FREE ESSAY ON ROMEO & JULIET, CHOICE OR CHANCE

ROMEO & JULIET, CHOICE OR CHANCE

One of the oldest and most debated questions of all time is whether our lives are governed
by fate or by our personal choice. William Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet, brings this
question to the surface. Although fate seems to control what happens to Romeo and Juliet
their choices contribute more to their fate than fate itself. 
Although some reasons that Romeo and Juliet die are out of their control fate is not the
largest reason that the lovers end up dying. For example, when Romeo hears of Juliet's
death before he is told that it is being faked. Romeo heard of his love's death and
rushed to her side to kill himself so he may lye with Juliet. The choice to kill himself
is his alone, no one forces him to do it. The unfortunate circumstance that stops the
Friar's assistant from delivering his message also aids the death of the lover's but does
not cause it. Romeo doesn't need to hear of the Friar's and Juliet's deception to stop
them from dying. If he hadn't have done anything drastic they would both have been alive
and well. Also, Juliet could have told people about her marriage to Romeo, accepted the
consequences and then there would be no need for the fateful message. Still, fate or
circumstances above their control do play a large role in determining the fate of the two
young lovers.
It seems like Romeo and Juliet have the curse of bad luck throughout this story. Fate
seems to cause Mercucio to be killed by Tybalt under Romeo's arm. This causes Romeo to
want to avenge Mercucio's death and Romeo then slays Tybalt. Hence, Romeo is forced to
leave Verona or die and therefore one more circumstance out of their control contributes
to their deaths. This situation is put on Romeo without his consent. Romeo and the choice
whether or not to avenge Mercucio's murder. Tybalt does not attack Romeo. Romeo goes
after Tybalt with the intent to kill him. To take it a step further, Romeo could stay in
Verona and face the wake of his actions. 
Many times Shakespeare refers to fate as being the reason that they died. When the Chorus
uses the phrase Star-crossed lovers(1,1,6), this indicates William Shakespeare's thoughts
on what kills Romeo and Juliet. This tell the audience that Romeo and Juliet are destined
for trouble. Romeo saying I am fortunes fool(3,1,145) after he kills Tybalt further
emphasizes the point. Romeo kills Tybalt yet he tries to blame fortune instead of blaming
himself. He says that fortune tricked him and he fell for it. The unlucky manage of this
fatal brawl (3,1,154), spoken by the Prince after he hears about the death of Tybalt
confirms that Shakespeare feels that luck is what determines what happens. The fact that
they were from feuding families that hated each other and they still continued the
relationship. Yet, Shakespeare doesn't tell about the poor judgement that the two young
teenagers use. He tries to make it seem that they had no choice in the matter. What
really plays the biggest part in their death is not fate but the decisions of the two
adolescents.
Many choices contributed to the end of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo's choice to go to the
Capulet party where he met Juliet was one example of their choice. He knows that his
family and Juliet's family hate each other. Still, he goes to their party fully knowing
what might happen. Furthermore, Romeo chose to seek after Juliet and to continue to see
her. He could have just left and not have returned to her house and gone to her balcony.
By making this choice he sets up all the problems that occur later. Even if the later
events happen by chance and it seem as if fate was the reason that they died, their
choices put them in that position. Although, Romeo pursued Juliet he isn't the only
reason that they die. 
Juliet's choices play a large part in deciding their end. Romeo woos Juliet but Juliet
could have resisted. When he sends for her to marry him, she can decide not to show up.
They also could be honest and tell their parents. The parents might not like it but at
least Romeo and Juliet wouldn't die. When Juliet chooses to drink the potion and not go
with Romeo and leave Verona she makes a way for chance to come into play. She could have
left and lived with Romeo, but she didn't and therefore suffered for it. 
Many elements of chance or fate and choice together decided the outcome of this story of
two star-crossed lovers. Yes, things out of their control helped to kill them but they
made the decision to pursue each other and leave the opening for those things to happen.
So, was it choice or fate? I believe that personal choice is the real nemesis.