What is love? Is it not a feeling, a dream, a look? How long must it take one to know he/she is in love? In addition, if it is longer then an hour is it really love? One could say love is in the eyes, the window to the soul; another could say the eyes could not see love for they only tell so much.
However, what about fate, if fate exists what does it matter if the love is in the eyes or truly in the heart? In addition, at what point is life swept out of the beholder’s hands and into those of fate?If Shakespeare would have answered, I believe he would have said, when those hearts of the beholders do feel love there life is taken by love. Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is a love story struck down by fate and doomed to tragedy. When considering the destruction of Romeo and Juliet the most significant facts are in terms of caution, patience and wisdom. Romeo and Juliet, said to be one of the most famous love stories of all times, is a play anchored on time, patience and fate.Some actions are believed to occur by chance or by destiny. The timing of each action influences the outcome of the play.
While some events are of less significance, some are crucial to the development of this tragedy. Romeo and Juliet were very impetuous people. We see this at the beginning of the play when Romeo is telling his cousin Benvolio how wonderful Rosaline was, “She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste, / For beauty starved with her severity/ Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,/ To merit bliss by making me despair:/ She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow/ Do I live dead that live to tell it now (Act 1 Scene 1). ” However, early the next day he is ready to marry Juliet, “God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline? / With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no;I have forgot that name, and that name’s woe. ” (Act two Scene 3) many of the things that happened in the play were based on timing and patience.
Romeo feels that he cannot control the course of his life.Does fate actually control the course of events or does patience play a part? If Juliet had not so obedient to her father’s wish for Paris to marry Juliet, Capulet may not have changed the wedding date “I met the youthful lord at Laurence’ cell;/ In addition, gave him what becomed love I might, /Not step o’er the bounds of modesty / Why, I am glad on’t; this is well: stand up: / This is as’t should be. Let me see the county; / Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither. / Now, afore God! this reverend holy friar, / Our whole city is much bound to him. (Act 4 Scene 2)” If there had been more time, Friar John may have managed to get the message to Romeo in time and he would not have killed himself in Juliet’s tomb. However, if Romeo had been more patient and not just run off to kill himself, he would have eventually gotten the news of Juliet, and they could have been together. If Mercutio had not jumped into a fight with Tybalt, he would not have been killed.
He may also have survived if Romeo had not stepped between them. In either case, Tybalt and Romeo probably would not have fought, Tybalt would not have been killed, and Romeo would not have been banished.There are several events that could have ended differently if someone had acted in just a slightly different manner or arrived just a moment earlier / later.
Can this be blamed on time and patience? Not completely. Lack of wisdom could also be the blame of the tragedy in this play. Romeo and Juliet did not make wise decisions because they were young and had no patience, caution or wisdom. Children are very impetuous and make poor decisions under harsh pressure or under very emotional circumstances.
Shakespeare wrote the play to show people of all ages that love is not something that grows over night and definitely not in an hour or less.He also wanted to show that kids have feelings too, however, we are not old enough, wise enough, or confident enough to make the real life decisions that Romeo and Juliet made. That is why the ended up killing themselves. They did not have the patience to try and see how things could have worked if they waited awhile, they did not have the wisdom to know how to handle that type of adult situation and they did not have caution to see how their loved was affecting the people around them.
However, they will always be remembered for their willingness to give up everything, including their lives, to be together.