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Theme Of Free Will In Romeo And Juliet

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The theme of free will and fate plays one of the dominant roles in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet love story. Fate and free will are responsible for a lot of conflicts that happened throughout the play. Shakespeare gives a hint to the audience about the doom of the couple by saying in the prologue that “a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” (Prologue pg.23) Romeo and Juliet’s love is “dead-marked” which means that their love will bring their death. From the beginning, fate allows Romeo and Juliet to fall in love when their families are in a feud. Romeo and Juliet also choose not to deny their love by taking the risks. The unfortunate fate as well as the free will trap Romeo in a situation where he cannot control his actions and be …show more content…
At first, Romeo has no intention to get involved in the dispute and he even tries to resolve it. However, fate does not allow Romeo to be out of the matter by upbringing the death of Mercutio which stimulates Romeo’s anger. After killing Tybalt, Romeo says, “O, I am fortune’s fool.”(Act 3. Sc. 1.pg.71). This means that he kills Tybalt not because he intends to but because of the unknown forces that push him to do so. Juliet also blames fate as she says, “O Fortune, Fortune all men call thee fickle. If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him” (Act 3. Sc. 3.pg.84). This shows that fate is creating conflicts to cause Romeo to be banished. However, Romeo is also responsible for his action as he kills Tybalt willingly to take revenge on Mercutio’s death. Romeo says to Tybalt, “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!” (Act 3, Sc. 1.p.g.71) It is Romeo who challenges Tybalt for a fight in return of Mercutio’s death. He does not think through the consequences and it is the reason that creates the unfortunate event of being banished. Therefore, tricky fate as well as free will play a part in Romeo’s banishment from …show more content…
Fate and free will controls and creates the destiny of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love with each other because fate decides that they are meant to be lovers. Romeo and Juliet also do not to give up on their love and the Friar and the nurse willingly support them. Then, unfortunately, Romeo is banished from Verona because of fate as well as his own actions. Finally, Friar Laurence’s great plan is ruined as fate prevents Romeo and Juliet from being together. The two immature characters also suicide and create their own ending. Therefore, fate and free will play a very important role in Shakespeare’s Romeo and

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