‘Fate plays no role in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The blame should rest solely on the two lovers and the friar.’
It is vital that main characters in the play regarded themselves as having no free will and considered themselves to be controlled by fate. Several times in the play they deliberately made choices to try to defy fate, and all bad results of their own actions are blamed on destiny. An example would be just before Romeo kills himself, saying that he will defy fate (5.1.24). Therefore, I agree with this statement.
The prologue at the beginning of the play states that because of the two grudging families, a person from each household will fall in love with one another and the two fated lovers shall die. The word ‘star crossed’ means that they death is the inevitable fate for the two lovers.
Prologue
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star crossed lovers take their life;
The servant happened to stumble upon Romeo and informed him of the masquerade because he could neither read nor write and needed to know the names of the people invited to their house. However a warning was mentioned: you are welcome to come to the party except if you belong to the household of the Montagues. In act 1, Scene 2, Mercutio and Benvolio insisted for Romeo to go look at other fairer maidens at the party and he decides to go, but implies that it is only so that he can look at Rosaline. Later, Romeo also experienced a premonition that venturing into the enemy’s household will eventually lead to his death but still makes his own decision to go, and claims that he will go, to allow fate to take place. Perhaps it was fate for him to have the dream about his own death.
(1.5.117) Romeo speaking
I fear too early for my mind misgives,
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars…
Romeo and Juliet both knew that they have fallen in love with their families’ enemy but still strive to pursue their relationship, even marrying in secret without their parent’s permission, without giving much thought to the fact that the odds are against them. Time plays a crucial role in the play because Romeo learns of Juliet’s feeling for him and they marry right away without any courtship. Juliet realizes that everything is happening very quickly and makes a statement at one point but starts to rush even more by suggesting marriage. By getting married the next day, they simply do not have enough time to discover each others personalities.
(2.2.118) Juliet speaking
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden
Too like lightning which doth cease to be
Even Friar Lawrence, when he consents the marriage hopes that it will end the feud and the two families can be joined in happiness. Instead ironically, they become united in grief. His advice to Romeo, is to not rush into things but to think before acting. Everyone in the play; doesn’t follow this advice. Not even the Friar himself, rushing off in panic and leaving Juliet to be beside her dead husband.
‘Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.’ (Act 2, Scene 4) Friar Lawrence
Unfortunately, Romeo’s flaw in character is making rash decisions without thinking of the consequences through properly first. In act 3, Scene 1 Mercutio provokes Tybalt into a fight. Romeo shows up and makes an effort to prevent the fight from taking place but portrays himself as a coward. Thus, his good friend Mercutio leaps to his friend’s aid by crossing swords with himself and Tybalt. Mercutio dies under Romeo’s arm while Romeo continues to prevent the fight. Romeo, without further thought now has a motive and rushes into a duel, killing Tybalt when the law would’ve already had Tybalt killed; thus the prince must punish Romeo to be exiled.
It may seem like fate that prevented Friar John, accused of plague, to reach Romeo with Friar Lawrence’s letter. However plague outbreaks were fairly common in the 16th Century. Even if they had met each other in the tomb and gone to live in Mantua together, their future would have held little holds for the two of them. Therefore the plague has nothing to do with fate. Without money they would have ended up dying and the feud would have ended anyways, as Romeo and Juliet being the last heirs of the two families. In act 3 scene 3 Lady Capulet told Juliet that she will send a man to Mantua to poison Romeo, it is ironic as well that at the end of the play Romeo doesn’t need Lady Capulet to poison him, he takes the poison himself.
In the end, Juliet has the most free will in this drama, choosing Romeo over Paris despite her mother’s high approval. Determined not to marry Paris, she desperately turns to Friar Lawrence for a solution, choosing to drink a potion in order to escape an arranged marriage by making others believe that she is dead. All of these decisions, she made herself without the nurse’s help. The nurse is an old widow, taking care of Juliet and naturally feels excited for Juliet when she learns of the feeling the two lovers have for one another. She also likes to act on the moment but tells Juliet at the end of the play that things have gone too far and tells her that she should marry Paris. This is very odd advice and would’ve shocked people in the 16th Century, Italy because it was impossible for wives to have more than one husband. However, Romeo and Juliet are not officially married since they don’t have two witnesses to observe the marriage and therefore, it is possible for Paris to marry Juliet.
I believe that the Friar should hold the most responsibility for the death of the two lovers because there are certain regulations in marriage that he needed to follow, such as making sure the two people truly love each other. He needed to take into account their ages, by knowing each other only for a few moments it seems more like puppy love. Especially when after meeting Juliet his personality is more feminine and he doesn’t act like himself.
Romeo also has a large share of blame for his own death because of his haste and personality, causing things to become out of control. Juliet deserves some blame, for suggesting marriage and not thinking about the consequences.
