Dost Thou Think We Shall Ever Meet Again

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Romeo and Juliet Fate and Free Will

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Fate and Free Will

Prologue

                                 Enter Chorus
Two households, both akin in dignity
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),
From ancient grudge intermission to new mutiny,
Where ceremonious claret makes ceremonious hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cantankerous'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their decease coffin their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children'southward finish, naught could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you lot with patient ears attend,
What hither shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. (Prologue.1-14)

Only before Romeo heads over to the Capulet brawl, where he falls in love with and meets (in that order) Juliet, he tells us that he has a funny feeling—like something "hanging in the stars" (something destined to happen) will go moving. Uh-oh. We have a feeling, as well—a bad feeling.

Deed i, Scene four

Romeo

ROMEO
I fear, besides early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful appointment
With this evening's revels, and expire the term
Of a despisèd life closed in my chest
By some vile forfeit of untimely expiry.
(one.4.113-118)

Just earlier Romeo heads over to the Capulet ball, where he falls in love with and meets (in that social club) Juliet, he tells u.s.a. that he has a funny felling – he fears that something "hanging in the stars" (something destined to happen) volition be prepare in move that night. Romeo's premonition seems to exist in keeping with what the Chorus tells united states in the Prologue (see higher up quote).

Human activity ane, Scene 5

Juliet

JULIET (gesturing towards Romeo)
What's he that follows here, that would not dance?
NURSE
I know not.
JULIET
Go ask his name. The Nurse goes. If he be marrièd.
My grave is similar to be my wedding bed.
(1.5.146-149)

Juliet foreshadows her own decease – her grave does become her wedding bed.

Human activity 3, Scene one

Romeo

ROMEO
O, I am fortune's fool!
(3.1.142)

Immediately after he kills Tybalt in a duel, Romeo declares he is "fortune'south fool." This seems to suggest that fate or "fortune" is responsible for Tybalt's death, not Romeo. But, really? Should we let Romeo off the claw for fighting and killing Tybalt, or should we concord Romeo responsible for his actions? Isn't this a footling similar a teenager yelling that everyone hates him and slamming his bedroom door?

Deed three, Scene 5

Juliet

JULIET
O, call up'st yard nosotros shall ever meet once more?

ROMEO
I dubiousness it not; and all these woes shall serve
For sweet discourses in our hereafter.

JULIET
O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks I come across thee, now thou fine art beneath,
As 1 dead in the bottom of a tomb.
Either my eyesight fails or thou look'st pale.
(3.5.51-57)

When Juliet says she has "an ill-diving soul," she means that she has a premonition of Romeo's death. This, of course, foreshadows how she will see Romeo for the final fourth dimension: with her in her tomb (5.iii). (Tip: try thinking positive thoughts, Jules!)

Act v, Scene one

Romeo

ROMEO
Is it eastward'en so?—Then I defy yous, stars!—
(v.one.25)

When Romeo hears from Balthasar that Juliet is expressionless (well, fake-dead), he declares "I defy you lot, stars!" True, he does have a plan to make sure that he and Juliet end upward together despite the stars. Too bad it involves suicide.

Act five, Scene 2

Friar Laurence

FRIAR LAURENCE
Who bare my letter of the alphabet, and so, to Romeo?

FRIAR JOHN
I could not transport information technology—here it is again—
Returning the letter.
Nor go a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearful were they of infection.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Unhappy fortune!
(5.two.13-17)

Friar Laurence blames "unhappy fortune" for preventing Romeo from receiving a letter explaining that Juliet isn't actually dead. (Nosotros usually blame AT&T, but that'southward just us.)

Human activity 5, Scene 3

Romeo

ROMEO (to Juliet in the tomb)
I notwithstanding volition stay with thee
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again. Here, hither will I remain
With worms that are thy chambermaids. O, here
Will I set upwardly my everlasting residue
And milkshake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-exhausted flesh!
(5.three.106-112)

Poor, impaired Romeo. He's convinced that he'll one-up the "stars" by killing himself, thus ensuring that he spends 4EVA with Juliet. Just, in fact, taking fate into his own easily just ways he ends up killing himself for nothing—and ensuring that Juliet dies for hear. If y'all're looking for textual bear witness that Romeo brings most his own "fate" (by making a decision (of his ain complimentary will) to kill himself, then this is the passage for you.

Friar Laurence

FRIAR LAURENCE
Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris also?
And steeped in claret? Ah, what an unkind 60 minutes
Is guilty of this lamentable hazard!
(v.iii.148-151)

At that place'southward a lot of finger-pointing in Romeo and Juliet, but nosotros get the feeling that none of the fingers are pointed in the right direction. Hither, instead of, you know, taking some of the blame on himself, Friar Laurence only blames "fate."

FRIAR LAURENCE
I hear some noise.—Lady, come up from that nest
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep.
A greater power than nosotros can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents.
(v.three.156-159)

When Juliet awakens and finds Romeo dead, the Friar tells Juliet that a "higher power"—either God or fate—has ruined their plans. Hm. It seems similar the Friar doesn't desire to take whatever responsibility for the office he played in the couple'southward tragedy. After all, Friar Laurence (a grown man who ought to know ameliorate) is the one who (i) facilitated the secret union, and then (two) came up with the thought for Juliet to potable the sleeping potion that would make everyone remember she was dead. We're pretty sure that, when the Prince says that some volition exist "punished," he'south looking straight at this guy.

Juliet

JULIET
O Fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle.
If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him
That is renowned for organized religion? Be fickle, Fortune.
For and so I hope thou wilt not keep him long,
But ship him back.
(3.5.60-64)

Juliet feels pretty helpless when she says goodbye to her new husband, Romeo, after the couple's one and but night together. Fortune (or Dame Fortuna, goddess of fortune and fate) is often portrayed as a "fickle" (unpredictable and unreliable) goddess because she could heighten men up to great heights or cast them down at whatever moment with the spin of her wheel (a.1000.a. the wheel of fortune). Juliet begs "fortune" to be kind to Romeo and reasons that since Romeo is so "organized religion[ful]" (as in not fickle or unreliable), then "fickle" fortune should want nothing to do with him. Sure—seems like sound logic to us.

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Source: https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/romeo-and-juliet/quotes/fate-and-free-will

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