Analytic Essay-The Idea of Fate
Introduction
Romeo and Juliet is an enlightening play that entices the human brain with its many metaphorical language. This essay will explore and explain how fate is used in the brilliant play Romeo and Juliet by answering this question. The question is ‘How does Shakespeare explore the idea of fate in his play Romeo and Juliet?’ The main points this essay will be explaining are the following: is the chances of meeting Juliet at the party and falling in love, the Chorus and finally through the characters metaphorical language, then finally concluding with a conclusion.
Paragraph 1-The Chorus
What is fate? Fate is planned out journey for someone or something. Also fate is connected to religion. In Shakespeare’s time everyone was Christian back then. Shakespeare was the God of Romeo and Juliet world. Right at the beginning, we understand the plot of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet because of the Chorus. In connection to the other point made, the only real point of the play existing is how it all happened and what happened in-between. Another piece of Shakespearian magic is the art of coincidence. The art of coincidence is used to draw back to the Chorus, and explain why each event happened. For example: when Romeo killed Tybalt he was exailed from Verona. By coincidence if Romeo was not exiled then Juliet wouldn’t have to create a plan that ended up in her eternal death. The Chorus is the first person to speak in the play, so the audience or reader knows what is going to happen. It is like the mouthpiece for Shakespeare. This connects to fate because their lives and story is already planned out ahead of them.They cannot control anything whatsoever. For example Line 6 and 7:
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows.
As you can see from this passage, we already know the fate of the lovers, Romeo and Juliet are going to commit suicide because of conflict between the two families, that left the two families desolated and isolated without their loved ones. This essay will explain what metaphorical language they used to connect back to the Chorus and the fate of their lives. Overall the Chorus predetermines the fate of Romeo and Juliet, the plot of the play and because we know what the fate of Romeo and Juliet are the Chorus is connected to fate.
Paragraph 2-The Chances of meeting each other (R+J)
Romeo and Juliet both stumbled upon each other at Capulet party. Interestingly the only reason Romeo even knew about the Capulet party was, because Peter a servant of the Capulet family, could not read the invitation and Romeo had to read it (Act 1 Scene 2). Remember coincidence, that is why Romeo even knew about the Capulet party, so he could meet and romance with Juliet. He was still moping over his lost love Rosaline so he decided to attend the party to forget about Rosaline and to have a good time. That inclines that Romeo and Juliet were going to fall in love (Chorus). They romanced each other and fell in love. It was not until Juliet’s mother called her that Romeo realized the horror of Juliet being a Capulet. This takes us back to the Chorus because it has been predetermined that Romeo and Juliet were going to die because of family conflict. They both knew the consequences of dating each other, they both feared the worse, but there love for each other was too strong. Nothing could stop and destroy the strength of their love. This connects to fate because they were destined to meet each other.
Paragraph 3-Metaphorical Language
Some consequences yet hanging in the stars
One of the reason why Shakespeare was so popular and successful was because of his enchanting metaphors. The metaphors were mentioned many times, out-going, in the play. This sheer brilliance draws the reader or audience to imagine the situation into many different, dazzling forms. This is one of many examples of metaphorical language used in Romeo and Juliet. This speech by Romeo actually means there is a deadly consequence waiting for Romeo in the sky. Romeo said ‘hanging in the stars’. This means God had a consequence in hand for Romeo, and people stereotype God as being in the stars or sky. This connects to fate because it has been predetermined for Romeo to die in the Chorus and the consequence from God is death.
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
‘Thou desperate pilot’ means the small pilot boat is desperate to escape. (The pilot boat steers the bigger ship to safety) Romeo refers God as the pilot of his ‘bigger ship’ or life. Romeo says that God cannot help and control his life anymore, and also refers to God as ‘running away’ (‘now at once run on’) from his chaotic life. Overall Shakespeare’s mystical metaphors has absolutely rocked the play in many different ways because of the metaphorical language.
Paragraph 4-Conclusion
Many valuable points have been made in this essay to support that there is fate in Romeo and Juliet. This analysis on fate shows that every-time Shakespeare has mentioned about fate, there has been a obstacle to stop and change the path on somebody’s life. Most people views and thoughts on Romeo and Juliet, is about love and tragedy. However, unless thoroughly reading ‘in between the lines’ fate would be oblivious to the reader. The topic of fate is not used in many tragedy plays and films, but when used in the same way Shakespeare has done, the reader and audience are given 10 times more they needed. They will need to ponder and decode the metaphors, but when done they find the true meaning to Shakespeare’s brilliance.