Time And Fate In Romeo & Juliet Essay, Research Paper

Time and Fate in Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, said to be one of the most famous love

stories of all times, is a play anchored on time and fate. Some

actions are believed to occur by chance or by destiny. The

timing of each action influences the outcome of the play. While

some events are of less significance, some are crucial to the

development of this tragedy. The substantial events that inspire

the conclusion of Romeo and Juliet are; the Capulet ball, the

quarrel experienced by Tybalt and Romeo, and Friar John s plague.

A servant to Capulet, who is incapable of reading the

list of guests, asks for Romeo s assistance. Romeo notices that

Rosaline, his lover, is among these names. Benvolio challenges

Romeo to compare her with other “beauties.” Benvolio predicts,

“Compare her face with some that I shall show,/ And I will make

thee think thy swan a crow.” (I, ii, l 86-87) To show his

appreciation, the servant asks for Romeo s presence at the ball.

Romeo should have considered the servant s warning; if Romeo

occupies the name of Montague, he shall not be permitted. Once at

the ball, Romeo is searching for a maiden to substitute the

unrequited love of Rosaline. Romeo happens to gaze upon Juliet,

who charms Romeo. Romeo proclaims, ” Did my heart love till now?

Forswear it, sight!/ For ne er saw true beauty till this night.”

(I, v, l 52-53) Since Romeo declares his love for Juliet, she

feels the attraction also. They believe that they are in love and

must marry. However, it is a genuine coincidence that Romeo and

Juliet were at the same place, at the same time.

Some days after the ball, Benvolio and Mercutio are

conversing, in regard to the quarrelsome weather. Benvolio

declares, “The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,/ And if we meet

we shall not scape a brawl,/ For now these got days is the mad

blood stirring.” (III, i, l 2-4) At this point, Tybalt, who has

challenged Romeo because of his appearance at the masquerade,

enters, seeking Romeo. On Romeo s behalf, Mercutio struggles with

Tybalt, while Romeo, who is filled with love for his new

cousin, tries to end their boldness. Before escaping, Tybalt

plunges his sword into Mercutio, causing death to fall upon him.

Mercutio blames Romeo and the feud for his fate. Romeo kills

Tybalt, who taunts Romeo, upon his return. Romeo fears he will be

condemned to death if he does not flee before the arrival of the

Prince. Benvolio recalls the events that have happened, with

some embellishment. The Prince declares: And for that offence/

Immediately we do exile him hence./ I hav an in your hate s

proceeding,/ My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;/

But I ll amerce you with so strong a fine/ That you shall

repent the loss of mine./ I will be deaf to pleading and

excuses;/ Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses;/

Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste,/ Else, when he s

found, that hour is his last./ Bear hence this body and attend

our will./ Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. (III, i,

l 185-195)

Due to the disturbance of Verona s street and the losses

of Tybalt and Mercutio, the Prince must penalize Romeo. However,

the Prince agrees that Romeo was acting in self defense.

Juliet, who desires not to wed Paris, asks for Friar

Laurence s assistance. The day before the wedding, Juliet is to

drink the poison, which will make her appear to be dead. In forty

two hours she shall awake, with Romeo by her side. Romeo will

then bring her to Mantua with him. In the meantime Friar Laurence

will convey a message to Romeo in Mantua, telling him the plot.

When she gains consciousness, Romeo and Friar Laurence will be

there. Friar Laurence says, “Shall Romeo by my letters know our

drift,/ And hither shall he come; and he and I/ Will watch thy

waking” (IV, i, l 114-116) Following Juliet s intake of the

poison, Romeo is anticipating news from Verona. Balthasar, a

servant to Romeo, tells Romeo that Juliet has passed on. Romeo,

who is told there are no letters from the friar, seeks a way to

accomplish his suicide. Meanwhile, Friar Laurence, confronts

Friar John, who was to deliver the letter to Romeo. Friar John

informs Friar Laurence that he was seeking another Franciscan,

who was visiting the sick, to accompany him to Mantua. He says,

“Suspecting that we both were in a house/ Where the infectious

pestilence did reingn,/ Seal d up the doors, and would not

let us forth;/” (V, ii, l 9-11) Friar John tells that he could

find no one to deliver the letter, for fear they may catch the

infection.

The substantial events that inspire the conclusion of

Romeo and Juliet are; the Capulet ball, the quarrel experienced

by Tybalt and Romeo, and Friar John s plague. The Capulet ball

influences the ending of the play by Romeo s invitation at the

ball, which creates the meeting of Romeo and Juliet. The ball

also gives birth to Tybalt s anger and causes his challenge. The

challenge causes the banishment of Romeo, which produces much

grieving by Juliet and Romeo. Also, the quarrelsome weather is

partly to blame for the feuding between Tybalt and Mercutio.

Since Friar John did not deliver the letter, Romeo thinks that

Juliet is dead, sacrifices himself. Juliet seeing that Romeo is

dead, slays herself also.

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