Fate Playing a Role

The Way Fate Plays a Role in the Characters


of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth




There are many definitions for the word fate.   The definition of the word fate in the New Webster’s Dictionary is a power that supposedly predetermines events. Also fate means something that is unavoidable. It is meant to happen and cannot be changed. According to Shalvia, the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet has a sense of cruel fate in it. (510). In Shakespeare's Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, fate plays an important role in the lives of many of the characters in the story.


One site of fate in Romeo and Juliet is when Romeo finds out that Rosaline has sworn never to marry. This hurts Romeo a lot and he suffers.   Then Romeo is told to go to the Capulet’s house for a party by a clown. Many times in the play the two families have to confront each other in situations. Their first encounter that is seen in the play is after the prince has come to stop the chaos on the streets after being told of the quarrels going between the two families. The two families pay for their quarreling at the end of the story. (Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” 31)     Even though the families are fighting, Romeo happens to be invited to the party at the house of the enemy. This is nothing but pure fate. Benvolio tells Romeo to find a different girl and forget Rosaline. Benvolio tells Romeo this to convince him to go to the party:


At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so loves, with all the admired beauties of Verona. Go there and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow. (Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” 46)


In the quote Benvolio is trying to tell Romeo that there will be other beautiful girls at the party that he can compare their looks with Rosaline’s and he says that Romeo will realize there are better girls...