Question: Romeo and Juliet's tragic deaths were fated to happen. Do you agree? Present your opinion with reference to evidence in the play.
Romeo and Juliet's death were fated to happen. From the start of the play to the finish the author (William Shakespeare) gives away little hints about Romeo and Juliet and how they are destined to die tragically. It is obvious that their fates were predetermined. In the prologue line 6 it says, "A pair of start-crossed lovers take their life." That just shows that William Shakespeare didn't waste much time before telling us that the two lovers take their lives. The fact that Romeo and Juliet were born into rival families also doesn't help them much. Throughout the play it seems as though they can see it themselves, they both often dream about death and they both use star imagery to relate to their thoughts.
Romeo and Juliet had no control over the behavior of both their families. It is evident that Juliet wishes that Romeo was not a Montague in Act 2 Scene 2 Line 40, "What's Montague? It is nor hand nor foot, nor arm nor face O be some other name!" Without the conflict between the two families none of this would have happened. Act 1 Scene 4 Line 106 Romeo says that he senses consequences if he enters the Capulet party, which he was right about but that's that way fate led him and there was nothing he could do about it.
Romeo and Juliet relate to star imagery to describe each other all through the play. In the prologue they are identified as star crossed lovers. Before Romeo even properly communicates with Juliet he already relates her with the stars, Act 2 Scene 2 Line 15, "Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven." Romeo cannot help his feelings for Juliet so this is also classes fate. In Act 3 Scene 2 Line 21 Juliet imagines Romeo being dead and among the stars, she also cannot help what she is feeling.
Romeo and Juliet have dreams and premonitions about their deaths and about disasters quite often through the play.
