Is fate predetermined? is it something that is uncertain? Or does not even play a role in what happens? In the classic play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare fate plays a large role in various scenes throughout the play. Fate influences large parts of the play from the beginning where the two star crossed lovers meet, and it follows through all the way to their death. Shakespeare uses figurative language like metaphors and oxymorons and obvious, unclear, and hidden views of fate to convey the implied thematic message that fate is present for the duration of the entire play. In the beginning of the play Shakespeare deconstructs the theme that one way fate is present is in an obvious way. He illustrates the view in act 1 scene 5 as the Capulet party has come to a close and the two cursed lovers are infatuated with each other Juliet turns to Nurse and discloses her situation, …show more content…
Fate does not always have to be known to its subject; it may work without anyone’s knowledge. One case where this is true is in Act 5 scene 2, when Friar John is explaining to Friar Laurence that he was unable to deliver the letter to Romeo, because he was suspected of the plague. Friar Laurence is seemingly unhappy, and is searching for a way to deliver the message to Romeo. All the meanwhile he blames “Unhappy fortune! The letter was not nice, but full of charge”(Pg 83) through the text Friar laurence blames fate for Friar John not being able to deliver the letter to Romeo. This signifies that Friar Laurence means that the fate was a sign of bad luck, and it refers back to the prologue that Romeo and Juliet's love was fated to end badly from the beginning. It is presented like fate has been working throughout all of the play, sometimes in the knowledge of the characters, but other times it has been more hidden. Through this quote shakespeare implies that fate does not always have to be