Have you ever heard the saying “You can change your destiny, but not your fate”? Many people believe that their destiny consists of predetermined events that can be shaped throughout their life, but that they’ll always have the same fate. The Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet demonstrates that no matter what decisions you make, your fate is inevitable. At the beginning of the play the narrator states that, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,/ Whose misadventured piteous overthrows/ Doth with their death bury their parents' strife./ The fearful passage of their death-marked love” (Shakespeare, Prologue). It says Romeo and Juliet are “star crossed lovers”, that despite their love fate has determined they will die. Shakespeare presents their fate in this way to show that it’s been predetermined without their knowledge and that their fate is beyond their control. …show more content…
Because of this he has a sense of foreboding. “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/ Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/ With this night’s revels, and expire the term/ Of a despisèd life closed in my breast/ By some vile forfeit of untimely death” (1.4.108-112). But Mercutio tells him that it’s just Queen Mab, something small and insignificant that shouldn’t be taken seriously. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes/ In shape no bigger than an agate stone/ On the forefinger of an alderman,/ Drawn with a team of little atomi/ Over men’s noses as they lie asleep.” (1.4.55-59). Mercutio also states “That dreamers often lie” (1.4.54). He’s using this to convince Romeo to ignore the warning and go to the masquerade. Romeo gives in, and this choice will end up having severe