Romeo and Juliet are also similar in their inability to communicate with their parents. After being turned down by Rosaline, Romeo avoids his parents and ‘locks fair daylight out’ 1,1,130. Romeo also feels unable to talk to his parents after meeting Juliet. This trait is mirrored in Juliet when she does not speak to her parents concerning her uncertainty over the arranged marriage, ‘I’ll look to like, if looking liking move’ 1,3,98. Juliet also feels unable to talk to her parents about Romeo. If Romeo and Juliet had spoken to their parents about their newfound love, two outcomes may have been possible. Either, the families would have banned their children from seeing each other, thus preventing the marriage from occurring in the first place, or the Montagues and Capulets may have become to an agreement, making the death of Tybalt and banishment of Romeo unlikely. I believe that the two characters unwillingness to talk to their parents may have been one of the deciding factors of the outcome of Romeo and Juliet. At the time in which Romeo and Juliet was set, arranged marriages where commonplace, and even if marriage was not pre arranged, parents were extremely involved in all aspects of the courtship and wedding. However, since Romeo and Juliet have chosen to exclude their families from their relationship, making arrangements is left up to the two characters moral advisors, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence. Although the Nurse and Friar Lawrence care for Romeo and Juliet a great deal, they have commitments other than helping bring the two lovers together. It is therefore unsurprising that a lost letter, sent by Friar Lawrence, marks the beginning of a chain of events that leads to Romeo and Juliet’s death. If the lovers confided in their parents, the Montagues and Capulets would be the only characters arranging meetings for their children. As Lady Capulet and Lady Montague seem extremely concerned with the welfare of their children at the beginning of the play, it is more likely that the letter would have reached Romeo.
Although they feel unable to talk to their parents, Romeo and Juliet are still extremely protective of their friends and family. After Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo feels he has to revenge his best friends death. Romeo follows Tybalt, kills him and for his crime, is banished from Verona. Romeo is then separated from Juliet and is unaware of Friar Lawrence’s plan, eventually leading to their deaths. If Romeo had not been as overprotective of Mercutio, Romeo may not have acted so rash and not been banished. Romeo’s violent temperament may have also had a part to play in the lover’s deaths. His mother first hints at Romeo’s like of street fighting, after a public brawl. ‘Right glad I am he was not at this fray’ 1,1,108. Romeo’s fiery temperament eventually gets him into trouble when he kills Tybalt, leading to his banishment. It can also be seen that Juliet has a temper, shown when the Nurse begins to tease her ‘No, no! But all this did I know before’ 2,5,45, and when her mother insists she marry Paris ‘he shall not make me there a joyful bride’ 3.5.115. Juliet shows courage standing up to leading members of her family, however being too courageous could have been Juliet’s downfall. The evening before Juliet’s supposed marriage to Paris, she prepares herself for taking the sleeping potion. At first she is anxious as to Friar Lawrence’s motives and then becomes worried about who will be in the tomb to meet her, ‘Shall I not then be stifled in the vault’ 4,3,33. However, Juliet overcomes her fears and drinks the potion ‘Romeo! Here’s drink, I drink to thee’ 4,3,58. If Juliet had been less courageous, she may have realized the dangers that lay in Friar Lawrence’s plan and decided to reconsider taking the sleeping potion. It can also be seen that Romeo is too courageous for his own good. After killing Tybalt, Prince banished Romeo and warned his family ‘Else, when he is found, that hour is his last’ 3,1,186. However, after hearing of Juliet’s supposed death, Romeo ignores the Prince’s warning and returns to Verona, ‘I will hence tonight’ 5,1,26. If Romeo took the Prince’s warning more seriously he may have thought twice about returning to Verona and would not have mistaken Juliet’s sleeping for death.
Although I believe that, in the main, Romeo and Juliet’s deaths were mainly down to their own self-destructive personalities, I think that fate still has a part to play. Even if their characteristics were different, the likeliness is that Juliet’s parents would have still thrown a party and Mercutio would have persuaded Romeo to attend. It could therefore be said that Romeo and Juliet meeting was fate. I also believe that it is down to fate that Paris asked for Juliet’s hand in marriage, thus giving reason to hold a party. Finally, I believe that fate had a part to play in the loosing of Friar’s letter. However, if Romeo and Juliet’s character’s had been different, this lack of communication between the couple would not have lead to the disastrous results which ensued. I have therefore come to the conclusion that fate brought Romeo and Juliet together, mainly due to the Capulet’s party. However, I also believe that Romeo and Juliet wasted the opportunity presented to them by fate, letting their weaknesses ruin their chances of true happiness.