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Romeo And Juliet Fate Vs Free Will

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Humans are an extremely inquisitive species. We seek answers to any question we have. From the simplest of inquiries to those that are far beyond our comprehension. And this essay asks one of the greatest unanswered questions in existence, does fate or free will dictate our lives and the lives of the characters in Romeo and Juliet. But, before we can even consider this we have to understand what fate and free will are. Fate is defined as the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. On the other hand, free will is the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate. It is by definition impossible for free will and fate to coexist.

In real life I believe in free will, not …show more content…

In act 3 scene 5 Juliet has a vision and says, “O God, I have an ill-divining soul! Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb: Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.” This is more foreshadowing of the ending of the story when Juliet finds Romeo dead and then killed herself. It is also foreshadowing that this would be the last time they meet alive. Another example of fate ruining the plans that would keep Romeo and Juliet alive is in act 5 scene 2 when it is Revealed that Friar John was unable to deliver the message to Romeo that detailed the plan if Friar Laurence and Juliet. This is because he was quarantined in his house because they suspected he had the plague. Because of this Balthasar got to Romeo first which made Romeo believe that Juliet was dead. Because of this misinformation Romeo buys the poison which he used to commit suicide. Finally, in act 5 scene 3 when Juliet asks Friar Laurence where Romeo is he says, “A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away. Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;” This is him explaining that it is by fate that Romeo is dead and that Friar didn't make it to him in time. These among many other instances of fate and foreshadowing are evidence that fate is the power that dictates the story's

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