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.
In the prologue, it says, “a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”, revealing to the audience that Romeo and Juliet are subject to fate (Prologue Line 6). Furthermore, Shakespeare refers to them as “star-crossed lovers”, meaning that they are a pair of lovers thwarted by fate. No matter what they try to do, they were doomed from birth to kill themselves. Even so, many argue that Romeo and Juliet chose to kill themselves. That is true, considering that the option
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When the Capulets decided to hold a party, fate interfered and had an illiterate servant send out invites to a list of people. Needing help, the servant decides to ask Romeo, ”God gi ‘ go-den. I pray, sir, can you read?” (1.2.62). Now, the servant could have wandered around and asked others, but it was fate that made the servant stumble upon Romeo. Due to this, Romeo knows about the party, goes to it, meets Juliet, and sets the tragedy in motion. Despite this, others argue that the servant just so happened to ask Romeo, the first person he encountered, to read the letter. That is correct, for the servant says, "In good time!", as he is referring to the arrival of Romeo and Benvolio (1.2.45-46). Relieved to see people, he walks over to them, sure that they can read. However, it is apparent that fate sets up the servant to talk to Romeo. “In good time” means “What luck!”, showing that fate allowed the servant to see Romeo. What luck indeed, for this sets Romeo up later to meet