The famous playwright portrays this theme by using intricate literary devices to build up the events through the theme of destiny which eventually leads towards the tragic ending. In the introductory, poetic prologue of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, William Shakespeare communicates the distinctive thematic theme of fate. He vividly foreshadows the results of fate in the opening paragraph of the play. In the prologue it states, “A pair of star-crossed lovers […], fearful passage of their death-marked love,”. This opening to the tragic play, already indicates that a death will occur because of the consequences of family and the result of their love towards each other, “continuance of their parent’s rage,”.
Shakespeare writes the play giving the audience the final decision of who is at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play fault can be placed on Romeo. He makes a variety of choices that lead to Juliet’s death and his own. Romeo is constantly blaming his own careless behaviors on fate. He is warned not to attend the party but he smirks at fate by saying, “But he that hath the steerage of my course/Direct my sail,” (1.4.119-120).
Fate, above all, destroyed Romeo and Juliet. Several instances in the play reveal that the love of Romeo and Juliet would end in death. "A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life" (Prologue.6) destined for misfortune. It could be that Romeo and Juliet were destined for death so that their families’ feud would be over. Also, in the prologue, it states that their love was "The fearful passage of their death" (Prologue.9).
In Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not Stop for Death”, the narrator regrets her actions and wishes she could have changed her fate. On the other hand, Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, fate is said to be predetermined. By exercising free will, in trying to avoid their inevitable downfall, these three unconnected works of literature encompass the two types of fate, that which can change and that which is predetermined. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the fate of several people are changed through the actions of individuals that exercise their free-will. In the beginning of this play Macbeh states, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (Shakespeare).
Heart vs. Mind Synthesis Essay Heart vs. mind is one of the most common yet complex internal conflicts of man. Shakespeare’s being one of the most well-renowned authors and playwriters of all time, his literature would mainly consist of the theme heart vs. mind. With this theme of heart vs. mind being internal, it would start to conflict the character in difficult times. There’s a saying that goes, “the heart wants what the heart wants” and this includes going against what’s good for you or your mind.
In the prominent play by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, two young adults tried to escape what they believe fate was setting them up to suffer. They both tried to change the future by many impulsive decisions that did not help them escape reality. Not being able to change their outcomes, they committed suicide from a hurried relationship. The author of the play, Shakespeare, used indications of what might have occurred and the character’s dialogue to convey no matter what actions are taken, their tragic outcomes are destined to have occurred from the beginning. In the Prologue and Act I of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, foreshadowing was used to explain that the lovers’ outcomes were destined from the beginning, with little knowledge of what
But while most of his works are famous throughout the world, his personal life is shrouded in mystery. As people know, William Shakespeare wrote 153 sonnets. The first 126 sonnets are written for a noble young man, and the rest 27 sonnets are for a black lady. The first seventeen sonnets are Shakespeare’s precise massage to the young man which express himself. But beginning from the sonnet 18, there is an abrupt turning point: Shakespeare had completely fallen in love with the fifteen-year-old young man.
Throughout the course of Romeo and Juliet, the two individuals fall hard for each other, inevitably resulting in their deaths, allowing them to be together. Romeo speaks aloud, “Will I set up my everlasting rest, And shakes the yoke of inauspicious stars… A dateless bargain to engrossing death” (V, iii, 119-124). It can be inferred from the previous evidence that Romeo will do anything to defy fate and destiny, a power often vested in the movement of stars, to be with Juliet. Death has become an act of love for Romeo. Their passion of love has been put under classification as infatuated by several readers.
William Shakespeare’s poetic writing (about Romeo and Juliet) portrays the tragedies that occurred to be caused by fate, however, in reality it is clear that they were caused solely by human error. Fate can be regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power, which in Romeo and Juliet’s case is claimed by Shakespeare as responsible for the characters actions and mistakes. It is evident throughout the play that the feud is responsible, not fate, and this is a big misconception as the faults are hidden. The characters are constantly blaming fate for what is clearly their personal errors, in order to not be the one accused. During the staging of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare convinces us that fate is to blame for all the faults in order for
Sadly, things turn out for the worse as the two characters, due to misunderstandings and ill-timed events end up killing themselves. For example, in the last act just after Romeo kills Paris, and then himself, Juliet wakes only to see her beloved’s corpse as Friar Lawrence rushes over to her. Friar Lawrence is stating that a higher power, in this case, fate has ruined their plan. We know that Friar Lawrence is talking about fate when he says that they cannot contradict this power. According to this play you cannot contradict fate, it always has it’s way in the end, whether we know it or not.