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The Power of Fate
The famous T.E. Lawrence of Arabia once said, “Many men would take the death sentence without a whimper to escape the life sentence which Fate carries in her hand”. Many believers of fate know this to be true – for what fate can have planned may be far worse than the ultimate sacrifice, death. Though most people today do not believe in the power of fate, in the Elizabethan era, it was very common to do so. Shakespeare, the author of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, lived during this time period, and he portrays fate as an antagonist of the play. Throughout the entire play, Romeo and Juliet, the protagonists, are constantly threatened by fate in one way or another. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare portrays fate as a divine force responsible for events resulting in Romeo and Juliet meeting, Romeo’s banishment from Verona, and eventually, their deaths.
Shakespeare uses fate to bring the lovers together. After weeping to Benvolio about his broken heart, Romeo helps an illiterate servant with reading the guest list from Lord Capulet regarding the Capulets’ masquerade ball. Thankful for the assistance, the servant returns the favor by inviting Romeo to the party: “My master is the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine” (1.2.79-81). Obviously, this scenario was not just a coincidence. Some sort of divine force, fate, must have planned for Romeo to find a way to the party, in order for him to meet Juliet. Lois Kerschen states that Romeo “…has a bad feeling that going to the party may lead to eventual doom, but he goes anyway” (261). Romeo ignores his gut feeling, believing it is fate’s plan for him to go to the party, and it probably was. When Romeo arrives at the party, his eyes immediately lock with Juliet’s, which triggers his falling in love at first sight with her. They formally meet momentarily, and share a kiss without knowing whom the other was, let...