by Drew Price

Created on: July 15, 2008   Last Updated: February 25, 2012

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is play that involves two young "star-crossed" lovers who are from feuding families. Once the two meet, they rapidly decide to get married and begin a series of events which leads to their eventual demise. Fate and chance play a large role in this play, and are responsible for the two lovers to meet and also for their death.

As the story begins, Romeo is actually in love with another - Rosaline, whom he is crying over the first time we see him. Apparently Rosaline has chosen to be celibate, therefore Romeo's hopes of being with her have ended. Just as any good friend would do, Benvolio attempts to cheer Romeo up.

As chance would have it, during their discussion a servant of the Capulets (a family that has been feuding with the Montagues for ages) interupts them, asking if they could read his list of invitations. The servant, not knowing who they are, invites them to a party at the Capulets. Benvolio encourages Romeo to attend, so he can get over Rosaline, but Romeo only agrees to go to the party because Rosalines name is on the list.

At the party, Romeo is determined not to have any fun, and not to dance because he has a "soul of lead." However, soon enough he encounters Juliet and falls in love in a matter of seconds. It seems Rosaline must not have been that important. During their encounter - Tybalt a hot-headed member of the Capulet family - notices Romeo, and is determined to fight him, but Lord Capulet prevents him, making Tybalt even more angry. 

Tybalt vows to be revenged on Romeo for coming to the party. Meanwhile, the party dies down and Romeo and Juliet leave. They discover that they are from feuding families, and both curse fate for joiing them together. Juliet declares that "her only love [has] sprung from her only hate." So even in their first encounter, it didn't seem that fate was on their side. As the story develop, fate continues to be the antagonist of their relationship.

After a series of irresponsible but well intentioned decisions from Romeo's spiritual advisor, Friar Lawrence, and Juliet's nurse, the two are married. It just so happens that immediately after Romeo is married he encounters none other than Tybalt - the Capulet who is bound to fight with Romeo.

Romeo's friends Mercutio and Benvolio are also present and do not know about Romeo's secret marriage. They are surprised to see Romeo back down from this fight with Tybalt, and tell Tybalt that he loves him and honors his

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