ipl-logo

Comparing Fate In Laurent's Romeo And Juliet

574 Words3 Pages

Can fate really be defied? The tragedies of both West Side Story written by Arthur Laurents and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet have major differences and similarities that are caused by one thing, fate. Parallel structures can easily be identified between two classic plays. The playwrights both contain main characters who lead the story to a devastating tragedy of conclusion, which further engages the theme of fate shown in both classic plays. In West Side Story, Maria and Tony fall in love at a party knowing they are from opposing gangs but are blinded by “love at first sight”. For example, in West Side Story, “they drift into steps of the dance, always looking at each other, completely lost in each other; unaware of anything, any place, any time, anything but each other” (I.iv.24). In this …show more content…

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, “If I profane with unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this” (i.v.92-93). In this quote, it foreshadows how Romeo sees that Juliet is in the other gang and knows he might not have a chance with her. In West Side Story, after Maria and Tony dance together, they kiss. As they kiss, Bernardo comes in, breaks them apart and yells “Stay away from my sister!” (i.iv.25). This quote shows that Bernardo does not want Tony to be with his sister since he’s part of the Jets, and she’s part of the Sharks, but Maria didn’t care, neither did Tony. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo continues to talk to Juliet and, as the masquerade goes on he eventually kisses her. Nurse immediately sees and runs over and gets Juliet away and states “His name is Romeo, and a Montague, [the] only son of your great enemy” (i.v.135-136). This shows how Nurse doesn’t think that Juliet should be with him since she is a cavalier and Romeo is an enemy, but Juliet most likely does not care since she does not want to marry

Show More
Related
519 Words | 3 Pages

While "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara accurately represents African American culture and vocabulary, the critical article by Janet Ruth Heller primarily focuses on race and culture rather than poverty and socioeconomic inequality, the theme of "The Lesson. " The article by Heller does not delve into the main point of the short story (Heller). The article by Heller talks about using African American slang and vernacular to make the story more relatable to an African American's experience. " The Lesson's" main point is to show the children's poverty and how differently they live compared to their wealthy white counterparts. Although the critical article fails to capture the main idea, "The Lesson" song for the Literature Project by Molly Jacobs, a jazz improv, effectively captures the pride in African American heritage

Read More
682 Words | 3 Pages

Fate works in strange, sometimes even unpleasant ways. This concept has appeared in many types of literature, including the classic tale of two young teenagers who fell for one another, but were born from families with a long standing feud. In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, fate continuously thwarts their star-crossed romance before they ever meet in the form of a warning, during their attempt to be together as their plan unfavorably unravels, and as they meet their ends, moments apart from each other. From the beginning, fate warns Romeo and Juliet that tragedy is in their future. Particularly, fate warns Romeo that “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date” (1.4.109-110).

Read More
914 Words | 4 Pages

Fate Versus Free Will in Romeo and Juliet You can want something to happen so badly but sometimes fate steps in. In this play, fate and free will play a massive role in the decisions made by Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet, a play by William Shakespeare, tells a tale about star-crossed lovers from rival families who have been feuding for years. Against all odds, they fell in love and lived out a whirlwind romance that ultimately ended in tragedy. Romeo should never have been at that party because of who he was and what his fate was.

Read More
1584 Words | 7 Pages

People ultimately have control over their life choices, something that is easily observable within both William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021). Throughout the play, the major theme of fate versus free will has been a focal point. Several times, the play mentions the lovers Romeo and Juliet being ill-fated in their pursuit of love. However, they manage to push through upon their own accord and determination, therefore within this play, the strength of free will overpowers that of fate. It can be argued that fate overpowers free will due to several instances within the play where the lovers feel hopeless against what has been decided for them, along with the lovers in the movie feeling a deeper sense of loyalty to their own

Read More
651 Words | 3 Pages

It's easy to fall in love the first time you see a guy or girl; one example from the play Romeo and Juliet is “she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear — Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. ( i,V,43)” Romeo says that Juliet is as beautiful as a rich jewel, and that even Ethiopia is envious of her this connects with the quote because Romeo is so in love with juliet that he is complimenting her. Another quote would be “She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste, For beauty starved with her severity Cuts beauty off from all posterity She is too fair, too wise, too fair, To

Read More
613 Words | 3 Pages

Romeo and Juliet These are three themes for Romeo and Juliet. They are fate, death, honor. Fate is the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. And death is the state of being dead.

Read More
1379 Words | 6 Pages

Andrew McGillivray Ms. Rauber Honors English 9 11 November 2022 Reoccuring Fate in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet The all powerful robustness of fate exists throughout many stories, and, to some, exists in today’s world. Romeo and Juliet, a tragic play by William Shakespeare, excites the idea of fate through several characters. Within this tragedy, there is a rivalry between the Montagues and Capulets, both of the families in which Romeo and Juliet sprout from as everlasting lovers; however, due to this feud, these characters, along with many of their friends, must make impacting decisions that are, unknowingly, controlled by fate. With the characters and the use of metaphor, Shakespeare creates scenarios in which the characters live under

Read More
614 Words | 3 Pages

Fate in Romeo and Juliet Fate, the idea of a force outside of human control that determines our future, was and is still a concept many people believe in. William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, is the tale of two star-crossed lovers who died tragically to be with each other. At the heart of the story, is the theme of fate, which plays a significant role in shaping the lives of the main characters, Romeo and Juliet’s, lives. In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the recurring idea of fate is used to question how much, if any, control we have over our own fate.

Read More
993 Words | 4 Pages

In the tragic romance ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Shakespeare conveys an example of how love can have feelings, but can also cause damage. This is not only in some characters’ lives but also in their surrounding lives. The play shows how thoughts and opinions can affect the people close to them. There are a vast number of characters in the play, who are responsible for its tragic ending. A key theme in this play is fate.

Read More
798 Words | 4 Pages

Shashwat Roy Mr. Nicolacopolus English 1 10 May 2024 Romeo and Juliet responsibility essay A world where destiny is a shadowy figure, pulling the strings of lives with good yet sinister motives. Fate isn’t just a force working in the background; it’s a looming presence that shapes every moment, leading down a path of tragedy from which there is no escape. It’s said that “Fate Shuffles the cards, and we play it”(Arthur Schopenhauer), and it’s true, as Fate shapes our lives, and decides what is going to happen, and we just play it, we perform what it has shaped for us. In the tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet fall desperately in love at first sight, but Fate plays its part, shaping the dreadful destiny of the couple,

Read More
638 Words | 3 Pages

Fate, destiny, the stars, the role they play in people’s lives is a life-long debate. One that William Shakespeare is very passionate about. In the famous play Romeo and Juliet, fate dictates the character’s lives the whole time and most don’t realize it. Fate causes the teens to meet, leading to their falling in love, murder, and even their own deaths. But out of all the characters, Romeo Montague is the most devoted to fate and its ideals.

Read More
674 Words | 3 Pages

Fate is an inescapable force in the story and leads to the destiny of Romeo and Juliet. Fate shows the final outcome of Romeo and Juliet. For example, “A pair of star cross’d lovers take their life.” (Prologue.6).

Read More
601 Words | 3 Pages

When tragedies happen, people feel helpless and often try to find a source to blame, for a feeling of control. Sadly, they are helpless, for fate is an event that is bound to happen, no matter what. Even characters in dramatic literature are not immune to fate, for fate affects all. In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, fate is at fault for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, as it is present in every part of the play.

Read More
2003 Words | 9 Pages

In the play Romeo and Juliet, fate is the one force that controls how the entire story came to be.   By definition, fate is something with the power to control the future of someone or something (Merriam-Webster).  The Fates or Moerae were a physical representation or the personification of fate in Greek Mythology.  

Read More
279 Words | 2 Pages

The controversy over whether or not a woman is allowed to abort her baby has swept over the nation. With millions of different opinions, there can only be two options- pro life or against it. The right to pick and choose whether or not a woman wants to keep her baby is solely her choice. The media and many protestors find ways to degrade and depress many women who face this difficult choice. Every woman should have the right to decide whether she is ready to be a fit parent or not.

Read More

More about Comparing Fate In Laurent's Romeo And Juliet

Open Document