What caused the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?

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What caused the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?

Romeo and Juliet was one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Written in 1596, it is now known worldwide as the greatest love story of all times. The two lovers sacrificed such passionate love and happy lives, which ended the ‘Ancient Grudge’ between the Capulet’s and the Montague’s, that had been causing disturbance in the streets of Verona.  This essay will be exploring how due to their immaturity, their identities, their destiny and fate, and the hatred and expectations in society around them, these ‘Star-Crossed’ lovers lead themselves to their own tragic deaths.

In the Elizabethan era, when the play was first performed, people strongly believed in superstitions, fate and fortune. People believed that they had no control over their lives, as it was all already planned out for them.

During the first act of the play, we are already introduced to the concept of fate, and how it will affect Romeo’s destiny. After the fight between Benvolio and Tybalt, Romeo enters, feeling sorry for himself and complaining about his unrequited love for Rosaline. Benvolio tries to persuade Romeo to forget thinking about Rosaline, and ‘Examine other beauties’. He informs Romeo about a party being held at the Capulet’s later on that day. Romeo is first unsure about going, but soon gives in. Although he agrees, before the party Romeo mentions ‘I fear, too early: for my mind misgives Some consequences yet hanging in the stars’. This clearly shows that Romeo already knows that something will go wrong for him from that night, and that he’s destined a misfortunate future. Had it not been that Romeo attended the party, he would never have met Juliet, which wouldn’t have led to their ‘death marked love’, as mentioned in the prologue.

Fate is not only set in motion in the beginning of the play, but is continuous throughout, and plays a very big role towards the end of the play in Act 5. When Balthasar comes to see Romeo in Mantua, it was a matter of fate that Romeo had not yet received the letter from Friar Lawrence. Balthasar informs him of Juliet’s supposed death, and Romeo’s reply strongly blames fate ‘Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars!’ Romeo’s exclamation symbolises his hatred for fate, as he forcibly curses his destiny. He is expressing his self-reliance by saying that he alone is in charge of his own life and that it will not be led adrift by a series of unfortunate events.

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In addition, in the last scene of the play, it is a matter of fate and timing that each character enters the churchyard right after one another. Although they are all there at around the same time, they miss each other by a few minutes - either not realising the presence of one another, or in desperation of getting there in time.

Soon after Romeo had entered Capulet’s tomb, Friar Lawrence came running across the churchyard to see Balthasar, who informed him that Romeo had just gone inside. Friar’s response was full of worry as he anxiously stated ‘Fear comes ...

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