Romeo: is He in Control of His Destiny or is it Fate?

        "O fortune is fickle," as one's fortune can often change dramatically, if drastic decisions are not thought out.  Romeo led to his own demise, as he was in control of his destiny.  When Romeo first met Juliet he did not have to "let lips do what hands do" and kiss Juliet, thus marking the beginning of their relationship.  Symbolically, this also marks the beginning of the end for Romeo, as was his choice.  Also, another factor that Romeo was in control of is whether or not their relationship should be public or private, foolishly he decided it to be private, yet further complicating things.  Since their relationship was private, a vast majority knew none of it, but to make matters worse, Romeo and Juliet were of two "feuding families" holding "an ancient grudge" against one another.  Romeo stated however, he "would write his name and tear it," if it would so please Juliet.  From this, ironically, many of Romeo's decisions seemed impotent, as he could have been with Juliet, as names meant no difference to either of them.  The paradox, "the earth that nature's mother is her tomb what is her burying grave, that is her womb," relates to Romeo, as he hath risen from the earth, that shall reclaim him as he decides to commit suicide and take a "dram of poison."  Romeo was in control of his destiny, as it is his life, and how one shall lead their life, is only decided by themselves.

        Romeo is "past hope, past care, past help," as "sad hours seem long."  Romeo's head is as "full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat," as his "only love sprung from his only hate."  This is so as he hath killed Tybalt, his own flesh and blood, shortly after the Friar hath wed him and his Juliet.  What happened was that Mercutio got into a street brawl with Tybalt, in which Romeo chose too interfere.  Romeo held down Mercutio's rapier, and as a result Mercutio was mortally stabbed, cursing "a plague o" both their houses."  Mercutio, now dead, Romeo becomes enraged and "gallops apace" to Tybalt, where in which he duels and kills him.  Ironically, Romeo now sealed his own fate, as he was now "banished" from Verona Streets, and since there is "no world outside Verona Walls," he is going to commit suicide and metaphorically "death shall suck the honey of  thy [Romeo's] breath."  Clearly from this, Romeo has been in control of his destiny, as he has chosen how his life shall be lived, and what decisions he shall make.        

        A "pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives," thus there "never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."  In truth, Romeo and Juliet were not "star-crossed lovers," as Romeo was in full control of his destiny at all times.  Through the use of literary devices, Shakespeare is able to portray how Romeo was in control of his fate.  As Romeo has seen, irrational decisions can lead to uncontrollable consequences and undesirable effects, and in return one could end up in a position "past hope, past care, past help."