In this report I will try to discuss in depth why I feel that fate and free will, were indeed a key factors leading to the deaths of young Romeo and Juliet in this Shakespearian play of love and tragedy
In this report I will try to discuss in depth why I feel that fate and free will, were indeed a key factors leading to the deaths of young Romeo and Juliet in this Shakespearian play of love and tragedy. A consistent sense of foreboding is applied and presented through the structure, language and sequence of events. From the off we are left with a feeling of misfortune looming this is made apparent in the sixth line of the prologue were the first proclamation of disaster is foretold 'A pair of star-crossed lovers who take their life;' this is a suggestion of the recurring theme of love and tragedy delivered in many works produced by Shakespeare during the Elizabethan era such as 'Othello' and 'Julius Cesar and Cleopatra'. The prologue was a very important method of play write as it allowed the audience in the theatres to derive their own conviction of the play before hand. This method was very effective and was often used by Shakespeare .
Shakespeare was very popular with his audience as he produced work for all the different sectors of the crowd as the theatre was split up for the different classes of society, the pit in which people stood would be were the working class were located and the gallery would be were those of higher status in society were situated so in theory the higher up you were in the theatre the more established you were in society.
As a result of the variation in the audience , the content of Shakespeare's plays were required to cater to a range of preferences. The working class would have favoured the witty, explicit and sexual nature of the play and the ladies and gentlemen of the galley would have preferred the more subtle and deep morals to the plot. The prologue However, was a regular element of Shakespeare's play intended for all to see. This small verse which is usually poetic details the main plot of the play like a synopsis of a book similar, however usually the full storyline was often told.
The key factor leading to the sequence of events is that of fate and freewill, for outcomes can only be determined by decisions made or indeed are dependent the role fate.
Its seems apparent that the recurring quarrel between the Capulet and Montague families seemed to have an affect on freewill and fate takes it course, we are told of this quarrel in the prologue "from ancient grudge break to new mutiny" if there had not been this feud between the two houses of Montague and Capulet , though sometimes seeming unimportant, there would have been no foundation to build the plot around.
In act one scene one after the third public brawl on the streets of Verona the Prince Escalus declared that who so ever disturbed the peace again shall pay the price with their lives "disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace" there is still quarrel between both families and if this peace is broken then the consequence shall be paid.
In act one scene one Romeo who has not yet met Juliet nor knows anything of her is infatuated with Rosaline whom does not share the same affection, the consequence of her freewill meant that she dismisses Romeo freedom to be with her witch it the time is indeed what he wanted. Even though he confesses his love for her, in his mind this love is a burden "too rough, too rude, too boisterous". it is with this love/hate style of romance that justifies Romeo's use of oxymorons, "feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health". he ...
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In act one scene one Romeo who has not yet met Juliet nor knows anything of her is infatuated with Rosaline whom does not share the same affection, the consequence of her freewill meant that she dismisses Romeo freedom to be with her witch it the time is indeed what he wanted. Even though he confesses his love for her, in his mind this love is a burden "too rough, too rude, too boisterous". it is with this love/hate style of romance that justifies Romeo's use of oxymorons, "feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health". he is taljkin about how love/hate and opposites being attracted are associated in the play.
If Rosaline did share the same emotions as Romeo did for her and Romeo was not " out of her favour " then Benvolio Romeo's good friend may not have suggested that he should seek love elsewhere, this is where fate comes into play. This is then acted upon when romeo "but he that hath steerage of my course direct my suit" he is furious in his rejection by Rosaline, but now Romeo can now allow himself him be committed to the hands of fate, for his own good or destruction.
It is in an empty, desolate state that Romeo and his friend Benvolio stumble upon a Capulet messanger who's job it is to inform people of the Capulet's Grand occasion, as fate would have it, it was not known at the time the messenger was sent off that he was an illiterate and it could be said that fate once more sees to it that the people he comes across to asks to read for him just happen to be Montague's. The likelihood of this bypass is undoubtedly the hand of fate that play a major role in this play. Should this experience of extreme consequence not have occurred, then the events that result in the play would change. Romeo reads the list and on doing so realises that 'at this same ancient feast of Capulet's sups the fair Rosaline' this attracts him to the party and from there fate again takes its course.
Had Romeo and his friends not have attended uninvited at the Capulet party in search of Rosaline , then Romeo would not have met Juliet and the whole plot would have changed altogether depreciating Shakespeare's original design. From this we can gather that if Roslaine's freewill did not turn Romeo away then he would not have attended the party in which he met Juliet, this is an example of how individual's freewill affects fate and may change the freewill of others.
Romeo's initial reason for being at this party is to again meet with Rosaline and the reason the Capulet house is hosting such a ball is to make their daughter Juliet and chosen son in law more acquainted. Although the enthusiasm of Lady Capulet seems to cloud the freewill of her daughter to choose her own husband fate is not at all sidelined by freewill.
Suddenly, now that Romeo of the Montague house fallen for Juliet of the Capulet house the story twists and fate prevents their relationship from being so easy to pursue as both their families are in dispute. This is an important feature of the story line as this plot it what Shakespeare bases a large part of the on.
While present at the Grand Capulet occasion Romeo was spotted by a Montague in whom he was in dispute, Tybalt was his name cousin to Juliet, Tybalt is in rage as he feels insulted that a Montague dares to show his face in the house of his foe he becomes agitated and this further more shows how fate has made it is dangerous for Juliet and Romeo to have a relationship without sparking a conflict.
Tybalt is now seeking revenge for what he felt to be an insult to hisa family, Romeos fate may now be influenced by the actions of Tybalt.
As things stand it seems that trouble is on the horizon if Romeo and Juliet pursue a relationship, they are not aware of what fate lies ahead and their downfall can be said to be due to their lack of foresight. During the balcony scene when Romeo goes to see Juliet he does not consider the consequence of his actions well enough, he seems to forget that their quarrel between his family and theirs is of an ancient establishment, yet he is ready to renounce his name in the name of love.
In act two Romeo begins to realise that this love will take it toll own him and that it may be too good to be true " for stony limits cannot hold this love out", the reason for this is not solely because of the actions of the characters, but because of the environment and situating that they were born into "fate" a common and unfriendly factor in the play for young Romeo and Juliet.
Aside from their freewill to love as they like, their love is also helped along by the actions of Juliet's Nurse who is a determined match maker for the two young lovers in the play. Due to her actions Juliet becomes more and more encouraged to be with Romeo and follow her heart forgetting her place in the Capulet household. This act of freewill allows Juliet to fall in love and is very relevant to the outcome of the play. The Nurse who truly does show affection for Juliet and treats her like her own child does not however truly understand the depth of Juliet's love for Romeo "I think it best you married with the County" and if she had she may have foreseen the result of their love which is inevitably tragedy, in this case death because of the history of their families. **************
After the nurses involvement in matters Friar Lawrence Lawrence's significant yet meddlesome character is introduced to the play. His duty is to marry Romeo and Juliet, he feels that in doing so it will help end this long quarrel between their two families, "this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households rancour to pure love" unfortunately for all concerned the families are not at peace in the marriage of their children but only in their death. He does however suss the possibility of forthcoming tragedy "these violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die, like fire and powder" in saying this the Friar subconsciously states that their spontaneous and passionate love may lead to disaster. He uses comparisons to fire and powder to outline their compatibility and even though they are different like magnets they attract, but in their attraction fatality results as would the attraction of gunpowder and fire. Even in marriage they still cannot be together.
The necessary formalities for Romeo and Juliet to be married have now taken place the audience are then told of the significant change of weather it is described as stifling and oppressive, making the citizens of Verona irritated bar Benvolio. He says (to Mercutio) the heat gets "mad blood stiring" this can be linked to the unanticipated decisions of Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio. As a result of their actions freewill becomes restricted and it changes the course of the play, as the Montague duo come across Tybalt, Mercutio attempts to provoke him into a brawl, as an act of good freewill Tybalt does not oblige, as he does not have quarrel with Benvolio but so with Romeo. However the continous aggravation does finaly draw Tybalt into battle and results in the death of Mercutio. This act of freewill that Tybalt has taken entices Romeo to avenge Mercutio who does so by killing Tybalt in the rage and spur of the moment. On this act Romeo lets out a cry "oh I am fortunes fool" as he knows that he is now left to the demise of fate which is indeed the wrath of the Prince Escalus. The consequence of the events that occurred leaves Romeo exiled from Verona, this is indeed a worse punishment for him than death as he could not bare to live without Juliet (as expressed by Romeo) this is a necessary scene as it enables Shakespeare to achieve his goal of a tragic ending.
In the event that Juliet had been allowed to choose her own husband the outcomes of the play would have evolved in a different light. What that was not the case fate would rather have it the she was forced into an arranged marriage a marriage that ten became more convenient in Tybalt's death it became an event that was seen to bring happiness (but not for all concerned, in particular Juliet) Juliet however must have felt betrayal and that her parents were not concerned for her happiness in matrimony, she lets this feeling out in desperation "delay this marriage for a month, a week, or if you do not, make the bridal bed in the dim monument where Tybalt lies" this can compliments the them of love and death reiterating the events of Tybalts death, this quotes threatens of a tragic end and Juliet is left in confusion. .
Juliet's young mind is confused, Romeo to her knowledge is out of her life, she is about to be forced into marriage and does not know what to do, she turns to Friar Lawrence in search of guidance he tells her of his plan to help Romeo and herself be free of this poisonous and consuming city called Verona, he plans that on the night before she is to be wedded that she takes a potion that would make her appear dead so that instead of her family preparing for her wedding they would indeed think they were burying her and in the mix up run off and perhaps elope with Romeo. The Friar plans to tell Romeo of this plan in a letter to be sent to him by a messenger but of course as fate would have it they should be so lucky. During a plague in which the city had been swarmed by the rate of efficiency in the city depreciates and it becomes hard for the messenger to come and meet Romeo in time, despite the efforts of the poor messenger in an up tempo race to find Romeo the letter fails to reach Romeo him and the purpose that Friar Lawrence tries to achieve (by this I mean letting Romeo know of his plan) becomes flawed.
Romeo arrives to the tomb and to his misfortune finds the body of Juliet who he at this point believes is dead, lying on a death bed, having taken enough of the pain and surrow and in an attempt to rid himself of it he joins her and consumes a poison that he goes out to purchase, when she comes too she realises the mixup and "stabs herself once more with his dagger". the tale of two lovers ends in death as a result of the mixture of fate and freewill, consequence and environment, name and misfortune. the tale of ancient foes ends in a peace bearing which is the consequence of the death of their children a peace paid for with a heavy price.
