Themes: Tragic Fate

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

The Prologue announces the deaths of Romeo and Juliet before they appear on stage, and it seems that there is nothing they can do to avoid this fate. Their doom is foreshadowed several times during the course of the play. Romeo’s clumsy attempts to swear to his love by “the inconstant moon” lead Juliet to reflect:

Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,

I have no joy of this contract to-night:

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;

Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be

Ere one can say “It lightens.”

Even more ominously, the last time she sees Romeo alive, Juliet 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.

Romeo replies that she also looks pale, remarking portentously “Dry sorrow drinks our blood.” He then says “adieu,” a final farewell, meaning “until God.” They never meet again.

At key moments, we are reminded of the role of fate. When Romeo and his friends prepare to attend the Capulet ball, Romeo ominously remarks that he feels the events of the night will somehow lead to his death. Despite this, he is determined to attend, acknowledging that his fate is ultimately out of his hands: “But he that hath the steerage of my course, / Direct my sail.”

Later when Benvolio tells Romeo of Mercutio’s death, before Tybalt re-enters, Romeo has time to exclaim:

This day's black fate on more days doth depend;

This but begins the woe, others must end.

This seems at the time as though it might refer to his own imminent death, for Tybalt is a skillful swordsman. Romeo does not know or care whether he is likely to die. When he challenges Tybalt, he says that one or both of them must go to join Mercutio, and leaves the issue, like many others in Romeo and Juliet, to fate.

Expert Q&A

What does this quote from Romeo and Juliet mean: "This day's black fate on more days doth depend, This but begins the woe others must end."

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo's quote "This day's black fate on more days doth depend, This but begins the woe others must end" reflects his belief that the tragic consequences of Mercutio's death will extend into the future. This quote is a foreshadowing of the continuing misfortune and grief that will result from the day's events. Romeo feels powerless, suggesting that fate controls the outcomes and that today's events are merely the beginning of an unfolding tragedy.

Who said "For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo", to whom, and what does it mean?

The quote "For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo" is spoken by the Prince of Verona to a large audience including the Montague and Capulet families, Friar Lawrence, a page, and three watchmen, as well as the theatre audience. The Prince uses these words, the final lines of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", to express the tragic consequences of the families' feud, which led to the premature deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The lines signify that there is no tale sadder than the one the audience has just witnessed.

The Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet

Fate plays a crucial role in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, influencing events from the start. The Prologue introduces the concept of "star-crossed lovers," indicating predetermined tragedy. Fate orchestrates Romeo's attendance at the Capulet feast, leading to his meeting with Juliet. Throughout the play, references to fate emphasize its control over the characters' lives, such as Romeo's lament as "fortune's fool" and the series of misfortunes culminating in the lovers' deaths. Shakespeare highlights fate's power over human decisions and its impact on the tragic outcome.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Previous

Themes: Violence and Conflict

Next

Themes: Love and Hate

Loading...