In Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Romeo cries, “Oh I am Fortune’s fool!”. Highlighted in this quote is the belief that Romeo’s tragic circumstances are a result of fate. However, while societal currents influence the decisions of an individual, it is primarily those decisions made by the individual that determine consequence. Through the examination of personal agency, decision-making, and responsibility and its interaction with societal influence exemplified in the play, Romeo’s perception of being “Fortune’s fool” is invalidated. Society plays a role in personal agency, overall influencing an individual’s choice. During Shakespeare’s renowned balcony scene, Juliet states, “Deny thy father and refuse thy name”. …show more content…
Prior to the Capulet feast, Romeo gets a bad feeling about going. He says, “I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars”. This quote uses a metaphor of “the stars” as a symbol of fate or destiny, however, it also mentions a possible consequence of going to the opposing family’s feast. While this quote mentions an aspect of fate within the play, Romeo still ultimately makes the choice to go to the feast even after considering there being a consequence. Following Romeo seeing Juliet in Act 2 Scene 2, he goes to see Friar Lawrence discussing his marriage. Friar Lawrence warns Romeo “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.” Shakespeare’s use of a metaphor in “they stumble that run fast” meaning those that rush end up making mistakes and the use of antithesis in “slow” and “fast” evokes Romeo’s impulsive nature. This relates to Romeo’s decisions and actions in hastily marrying Juliet, also meaning that it foreshadows the tragic end of the play. Following Mercutio’s death, Romeo spots Tybalt returning and says, “Alive in triumph - and Mercutio slain!” Shakespeare’s use of contrast in Tybalt’s and Mercutio’s status evokes the anger felt by Romeo. This is what ultimately leads to his pivotal character point in slaying Tybalt. To reiterate, Romeo could have made the choice to not kill Tybalt, meaning the ongoing domino effect would not have occurred. Instead, it was the choice he made that led to the tragic events. Upon discovering Juliet laying lifeless in the Capulet tomb, Romeo speaks “Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” This choice was made by Romeo and further demonstrates his impulsive nature. If he had not so hastily done this action, he would have found Juliet to be alive. Therefore, Romeo decided his own consequence. Furthermore, it is personal agency and decisions that shape
Fate is something we cannot control for it is a higher power than any of us. William Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet” which is a play about two Italian families who hate each other but whose children have fallen in love. Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy was due to fate, all the events that weren't by choice so the tragedy was made to happen. It was set in stone and no one could do anything about it.
This quote is spoken by Romeo after he kills Tybalt in revenge for Mercutio’s death. This quote also highlights the fact that Tybalt does not show any regret or remorse for his role in Mercutio’s death, despite the consequences of his actions. Tybalt’s lack of remorse only adds to his responsibility for Mercutio’s death, as he demonstrates a disregard for the lives of others and a willingness to engage in violent behavior. Tybalt is responsible for Mercutio’s death in Shakespear’s play “The Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet.” Tybalt takes offense to Romeo’s presence at the Capulet party and challenges him to a fight, despite attempts by Mercutio to claim the situation.
However, he only marries them in hopes that it would end the feud between the Capulets and Montagues. As the play progresses, Juliet’s father, Capulet, arranges a wedding for Juliet and Paris without the knowledge that Juliet is already falling in love and being married to Romeo. While many people may blame Friar Lawrence for the tragedy and his incompetence, he
Are our futures led by fate or are they led by the decisions we make? In William Shakespeare’s play, "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet", a pair of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, take their lives. Their choices led to many deaths and destructions. Romeo and Juliet ended their lives and should be blamed, but so should the Nurse and Friar Lawrence. I think that Romeo and Juliet contributed to their own deaths because they didn’t make good decisions and were very impulsive.
Everyone makes decisions that impact life more then they may have noticed. It’s common to make a decision and think that no one will be harmed by it, but in reality, people’s actions have more of an impact on others than they might have realized. For example, in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the characters seem to make important decisions that impact the entire play. They act, kill, and love in selfish ways that affect the way the play turns out in the end. Their actions even determine who lives or dies.
When Tybalt and Mercutio begin to duel, Romeo throws himself between them. Because of this, Tybalt has time to slip his sword into the side of Mercutio and stab him. After he has been wounded, Mercutio wails, “A plague on both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone and hath nothing?”
In the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespear two kids from opposing families, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love with each other. Juliet’s father was trying to marry her off to a different man, Paris, but she was already married to Romeo by the time her and Paris’s marriage was scheduled. After 5 days of knowing one another they kill themselves for their partner because their families would not let them be together. Juliet, Romeo, and a multitude of other characters are at fault for everything that happened to cause their demise in the play and not fate as opposed to how they would like to believe. People like to blame everything but themselves for things going wrong.
Romeo and Juliet did make their own choices multiple times in the narrative, but is their fate or free will to blame for their ending? In the play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, the characters had to make many decisions with their free will. Some of them were bad and some were good. Both fate and free will had a crucial role in this play, but ultimately, free will played a more important role. The characters' poor choices in this play played a significant impact in the use of free will.
Before Mercutio’s death in act three Tybalt remarks “Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford No better term than this: thou art a villain.” (Shakespeare.3.1.61-62). As exemplified by this citation Tybalt clearly states his disdain for Romeo and this addition creates an underlying tone of disdain for their relationship as a whole. This has the opposite effect as intended on the two as their relationship grows stronger because of this adversity and this ultimately leads to their deaths to do irrational decisions made in the haste of love. Ultimately the decision that Tybalt makes that directly leads to the death of the lover is as Tybalt asserts “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.” ( 1.5.87-90). This quote highlights Tybalt’s temper and his want of revenge on Romeo. Tybalt’s hatred for Romeo ends in the death of Mercutio and Tybalt losing his own life by Romeo’s hand. All these characters fatal flaws lead to their eventual demise.
On the night of the party, in response to Tybalt’s complaining about Romeo being there, Lord Capulet says, “I would not for the wealth of all this town here in my house do him disparagement. Therefore be patient. Take no note of him.” Lord Capulet was given the perfect opportunity to kick Romeo out of the party and prevent him from ever meeting Juliet. He didn’t think about his actions and, to him, taking the time to remove Romeo from the party would distract him from having fun and enjoying himself.
What Lord Capulet meant by these two quotes is that although Romeo is a Montague, Romeo is a virtuous and well-governed-youth who is not causing any trouble at the party, and that Lord Capulet would not do him disparagement in his house for the wealth of the town. He then tells Tybalt that Romeo should be endured. Lord Capulet is able to use his reasoning and wise judgement and tells Tybalt to back off. Lord Capulet also does not want to start a fight with Romeo because it will disrupt the peace of the town, and also because the two families fighting is forbidden. Lastly, the theme of passion and reason is seen when Juliet decides to take the potion from Friar Lawrence knowing that it could kill her and she could never see Romeo again.
Are people in control of their destiny? Having no power over one’s destiny is an important theme in William Shakespeare’s, Romeo and Juliet. We are in told in the prologue that fate is going to drive the story. Romeo and Juliet are not in control of their lives. It is predetermined destiny, not free choice that manipulates the lives of these two lovers.
In William Shakespeare’s prominent play, Romeo and Juliet, the defiance of the teenagers leads to their ill-fated end of the two star-crossed lover, Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo displays disregard to authority when “At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so loves, with all the admired beauties of Verona” (1.2.84-86). This quote, said by Mercutio, represents how Romeo casually neglects the problem that is the feud between the Capulet and Montague families. It informs the way that he falls for a Capulet but is heartbroken, then attends a party of the Capulets to find another eligible Capulet to get over that Capulet. Also, in the scene in which Tybalt had ignored the wishes of Lord Capulet’s that were,
His capricious state of mind and stubborn character, are the fatal flaws that led to the lamentable death of Romeo and his daughter. One may assume that their fate is decided by supernatural powers or the choices they have made in the past. In reality, one’s fate and destiny are determined by countless other components. One’s fate may as well be a story written by someone else, such as Shakespeare writing about the tragedy of Romeo and