Is it possible for something to be doomed from the start?.
Can fate dictate the course of someone's life? In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare it seems that fate is the driving force behind the events that lead to an unavoidable and tragic end for the both of them. Death was not something that either one of them was looking for at that point in their life. It was love they were looking for, yet in finding such a love, they found death. Fate had a bigger plan in mind for the two teenagers, one that would heal an age old family blood feud, and all it took was a couple of twists of fate. There were several events in this play that occurred out of the control of both Romeo and Juliet. It was these following events that sealed their destiny.
The first incidence of fate first comes into play in Act I, scene II, where Benvolio is trying to convince Romeo Montague to get over his latest love, the fair Rosalind. Rosalind had decided to take a vow of chastity and joined a convent. Benvolio thinks the best thing for Romeo would be to go and meet the other fair maidens of the town. It was on the other side of town though that fate was dealing her cards. Juliet's father, the head of the Capulet family, sent out a list of people he wanted to come to a party at his home. The Capulets were a very wealthy family and were feuding with the Montague family. The reason for the party was to arrange for Count Paris, an older man, to meet and marry the beautiful young Juliet Capulet. However, the servant bringing around the list of invited guests could not read, so he stopped and asked Romeo and Benvolio for help. " but I am sent to find those persons who names are here writ, and can never find those what names the writing person hath her writ. I must to the learned. In good time!" (pg 297) It was then that Benvolio convinced Romeo that this was an opportunity to meet girls that shouldn't be missed.