I apologise for the delay, took a while to wade through my computer and find. I wrote this last year (yr 9 english ext), under 45 mins test conditions, where my handwriting got really messy because I was writing so fast lol. I don't remember the exact wording of the topic, but it was something to do with fate and the tragic outcome of the play. And good luck on your essay, remember to memorise quotes too
Romeo and Juliet Essay Test (Topic 2)Fate plays an enormous role in the Tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet”, and is certainly almost wholly responsible for the tragic outcome of the play. Fate can be described as an uncontrollable and often adverse condition: destiny. It is often associated with the stars and heaven and much of this is displayed throughout the story, not only making the audience aware of fate’s impact on the unfolding events but the characters also have premonitions: visions of their fate. Although some other factors, such as flaws in the characters’ qualities do affect the play, they are definitely too many coincidences to doubt the presence and large responsibility that fate plays in the tragic outcome of the lives of Romeo and Juliet.
In the prologue of “Romeo and Juliet”, we are already given a glimpse of the ending of the play and what is to come. It states: “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life…” and the mention of the word ‘star-crossed’ implies that Romeo and Juliet’s fates are written in the stars and they cannot truly control their destinies. The description which follows “The fearful passage of their death-marked love” implies that the fate is adverse and the outcome is tragic: death. Even before the story has stated, the audience already knows the fate of the lovers.
It is ultimately fate which sparks love between Romeo and Juliet and also fate that brings them to their untimely deaths. Romeo and Juliet were perfectly matched, but the chances that they were from feuding families, one being a Capulet and the other a Montague were incredibly slim. It is fate that Romeo and Juliet wears a mask to the ball otherwise Juliet might not have so quickly fallen in love with him. Only after realizing who the other is their exclamations are “My life is my foe’s debt!” and “My only love sprung from my only hate!” Juliet has the right idea during her balcony soliloquy when she remarks “What’s in a name? That we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…”
Again, fate plays a part in the attendance of the Montague boys to the Capulet party. It is yet another coincidence of fate that the servant of the Capulets is illiterate and is asked to invite only people on the list. Because of his illiteracy, the servant is forced to ask two strangers to translate the list of names and out of so many, the two people just happened to be Romeo and Benvolio. Even Romeo feels a premonition and fate toying with him as he says, “I fear too early… for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin its fearful date with the night’s revels.” However, despite this premonition, fate propels him to attend the ball. If this had not happened, Romeo and Juliet would not have met each other and the events that followed would not have occurred.
In the marriage of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence exclaims, “Wisely and slow, those stumble that run fast.” This quotation reflects the consequences of a hasty marriage but despite this, the Friar still agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet so early, without notifying their parents. The marriage was indeed partly the Friar’s fault because he was already aware of the rashness of love (especially that of Romeo and Rosaline). “Is Rosaline, that thou’st did love so dear so soon forsaken? Then young men’s love lies not in their hearts, but in their eyes.” Nevertheless, as a holy man, Friar Lawrence agrees and attempts to make the marriage create peace over rancor for the Capulet and Montague families. This event was not pre-determined by fate, but surely if the following or preceding events that were attributed to fate didn’t happen then early marriage would not have been a problem. It is only because of the domino effect that each events adds to the inevitable outcome that fate produces.
Not long after the secret marriage ceremony, Tybalt provokes a fight with Romeo but Romeo is indeed sensible enough to withdraw as he is aware that Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin and he has made a vow of marriage only one day ago. However, after Mercutio duels with Tybalt, he cries out “A plague on both your families!”, also a premonition of the outcome; losses for both the Capulets and Montagues. Romeo is then so angry at Mercutio’s death that he slays Tybalt and cries out “O I am fortune’s fool!”. Surely these events have all occurred through the power of fate.
Juliet feels a premonition of Romeo lying dead in a tomb during their last night together and fate only makes the events get worse as the characters grow closer to their inevitable fates. Friar Lawrence’s plan seemed quite tightly-knit and well planned but if it was not for fate, the letter would never have been late and therefore Romeo would not have a rational decision to commit suicide. However, this is how the events fold out and Romeo yells, “Is it e’en so? Then I defy you stars!” when he is notified by Balthasar of Juliet’s death. This is a quotation of high importance because it suggests that Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was “defying fate and therefore the opposite of what their destinies intended. Even the apothecary was hesitant in selling the poison, “My poverty but not my will consents.” If he had given Romeo fake poison, none of them would’ve died but instead fate made it double suicide, “Thus with a kiss I die.”
It may have been fate that intended the sacrifice of Romeo and Juliet for the peace between the two families or fate that they were brought together then brought to an untimely death. However, it is certain that without fate, the tragedy would not have occurred. Although character personalities can be held responsible for some of the events leading up to the tragic outcome, fate was the driving force behind all of them: the dominoes would not have collapsed without a push. Therefore, although not to blame alone for the outcome, fate certainly played a major role from the outset. Romeo and Juliet were certainly toys of fate but their love stayed pure and true throughout. Without the power of fate, the destiny of Romeo and Juliet written in the stars, the story would not event to be so that: “There was not a story of more woe, than that of Juliet and her Romeo.”
A+
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