Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses the idea of fate . Fate is a pre-determined future , it’s the idea that everything’s already set in motion and everybody is a course heading for something that they can’t escape . Shakespeare uses the idea of fate throughout  the play . He puts it in metaphors and certain events that happen could be seen as fate and they needed to happen . 

Shakespeare uses the idea of fate through Romeo’s words he uses metaphors at the same time . One quote’s where Romeo uses a metaphor and the idea of fate is where romeo says : “Let he that hath steered my course direct my sail “. This quote is Romeo referring to God as “he” And himself as a boat . Romeo is saying that God “he” is directing his “sail” which means that he’s just going with what happens and following a path which is set in front of him . This quote uses a metaphor and Fate at the same time . 

There are clear moments of fate in this play the earliest sign of fate is the servant walking up to Romeo on the street and asking to read out the names for the Capulet party . If Romeo hand not been on that street at that day the servant wouldn’t of asked him to read out the names , he wouldn’t of seen Rosalie’s name and he wouldn’t of gone to go to the party . If he didn’t go to the party he wouldn’t of met Juliet and wouldn’t of fallen in love with her .Another sign of fate is Friar John not being able to give Romeo the letter because of the quarantine and Friar Lawrence tripping over the graves .This can be called fate because after all of the tripping he walked in the tomb seconds after they die . If Friar Lawrence did not trip over the graves he would of been able save them .

Fate can also be seen as a big coincidence . It can be said that if the servant could’ve been able to read the whole play wouldn’t of happened and that Romeo being on that street on that day can be a coincidence . For people who aren’t religious  and don’t believe in God they will see this play as a big coincidence and that their is no such thing as fate but with all that goes on in the play all the signs of fate its hard to believe that theirs no such thing as fate. 

In Baz Luhrmann’ redo of Romeo and Juliet he also explores the the idea of fate but this fate is clearer because he an use symbols that we can visually see . He shows us where fate is that Shakespeare put it . Baz Luhrmann’s redo of Romeo and Juliet helps you understand the play better . 

There’s also a lot of foreshadowing in play . Foreshadowing is hinting at the future which is what this quote below does . Technically the prologue does not foreshadow because it doesn’t hint or predict the future it says what’s going to happen .   

“I fear, too early: for my mind misgives                                                                                                                         Some consequence yet hanging in the stars                                                                                                                 Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
 With this night’s revels and expire the term                                                                                                                       Of a despised life closed in my breast
 By some vile forfeit of untimely death.”

That is what Romeo says just before entering the Capulet party this is foreshadowing because Romeo is hinting at the future . Romeo is fearful that something will happen tonight that will lead to his “untimely death” which is exactly what happened  . That quote is the earliest bit of foreshadowing . The Prologue does not  use foreshadowing because it doesn’t hit at the future it tells you whats going to happen . 

There’s a lot of bits in the play that can be seen as fate and that it needed to happen for Romeo and Juliet’s end like Romeo being banished . If Romeo was never banished then the letter would’ve got to him about the plan or the Fair would’ve gone to see him . This means that Mercurio dying could’ve been seen as fate sense if he hadn’t died fighting Tybalt Romeo wouldn’t of tried to kill him and therefore get banished . 

There’s also events and even people in the play that didn’t need to be their like Mrs.Montague she does nothing significant and just dies at the end . But certain minor characters need to be their like Juliet’s nurse and Balthasar . The nurse can be seen as a one of the most needed characters in the play . This is because if she wasn’t there no-one would’ve encouraged Juliet to see Romeo . The nurse also helps Juliet set up the wedding at conform Romeo’s love for her to Juliet  .  Balthasar could also be seen as a needed character since he delivers the news to Romeo and Juliet’s death ( even though it was apart of the plan ) and Balthasar is Romeo’s best friend . It could be seen that if Balthasar wasn’t at Juliet’s fake funeral then Romeo wouldn’t of wanted to kill himself . 

Shakespeare uses a large combination of metaphors , foreshadowing and more in Romeo and Juliet to make up this play .  

END.