"Romeo and Juliet are victims of fate", How far do you agree with this statement?

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“Romeo and Juliet are victims of fate”, How far do you agree with this statement?

In Shakespeare there are two types of tragedy, there is the tragedy of fate and forces beyond Romeo and Juliet’s control, and there is Greek tragedy, which is that there is a tragic flaw in a character.  In Romeo and Juliet there is both, fate brings Romeo and Juliet together but they continue there love at their own free will.

Romeo was deeply in love with Rosaline, a beautiful woman.  To try and help Romeo, Benvolio takes him to a Capulet party. When Romeo is going to the party he speaks of fate and how he dreamt that there would be bad consequences from this night, “I fear it is too early, for my mind misgivesstf some consequence, yet hanging in the stars”, however he still proceeded to the party, believing it will lead to “untimely death”.

Upon arriving he sees Juliet across a crowded room, they instantly fall in love and upon finding out they are enemies they are too late to stop.  After the banquet Romeo breaks into the Capulet mansion to see Juliet again, there meetings are very impulsive and rushed, they are head over heels, star-crossed lovers.  They cannot stop what they feel, even though they could as there are many chances for Romeo and Juliet to stop, but they continue regardless of the odds being against them.  In he balcony scene, there is a rushed agreement for next day marriage, they both are very willing and excited.

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Romeo and Juliet feel they can’t live without each other, they must have each other, “I must love thy loathed enemy”, this is their own decision, as they carry on.  Their relationship is dangerous, their families hate each other, but they still carry on.  They are willing to change who they are to be together, “and I’ll no longer be a Capulet”.  They don’t see each other as enemies but they both swear lovers oaths to each other.

The next day Friar Laurence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, he believes that the love of the two children ...

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