Circumstance and chance underscore the concept of fate in
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Act V, Scene 1, Romeo
has a premonition in the form of a dream that he dies and Juliet comes to
him.
If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand. My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne,
And all this day an unaccustom'd spirit Lifts me above the ground with cheerful
thoughts.(5) I dreamt my lady came and found me dead (Strange dream that gives a dead
man leave to think!) And breath'd such life with kisses in my lips That I reviv'd and
was an emperor. Ah me! how sweet is love itself possess'd,(10) When but love's shadows
are so rich in joy!
And, earlier in the play,
after Romeo has killed Tybalt in Act III, he exclaims, "O I am Fortune's fool!" Clearly,
he senses that his life is dictated by fate, and Romeo feels that his actions are
controlled by circumstance, for he declares his defiance of this fate: "Then, I defy
you, stars!" (5.1.24). It is then that Romeo purchases poison from an apothecary so that
he can join Juliet in her tomb and perhaps realize his dream of being united with his
love. However, this action is not noble or honorable. Rather, it is rash and impetuous
without thought of his family. In fact, Romeo calls himself "desperate" and a
"madman."
When he reaches the tomb of Juliet, it is this
desperate Romeo who faces death as he faces the catacombs of the
Capulets,
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of
death,(45)
Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I
enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
And in despite I'll cram thee with more
food.
Then, with his characteristic impetuousity,
Romeo kills Paris when he encounters him at the tomb and drags him inside. When he sees
Juliet, who appears to be dead, Romeo determines that he will join his
love,
Here,
here I will remain
With the worms that are your maids. O, here
I
will set up my everlasting rest,
And shake off the bonds of unlucky
stars
From my world-wearied body. Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take
your last embrace! And, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal a timeless
bargain
With death, who will take everything, with a righteous
kiss!
Come on, bitter escort. Come on, unsavory guide!
You desperate
sea captain, now run your sea-sick weary ship
Onto the dashing rocks all at
once!
Here's to my love! [Drinks.] O, Pharmacist, you told the
truth!
Your drugs are quick. So, I die with a
kiss.
It is impulsively that
Romeo reacts to the sight of Juliet; it is impulsively that he dies beside her after
having noticed that her lips are yet warm. And, it is impulsively, not honorably, that
Romeo reacts to the tragic forces of what he feels is
fate.
Again.
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