In the plot, fate works by the means of coincidence. Romeo inadvertently meets the illiterate servant who then asks Romeo to read the guest list of the ball for him; “God gi’ god-den. I pray sir can you read?” (1:2, 59) The servant meeting Romeo was by pure chance and if this improbable event had not occurred, Romeo would never have met and fell in love with Juliet. This is in view of the fact that after Romeo read the list, he saw the name of Rosaline and he desperately desired to see her. Had it not been for the servant unintentionally meeting Romeo, Romeo may never have attended the party, thus not meeting Juliet. Encounters such as these are portrayed in The Beatles’ song “I’ve Just Seen A Face” where in the second verse they sing, “Had it been another day, I might have looked another way, and I’d never been aware.” This verse reflects Romeo’s coincidental meeting with the servant, leading to him falling in love with Juliet.
In the second act of the play, Juliet is concerned by the rapidity of her relationship with Romeo. She expresses these concerns when talking with Romeo on her balcony. In the line (2:2, 116-117) she says “I have no joy at this contracts tonight… it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden.” This shows her awareness of how quickly the relationship with Romeo has expanded. In Juliet’s soliloquy, Romeo overhears her concerns with her family and also Juliet speaking aloud of her love for Romeo; “Deny thy father, and effuse thy name” (2:2, 34) which means Romeo must no longer be a Montague if names comes between her love for Romeo. Juliet continues, saying that names are not important and Romeo would still be the same person, even if he was not called Montague, “So Romeo would, where he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes” (2:2, 45-46).
In the song “Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits, fate is mentioned in the lyrics related to Shakespeare’s play and the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In the third verse the lyrics “the dice were loaded from the start” and “it was just that the time was wrong” are sung. This explains the concept of fate’s role in the play.
Friar Lawrence is also of the opinion that Romeo and Juliet’s love is hurried and is therefore dangerous. He says “These violent delights have violent ends,” (2:6, 9) explaining to Romeo that extreme emotions such as his for Juliet often end violently. The Friar advises Romeo to marry Juliet as this would bring together the two lovers and also their families full of hate; “For this alliance may so happy to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.” (2:3, 91-93) He suggests this after realizing Romeo’s love for Juliet may actually be true love and marriage would be the option to dismiss Juliet’s fears.
Fate is also a factor when Friar Lawrence’s letter fails to reach Romeo in Mantua. Many people blame this on Friar John’s actions, however, fate had already chosen the events that were to take place, the outbreak of plague namely, restricting Friar John. Friar Lawrence replies with the words “Unhappy fortune” portraying fate’s act causing this to happen.
However, fate is not the only factor contributing to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The families, Montague and Capulet, could have resolved their differences and the feud itself but Capulet especially cared more about tradition than the feelings of his daughter, since if she would not marry whom he told her to she would be exiled from the family home. Friar Lawrence’s actions could also be blamed along with the Prince for not resolving the feuds earlier. These are all different factors that led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
In conclusion, however, my opinion is that fate is largely responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The number of events fate has changed or defied is overwhelming. Factors it performs such as the illiterate servant coincidentally meeting Romeo and having him read the list which encouraged him to attend the ball, leading on to meeting Juliet, I feel can only be performed by something powerful such as fate. It is clear from the very beginning that the too star crossed lovers were destined for death. The plague that struck the time the letter was supposed to be sent is surely an act of fate. Romeo even claimed he was “fortune’s fool.” (3:1, 136) We cannot forget other factors such as Friar Lawrence actions of duping the families with eh “death” of Juliet and also the prince failing to prevent the feuds between the families reaching mayhem but after assessing all of the viewpoints, Fate is definitely responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.