Romeo and JulietFate or Chance?

Romeo and Juliet: Fate or Chance?

One view of the play sees Romeo and Juliet as victims of fate. To what extent do you agree with this? Having a complex plot, and too many deeply involved characters, we cannot simply state that Romeo and Juliet were purely victims of fate. The tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and the play itself, are anchored on three notions: that of fate, chance and choice. Fate contributed, though it was not the sole factor in the deaths of the young lovers. The many ‘unstoppable’ events, Shakespeare’s telling us of their love being told in the stars, and the ancient grudge between the families, are prime examples of fate being a part of Romeo and Juliet. Chance in the undetermined figure in Romeo and Juliet, with coincidence and misadventure playing in every readers mind as the many events unfold. Choice; vital decisions by each character, and judgments based on what an individual believed to be right or wrong, once again shows how many varied outcomes t...