1. Romeo and Juliet themes – Fate Date: Objectives
Examine the Romeo and Juliet theme - Fate.
Be able to write about the theme.
Warm-up – Examine the quote and question.
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”
Think for a moment about this play not being about love or even Romeo and Juliet. Instead it is about some unknown power controlling events and ending the family feud.
Do you believe in fate / destiny / the idea that the future is decided? Why?

2. Plan for theme essay - Fate
The following slides examine ‘Fate’ throughout the story of Romeo and Juliet. It follows this structure:
Introduce fate in the prologue. (Prologue)
Discuss Romeo’s feelings on fate. (Act 1, scene 4)
Discuss Juliet’s feelings on fate. (Act 2, scene 2)
Discuss Romeo trying to fight fate and fail. (Act 3, scene 1)
Discuss Juliet trying to fight fate and fail. (Act 5, scene 3)
Some final thoughts for a conclusion.
For homework – essay at the end of the week on a theme.
Question for tonight – a paragraph on your opinion of ‘fate’ in the play.

3. Introduction - Fate
The prologue introduces the two families; the Capulets and Montagues, and tells us they are cursed by fate. A girl from one side and a boy from another are doomed by the stars to fall in love and take their own lives.
“The fearful passage of their death-marked love
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove” (Prologue)
There is a purpose to the lovers deaths; that the feud which has lasted generations might come to an end. With this in mind, the play asks that the audience listen to their story knowing nothing can prevent their doom.
Examine the Prologue
Examine the term ‘star-crossed lovers’. If you were to draw ‘stars crossing’, what would that look like? How does this apply to the play?

4. Fate: Foreshadowing - Romeo
As the play progresses, Romeo and Juliet both sense that fate is working against them and express this idea quite often. As Romeo enters the Capulets home, he shudders at the thought of some unknown terror lying in wait to destroy him:
“For my mind misgives
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date.....
.... some vile forfeit of untimely death” (Act 1, scene 4)
Again we are given the image of stars as possessing knowledge of the future. Romeo feels there is a set or predestined story being told , but he does not have access to the details.
Examine Act 1, scene 5 – Romeo and Juliet meeting. You know for sure how it ends. Would you tell them to stay away from each other? Why / why not?

5. Fate: Foreshadowing - Juliet
Juliet also senses that the happiness she gets from Romeo is too good to last; that it will leave suddenly and without warning. What is happening to her appears beyond her control, like a force of nature as she says their love is:
“too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say ‘It lightens’.” (Act 2, scene 2)
Her simile is, like many comparisons in the play, more accurate than she realises. Romeo’s love shall be as quick and destructive as lightning; a brilliant flash leading to several deaths. Sensing this fate, both she and Romeo continue their relationship and play out what fate has is store.
What series of events has lead to Romeo and Juliet meeting in Act 1.
(What has Romeo done? What has Juliet done? What have other characters done that contributes to these two people meeting?)

6. Fate: Romeo trying to change it
Even when the characters seek to do good and change things, the world they live in continues on its destructive path. In Romeo’s case, trying to prevent tragedy instead causes tragedy. He tries his best to make peace with the Capulets and puts himself between Tybalt and Mercutio when they fight. Instead however, his actions lead to Mercutio’s death as he is stabbed under Romeo’s arm. In a rage, he gives up his struggle against fate then:
“This day’s black fate on more days doth depend.
This but begins the woe others must end” (Act 3, scene 1).
Romeo perceives Mercutio’s death as part of fate’s plan; as one in a series of incidents to come which he could not prevent if he tried. He recognises he is a pawn or character, unable to diverge from the path he is on.
Examine Act 3 – Is Romeo to blame for the events in Act 3, in your opinion.

7. Fate: Juliet tries– fate wins.
Juliet undergoes a scheme to fake her death in the hope of escaping her husband-to-be, her parents and her fate. Like Romeo however, her actions lead to the downfall of herself and others. Romeo sees her death as part of fates plan and in an attempt to break away from destiny, he does the unthinkable. Before he kills himself, he curses fate as he says:
“And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world–wearied flesh.” (Act 5, scene 3)
There is a lot of irony here; Romeo trying to disobey the stars, only to do die as fate and the prologue predicted as well as both characters making the situation worse when they try to help. Juliet finally accepts her fate by following Romeo into death and thus affirms all their ill omens.
Examine Act 5, Scene 3 – Friar Laurence’s parts. What ‘fate’ awaited Juliet if she were to follow Friar Laurence and live?

8. Fate: final thoughts
Shakespeare’s treatment of fate reflects what the people believed at that time. Everyone thought they were slaves to destiny; unable to escape whatever positions they were in.
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet so that no matter what they did, they would die. There were several factors contributing to the situation: Tybalt, Friar Laurence, their parents and society in general. Even if one of these people changed one thing, the others would likely still cause this ending.
Romeo and Juliet, however, are the main causes of their own downfall. Romeo’s characters traits (immature, sensitive, rash) and Juliet’s character traits (independent, strong-willed, spontaneous) make them ill-fitted to be in the world they are in. There was always going to be trouble. It is who they were.