William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet is about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths eventually reconcile their divided families. Despite Romeo’s decision to marry Juliet, Romeo and Juliet’s death was the outcome of fate. 

The power of free will is depicted when Romeo asked for him and Juliet to get married, even though they had known each other for less than a day. Romeo made this decision when he said, ”I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray, thou consent to marry us today” (2.3.63-64). Ironically, Friar Lawrence married Romeo and Juliet, even though he saw signs of danger while he was getting them married. He states that “These violent delights have violent ends” (2.4 9) but still married the couple, which resulted in Romeo and Juliet’s death. The power of free will is demonstrated when Tybalt killed Mercutio, causing Romeo to kill Tybalt. The decision to kill Mercutio was made when Romeo said, “Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for sham forebear this outrage!” (3.1 78-82). 

The play’s introductory lines; “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes; A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life… The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,” allude to the lovers being born from their parents’ “fatal loins,” as well as the fact that they will kill themselves. Their births and deaths are both stated in a single sentence, implying that their deaths were predetermined from the time they were born. This is furthermore demonstrated in Romeo’s words “I fear too early, for my mind misgives; Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin his fearful date” (1.4.114-115). Before he goes to the masquerade where he will meet Juliet, the event that began the whole story, Romeo has a feeling that the consequences of his decision to go will be “bitter.” He suspects that this is his fate—“hanging in the stars”—and his use of the word “stars” reminds the audience that he is “star-crossed” (1.1.14-15). Romeo’s lines “Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear; That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—” shows that Romeo believes in fate. This is furthermore expressed when he cries out “Then I defy you, stars,” after learning of Juliet’s death, showing that Romeo knew that the “stars” were playing a role in his life. 

Throughout the play, fate has played a major role in Romeo and Juliet’s life starting with the introductory lines “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;” and ending with “thus with a kiss I die,” (Prologue.5).