by Marijane Suttor

Created on: September 16, 2008

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is built on the role that chance plays in the lives of human beings. While at the same time Shakespeare inserts the possibility that fate may lie in the hands of destiny.

The debate between fate and chance is a time honored theme that stands the test of time. In the acclaimed movie Forrest Gump, the Tom Hanks character debates the same issue. Is it his destiny or is he like a feather floating on the wind randomly accepting where life takes him. He comes to the conclusion that it is a little bit of both. And so it is with the two lovers. There seems to be a little bit of chance and fate working in their lives.

The prologue establishes before the dialogue begins that a pair of star-crossed lovers take their own lives. It would seem that this introduction would be a spoiler for the rest of the play, but on the contrary. Instead we become enthralled in the lives of these two characters that appear to be born under an unfortunate star.

The first aspect of chance that exists in the play is the attendance of Romeo at the Capulet party. Romeo is from the family of Capulet's enemy, the Montagues so he most certainly does not have an invitation. As it so happens a servant of the house of Capulet come with a list of people to invite, but unfortunately he cannot read. It is a matter of chance that brings the servant and Romeo together on the stage, not to mention the coincidental fact that the servant can't read and must ask Romeo to read it for him. As it so happens Rosaline, the girl that Romeo pines for, has her name on the list. In this small moment of chance Romeo gains knowledge that entices him to go to a party that he is not invited to attend.

As Romeo attends the party, he happens to catch a glimpse of Juliet. This is where there seems to be a mixture of fate and chance. Although it is a chance meeting, the way that the two lovers are drawn to each other seems to be destined as it is love at first sight. Without this chance meeting between the two lovers, a romance certainly would not have been eminent between the two.

Romeo and Juliet are secretly married by Friar Laurence. It seems to be chance that allows the priest to marry the two lovers without parent permission. The fact that he is persuaded to marry the couple is a matter of chance as he certainly could have said no.

Following the hasty marriage Romeo has a skirmish with Tybalt on the street. Romeo did not want to fight Tybalt because he now felt a loyalty

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