The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare deals with the love of two young lovers, who are members of noble but hostile families of Verona.
This paper will try to analyse the role of fate and society inRomeo and Juliet.This will be done on the level of fate as part of the Elizabethan World View, as a typical means in the tragedy and in form of a consideration of different scenes which depict fate. Furthermore emphasis it put upon the society in the Elizabethan Age, the aristocracy’s behaviour, the hate as an evil force and the different characters in Romeo and Juliet.
It will be shown that these circumstances lead to their death, which is not the fault of the young lovers, but the work of coincidences, of fate and members of the society.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet
2.1. Fate as part of the Elizabethan World View
2.2. Fate as a typical means in the tragedy
2.3. Foreshadowing
2.4. Fate in the play
2.4.1. Quotations
2.4.2. Scenes
3. The role of society in Romeo and Juliet
3.1. Society in the Elizabethan Age
3.2. Behaviour of the aristocracy
3.3. Hate as an evil force
3.4. The different characters in Romeo and Juliet
4. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Topics
This paper examines the tragic downfall of the protagonists in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, arguing that their deaths are not caused by personal flaws, but rather by the overwhelming influence of fate and the rigid, hateful social structures of the Elizabethan era.
- The influence of the Elizabethan World View on the concept of fate.
- The role of "foreshadowing" as a literary technique in depicting destiny.
- The impact of Elizabethan social hierarchy and aristocratic behavioral codes.
- The destructive nature of family feuds and hate as a primary catalyst for tragedy.
- An analysis of key character motivations and their contribution to the final catastrophe.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Fate as part of the Elizabethan World View
Already at the beginning of the play, in the prologue, it is made clear by the expression “death-marked” that Romeo and Juliet have to die. That fate and society’s hate are responsible for their death show the expressions “a pair of star-crossed lovers” and “ancient grudge” (Prologue, ll. 3-9). I’m going to talk about the hate in the next chapter. The belief in fate, fortune and the power of the stars were part of the Elizabethan World View. The “chain of being” states the position of humans in a kind of hierarchy, which should not be altered, because it would cause the destruction of the world order. The highest human beings are kings and queens and the lowest is the servant. Likewise people believed, that Fortuna was responsible for the position of men in society. She is depicted as a blindfolded woman, who turned the “wheel of fortune” at whim. There are virtuous persons without sins on top and unvirtuous are on the bottom. But men are able to influence their position by their actions, if they are good they can move up, if not they move down. Therefore the belief in fate was very common and astrology was very important. It was also an accepted science in the noble courts in Shakespeare’s time. Fate influenced the lives of the people, they relied on the stars and believed in their fateful power, the stars were never wrong.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central thesis that external factors such as fate and societal pressures, rather than the lovers' own actions, are responsible for their tragic deaths.
2. The Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet: This chapter analyzes how the Elizabethan belief in astrology and the "chain of being" dictated the lives of the characters, supported by examples of foreshadowing and pivotal plot scenes.
3. The role of society in Romeo and Juliet: This section investigates the social environment of the Elizabethan Age, examining how aristocratic codes of conduct, entrenched family hatred, and specific character decisions forced the final catastrophe.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the findings, reiterating that the lovers were victims of an inescapable set of circumstances derived from their society and the workings of fate.
Keywords
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Fate, Elizabethan World View, Society, Tragedy, Star-crossed lovers, Chain of being, Foreshadowing, Aristocracy, Feud, Ancient grudge, Elizabethan Age, Fortune, Fatalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on identifying the external forces, specifically fate and societal constraints, that lead to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
What central themes are explored in the text?
The central themes include the Elizabethan belief in fate and the stars, the rigid structure of society, the impact of aristocratic behavior, and the destructive power of family feuds.
What is the core research question?
The research seeks to determine whether the downfall of the protagonists is a result of their own actions or if it is forced upon them by their environment and predestined fate.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, examining the text of the play, the historical context of the Elizabethan era, and specific scene-based evidence to support the argument.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body is divided into two parts: one analyzing fate as a theological and astronomical concept in the play, and another analyzing the sociological factors such as the "chain of being" and the "ancient grudge" of the families.
Which keywords best describe this work?
The work is best characterized by terms like Shakespearean tragedy, Elizabethan World View, fate, societal influence, and the analysis of the Romeo and Juliet narrative structure.
How did the Elizabethan "chain of being" influence the play?
The "chain of being" established a strict hierarchy of existence. The author argues that disturbances to this order—such as the feud—required the sacrificial death of the heroes to restore balance.
What role does the character Friar Lawrence play in the tragedy?
The author portrays Friar Lawrence as partially responsible for the catastrophe, as his ill-fated plan to use a sleeping potion lacked a peaceful long-term vision and ultimately failed to inform Romeo in time.
- Quote paper
- Annika Lüchau (Author), 2004, The Role of Fate and Society in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/43862
