Reponse to a Shakespeare Play - Essay Example

In essence, it leaves only one villain for the story who can be blamed for the tragedy and that is fate. It can be shown with the evidence present in the play that fate is the villain of the story and thus with fate lies the blame for the tragedy. The first instance where we know that fate will have a hand in this tragedy comes from the prologue itself where we are told that the lovers are “star-crossd” which essentially means that their futures have been completely determined by their fate.

Spoken by the Chorus, the prologue foreshadows what is to happen in the play and it does not mention any other person responsible for the tragedy than fate itself (Nevo, 1969). Of course we know that the Capulets and the Montagues have a bitter feud between them but we are also told that this feud will be removed soon albeit with the death of their children. Of course this does not happen before a fare share of other characters in the play have died. For example, in Act 3, Scene 1, Mercutio is killed by Tybalt and Tybalt himself is slain by Romeo after which Romeo has to flee the city.

This course of events prompts Romeo to cry out and say, “O, I am fortunes fool! (Act 3, Scene 1)”. Romeo seems quite aware of fortune playing tricks on him and fate controlling his destiny. Learning about Juliet’s death and knowing that he could do nothing to bring her back does not lessen his love and he remarks, “Then I defy you, stars! (Act 5, Scene 1)” showing his intent to take some disastrous step which would seal both their fates. “Romeo and Juliet is an tissue of improbably coincidences: Capulet’s illiterate servant happens by mere chance to ask Romeo to read the list of those invited to his master’s entertainment; Romeo, by a most unusual chance, decides to attend his arch-enemies’ festivities, and so chances to fall in love with Juliet; at just this time the Prince chances to make a stringent