The prologue of the play insights the audience into what is inevitably going to happen. It is usually thought of as the voice of Shakespeare and what his views and opinions are of the ‘star-cross’d lovers’. He makes the audience aware that whatever the two lovers do, they can never escape the events that are to occur.
Fate and destiny are causes of the many key events in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, but what is the result of fate and destiny? Can we tell apart the events caused by each of them, or are the meanings so similar that there is no way in which we can know? Are fate and destiny really causes of the many tragic events that take place in the play? Or is there a source of self intention linked to the horrific events that completes the play of ‘Romeo and Juliet’?
The prologue shows that Romeo and Juliet have fate against them. It says that their love is ‘death-mark’d’, and they have no control over what happens. It is their destiny to have a tragic ending through grief. The strength of their love is the only thing that can counteract the anguish between the two feuding families. Love is the only thing that can prevent hate, and hate is the only thing that can annihilate love.
Peter sees Romeo and Benvolio in the street. It is this meeting that enables Romeo to read the list of guests to the Capulet ball. If Romeo had not been so in love with Rosaline and seen her name on the list, he would never have gone to the ball and, hence, met Juliet. This is an example that they were destined to meet and fall in love and fate and destiny enables this to happen and the play to unfold.
Before the ball scene, Romeo speaks of an unknown danger, ‘hanging in the stars’. This sighting of events expected to occur being written in the stars, explains how life is predetermined. It also shows Romeo that his life is destined to be fateful and full of woe. At this point in the play, Romeo does not fully understand that he has no control over what is written in the stars, and if he had noticed this here, maybe his life would have been longer and prosper than it was.
The Friar warns Romeo that people who act in a brusque manner often have very negative and destructive consequences. This warning reminds the audience that Romeo’s life is already predetermined and that is nothing he can do to control or change what has already been foreseen.
Before Mercutio is killed, he yells out in anger that ‘A plague o both your houses’. These words are a reminder to the tragedy that is to occur. It triggers the audience into remembering that the prologue has already informed them of the predetermined.
Romeo himself realises that fate and destiny has much to do with the events that have already happened. He knows that something else is to occur, something that will end the feud between the two families. After he kills Tybalt, he knows that this act seals his fate and everything that follows is out of his control.
Juliet tells Romeo of her vision of him dead at the bottom of a tomb. This is forewarning the already destined event these two lovers will face.
Soon after, Romeo has a dream that Juliet finds him dead. This is yet another example of their fate. Destiny and something they cannot control.
The foreseeing of visions then becomes reality. Romeo learns that Juliet is dead. He refuses to accept this as his destiny. What Romeo does not realise is that he has no control over his destiny. No matter how angry he gets he cannot change what is written in the stars. It is predetermined and there is nothing he can do, whatever he thinks, to change this.
Juliet takes the poison which will make her appear as though she is dead. The Friar writes a letter to Romeo explaining his and Juliet’s plan for the two lovers to be together. Romeo never receives the letter from the Friar. Consequently, he buys the poison with the intention to kill himself upon seeing Juliet dead. It is fate that Romeo buys the poison and eventually kills himself by Juliet’s side.
Juliet awakes from her sleep and asks the Friar where Romeo is. He responds by saying that some higher power has changed their original plans. This higher power is what we have no control over. None of these events are the Friars fault. Rather, a predetermined force has destined the change.
Although fate and destiny may be a great cause of the tragedy, different audiences will have different opinions on what the origin is of certain events. Some may believe that destiny is the most eminent force of they play. As others may disagree and say that fate is the prominent compulsion of Romeo and Juliet’s heartbreaking ending.
As the two audiences have different views, they also have different ideas of the purpose and source of life. The Elizabethan society believed much more in astronomy and the stars. They believed that every star represented a person from the past. They also assumed that a higher power had planned out their life, like a road map, and there was nothing they could do to change anything from happening. Today society sees life as a rollercoaster and it can take you anywhere and you can choose your own road to travel with many different forks along the way. Today’s audience believe there is no plan and whatever you want to achieve in life you can.
Romeo and Juliet’s death could have been caused by the strength of the love of the couple and the hate of the families. Fate and destiny are hugely significant as they met entirely by fate and fell in love immediately. Their relationship was carried by bad luck and they both tragically die.
Shakespeare has countless times when he could have saved both of the lovers, but he does not. He gives little hope that the two will survive, but as the play goes on, that hope is destroyed. Shakespeare had intended everything to happen for a reason. The prologue makes the audience aware of the events to come. Truly fate and destiny are the most dominant forces in the play, and are hugely responsible for both the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.