Examples Of Free Will In Romeo And Juliet

Spring is a season of tender warmth and budding blossoms, as is young love with its budding blooms of romance. However, as every spring comes, winter follows- and the spring flowers wilt. This analogy can be observed in Romeo and Juliet, a tragic tale by William Shakespeare. The story details the tragedy of two young lovers from rival families, the Montagues and Capulets. Their desperate yearning leads to their demise- but the question remains on whether the lovers’ untimely passing was due to fate or free will. After careful examination, free will had a greater impact on the characters’ destinies over the course of the story. One of the primary examples of free will having an impact on the character is when Romeo kills Tybalt. For context,

One specific instance of such is Juliet faking her death. With Romeo exiled, Juliet must marry Paris. She seeks aid from the friar claiming, “If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, do but thou call my resolution wise, and with this knife, I’ll help it presently.”(Shakespeare Ⅳ.i.52-54). Stating that if the friar cannot help her, she will end her life. Worried, the friar devises a plan- “Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilled liquor drink thou off; A cold and drowsy humor, for no pulse, shall hero his native progress but surcease, no warmth no breath, shall testify thou liveth;” (Shakespeare Ⅳ.i.93-98). Proposing she takes a vial of an organic substance he created, that will make her appear dead, thus faking her death. The friar claims he will write Romeo a letter explaining the plan, and settle elsewhere. From an audience perspective, the plan is heavily flawed. However, in Juliet’s perspective, she will be reunited with her love and will not marry Paris-revealing Juliet’s impulsive nature. However, actions have consequences. As established before, the decisions Juliet will take cause more grief, and influence their