Romeo also seemed to be giving off the impression that fate was controlling his destiny when he said ‘then love-devouring death do what he dare.’ Act 5 scene1 line24). In this quote it seems that Romeo is challenging fate as he suspects that it is controlling the relationship between him and Juliet. He believed that if the love shared between him and Juliet led to death then it would be an act of fate. When Romeo discovers that Juliet has died he declares ‘Is it even so? Then I defy you stars.’ (Act 5 Scene1 Line24). When their love does end up in heartbreak it seems that Romeo sees the disaster as an act of fate. Ironically ‘Love-devouring death’ has been the final outcome of their relationship.
It appears that Romeo was deciding against going to the ball until he noticed Rosalyn on the list- a woman he loved but she had never met him, which was making him constantly pessimistic and moody at the beginning of the play. After seeing Rosalyn’s name it seems that he was anxious to meet her and changed his mind to attend the ball and spotting Juliet, instantly falling in love with her. It could have been coincidence that all of the events fell into place which allowed Romeo to meet Juliet but many believe that it was fate that controlled the situation, bringing Romeo and Juliet together to begin with.
Another example which could be described as an act of fate is the fact that all of Friar Lawrence’s plans to bring happiness to Romeo and Juliet’s relationship have been disastrous. His first idea was to try and get the couple together again after Romeo suffered a ban from Verona and was distraught. He bid him farewell by saying; ‘Or by the break of day disguised from hence Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man,
And he shall signify from time to time
Every good hap to you that chances here:
Give me thy hand; 'tis late: farewell; good night.’ (Act3 Scene 3 Line168-172)
The Friar only wanted peace between the two families and advised Romeo to move towns in the hope that the couple could one day be united, but this vision was soon destroyed by Juliet who informed him days later that she was being forced by her parents to marry Paris.
A second plan of Friar Lawrence’s was for Juliet to drink a herbal remedy on the day of her marriage so that she could appear dead and not have to marry Paris ended in tragedy when the letter that was meant to be delivered to Romeo was delayed and he was informed of Juliet’s death by Balthazar instead. The final result of this plan was disaster as both lovers ended up taking their own lives. Regardless of the good plans made to favour the lovers it seems that fate had a large part to play in the unexpected outcome of these ideas.
It is clear that fate may have played a very big role in the series of events that lead the lovers to their deaths. However fate is not the only factor that could be blamed for the tragedy. At the beginning of the play the prologue warns of the ongoing feud shared between the Capulets and Montagues, which could possibly be one of the most important factors in leading the loves to their unfortunate outcome. Even at the opening of the play the seriousness of the feud is demonstrated by even the servants, who create brawls and arguments for their own entertainment.
The feud can is also responsible for forcing Romeo and Juliet keeping their love a secret. Juliet is forced into making a decision on whether she could love Romeo when she found out he was a Montague and became very frustrated and distressed at the fact that loving him would mean turning on her family.
‘My ears have not drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue’s utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?’ (Act2 Scene2 Line58-60)
She thinks about of the importance of the Montague name and wonders why Romeo has to be a Montague. Identically, Romeo realises the seriousness of the situation when he discovers that Juliet is a Capulet; ‘oh dear account my life is my foes dept’ (Act 1Scene 5 Line 17) Romeo understands the danger of the situation, referring to Juliet as his ‘Foe’. Regardless of the dangers and warnings both of the lovers are unable to stay apart from each other and arrange to marry in secret, unaware that they are making one of the biggest mistakes in their lives. Lady and Lord Capulet made plans to marry Juliet with Paris unaware of her secret marriage with Romeo forcing Romeo and Juliet to act drastically resulting in the deaths of the lovers.
Another character who seems to have a strong effect on some of the events in the play is Friar Lawrence. Already aware of the blazing feud between the Montagues and Capulets he marries the lovers together in secret in an act of kindness. The Friar has doubts about marrying the two as he has acknowledged that very recently Romeo was deeply in love with Rosaline, a woman that he had never even met. His feelings towards the couple that all ‘violent delights’ have ‘violent ends’ could have been interpreted as a premonition towards the end of the play that the couple’s relationship would have a violent ending. Shakespeare may have used the word violent twice on purpose to emphasise to the audience the amounts of violence in the play.
Although the Friar’s plans are good they are also naïve. His overall hope was to end the family row and ‘turn your household’s rancour to pure love’ (Act 2 Scene3 Line92). It may have been that by marrying the two teenagers of the opposing families Friar Lawrence was attempting to control fate, to end the family feud. But because of the disastrous outcome of all of his plans, it may be that Shakespeare included the friar to explain to the audience that one could not control their own fate. Although his motives appeared good-hearted it seems that after a while the Friar seemed to recognise the dangers of what he had done and became cowardly. Juliet recognises the fear of the Friar when she assumes that he has ‘poisoned’ her ‘lest …. He should be dishonoured’ (Act 4 Scene 3 Line 26) after he suggests the idea of giving her the medicine. The fact that the Friar fled the scene of the lifeless Romeo and distressed Juliet after failing to convince her to leave the tomb with him confirms his fear of the situation. He turns his back on Juliet when he realises that staying in the tomb with her could result in him being dishonoured and decides to abandon her, resulting in her death.
Romeo may also be to blame for his death as he is a very complicated character who seems to suffer from an extreme swing of emotions. When Romeo is first introduced he is depressed and in a mood because his Rosalyn is not returning his love. As realistic as his love seems it may be that Romeo is in love with the idea of being in love as he has never even met Rosalyn. The oxymoron he mutters ‘O brawling love, O loving hate’ (Act 1Scene 1 line 176) can relate to his character of being immature and because he thinks he is in love with someone who he has never met before. He seems to rush into the marriage shared between him and Juliet and becomes heavily emotional after his banishment and her death, leading to his predicted suicide.
Shakespeare shows the love shared between Romeo and Juliet through descriptive language. Certain times Romeo speaks to Juliet in a rhyming sonnet. Unlike most of the foul language used in the play by the servants the language used between Romeo and Juliet is innocent. Shakespeare may have wanted the love between the two to be seen as beautiful, as the sonnet seems to emphasise the relationship as pure.
‘If I profane with my unworthiness hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, really stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’
The language used shows that the whole play isn’t about fighting and violence and that there is some peaceful moments with innocence.
To conclude, it is clear that fate played a major role in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. From the very beginning in the prologue and throughout the play there are many references to fate and the characters believe that their lives are controlled by fate. Shakespeare wanted the audience to see the big effect of fate right from the beginning when he referred to Romeo and Juliet as ‘star -cross’d lovers’. However in modern society many people believe that people’s actions are responsible for their ‘fate’ and that events are not set in the stars. I agree with this view and feel that the family feud is the most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare mentions the feud in the prologue to warn the audience that the feud played a big part in the tragedy. Friar Lawrence whose actions contributed to the tragedy cannot take major blame as he was only trying to help the lovers and society.
Romeo and Juliet’s actions were strongly immature. If either of them had been realistic both of their deaths could have been avoided, but they continued their path of fatal destruction eventually leading to their own suicides. Romeo may not even have even been truly in love with Juliet but just fooled by the idea of love as he is a very emotional soul. He was pretty quick to drop his obsession with Rosaline after he met Juliet. However both Romeo and Juliet were as bad as each other as they both rushed into a marriage knowing that there was an ancient feud between their families. Most people would argue that they were madly in love, but it seems as if both were extremely immature and very naïve. However, their actions can be excused as they were very young and I don’t believe that they can be held fully responsible for the series of events leading them to their deaths.
If there was no feud, the lovers would be able to declare their love and openly marry. There would have been no tragedy. This is the main reason why I believe the feud has to take the major blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.