Fate is the dominant theme throughout William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Fate is an inevitable and often adverse outcome or condition; destiny. The destiny of these two lovers, which is suicide, is revealed to the reader at the beginning of the play. Every event throughout the play brought Romeo and Juliet closer to their inevitable fates. These events include the meeting of Romeo and Juliet, the banishment of Romeo from Verona, and the unfortunate timing of Romeo's suicide.
The first of these incidents was the fateful night when Romeo and Juliet met. From the very beginning of the play it is made very clear that their love could never be as a result of their feuding families. The prologue states, "From ancient grudge break to new mutiny A pair of star-cross"d lovers take their life" (Prologue, 3- 6). This reveals the fate of Romeo and Juliet before they are even introduced in the play. It was a twist of fate that Romeo and Juliet met. Romeo was invited to the masquerade by mistake by an illiterate servant of Capulet, but Romeo was not even going to the party to see Juliet. When they receive the invitation, Benvolio says to Romeo, "At this same ancient feast of Capulets Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest," (I, ii, 82- 2). This proves that Romeo was going to the masquerade in hopes of seeing Rosaline. Hypothetically, if Rosaline had been there, and she returned Romeo's love, then all the following suffering would have never occurred. Furthermore, before Romeo attends the Capulet party, he says, "Some consequence yet hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin this fearful date" (I iv, 107- 108). Romeo already predicts what the fates have in store as he says something bad might transpire if he dares to show up at the party, where he will meet Juliet. It is fate that they meet because Romeo says it himself, and this is the first of a series of events which lead to their destinies.