when Romeo has a premonition of his own impending death. Romeo indicates this with the words “untimely death,” which in its own way is foreshadowing as the audience already knows that Romeo is going to die, as revealed in the prologue.
As Romeo believes that his road to death will begin with this night, he declares that “he that hath the steerage of my course, direct my sail.” (Act 1, Scene 4, Line 113 -114) This demonstrates that Romeo understands and accepts that he is not in charge of his life,
Regardless of the fact that Romeo wants to make his own choices. From these lines we can also determine that Romeo is going to agree with whatever fate has in store for him. These lines also suggest that Romeo is not defiant and is not against fate. Romeo actually recognises that fate does exist and is the powerful force.
In Act2 Scene 6 Line 7 Romeo foreshadows his own tragedy by challenging death to do whatever he wants as long as he is married to Juliet, “love devouring death do what he dare.” This could also act as a temptation to fate as Romeo contends with death itself to try and end his pleasure. Fate arrives as many forms in the play, one of which is the angel of death, for the reason that these lovers were destined to die. By challenging fate to “do his worst”, Romeo is indirectly praying for not only his own death but Juliet’s death as well.
However Romeo is not the only character referencing to fate. In Act 2, Scene 6, Line 9, Friar Lawrence comments on the marriage of Romeo and Juliet with the words “these violent delights have violent ends.” In this line Friar Lawrence is also trying to counsel Romeo to tone down his powerful love because it may end unsuccessfully. Also the audience already knows that the play Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy so it is going to end in death, therefore the Friar’s words are more than just wise statements, but in reality they reinforce the concept of fate and remind the audience of the role of fate in the tale.
Mercutio’s dying words in Act 3, scene 1, line 106, are curses to the Montague and Capulet households “a plague o’both your houses.” Mercutio utters this prayer thrice reinforcing the idea. He seems to hold only the Capulet’s and Montague’s liable for his death. He wishes bad fortune on both of them which ultimately shows that his prayer was answered at the death of Romeo and Juliet. Mercutio’s dying prayer could have been all it took to make fate take its next step.
The events after this play out as determined by fate. On discovering the death of his best friend Mercutio, Romeo kills Tybalt, king of cats, as an act of vengeance. After realising his horrific deed, Romeo cries out “o I am fortunes fool” (Act 3, scene 4, line 136) At this point Romeo realises that he is a victim of fate and he does not have control over the course of his life. This exclamation also refers specifically towards the fact that Romeo just killed his wife’s cousin. This reminds the audience that fate is still around and Romeo is fate’s target. Romeo finally realises that fate has set him up by putting him in the worst possible situation.
As mentioned before Romeo has a vision of his “untimely death.” In the same way Juliet foreshadows how she will see Romeo for the last time with her in her grave. “As one dead in the bottom of a tomb” (Act 3, Scene 5, Line 56) When Juliet mentions this she thinks her soul is “ill divining.” At this point in the play Juliet is thinking of the most unpleasant events that could occur. The vision Juliet has blatantly foreshadows the end result of the play. In fact this is the last time Romeo and Juliet see each other alive and conscious. Both know what fate has in store for them yet they refuse to accept it.
Juliet acknowledges fate as the stronger force because in Act 3 Scene 5 Line 6 Juliet exclaims “Be fickle fortune.” Here Juliet comprehends that fate is not in her hands and that their destiny is sealed. Juliet is begging fate to change their future but fate cannot be changed because it has already been written.
However Romeo has the opposite reaction to fate and stands in defiance. In Act 5, Scene 1, Line 24 Romeo rejects the stars that have decided to separate Juliet and him. He will be with Juliet despite what the stars have conspired. “Then I defy you stars”. The audience knows that the death of Romeo and Juliet as foretold will occur soon. However Romeo refuses to acknowledge fate as the higher power. This could also tempt fate to show how much power it really has. In this exclamation Romeo is trying to show his defiance to fate by killing himself so he can be with Juliet. In actual fact this decision made by Romeo ensures that both he and Juliet die and fulfil their destiny. One of fate’s clever scheme’s.
The last quote I would like to mention is Friar Lawrence‘s acknowledgement of fate in Act 5 Scene 6, Line 153-154 where Friar Lawrence tells Juliet that a higher power either god or fate has ruined their plan; “A greater power that we can contradict hath thwarted our intents” From this we can interpret that the friar is speaking of fate which is set in stone and which we cannot change. This is where Fate has won its last battle with the tale of Romeo and Juliet.
Overall it is in my opinion that not only did fate have a major role to play in Romeo and Juliet but fate also affected the tale on an increasingly big scale. The story of Romeo and Juliet was meant to end in tragedy despite the amount of lives taken and the sadness it caused. It was written in stone that they would die and so they did. No amount of defiance or resistance would have changed their destiny. However I believe some decisions in the play made by Romeo and Juliet were incorrect and this influenced the end result.
