Fate plays an important role in Romeo and Juliet. Every event that takes place in this tale, whether for better or worse, has a dark and tragic shadow; the audience knows that Romeo and Juliet are destined to fail. It is evidently obvious that they were influenced by a higher calling: the servant came across Romeo with the invitations to the Capulet’s cataclysmic party; Romeo was able to defeat Tybalt when Tybalt sought him out after the party; a marriage was coincidently forced upon Juliet directly after her marriage to Romeo; Romeo slew Paris after Paris blamed him for Juliet’s ‘death’; and, most importantly, Romeo and Juliet fell in love, although they were born as mortal enemies. “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes / A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life . . .” (I, Prologue, 5–6)
Conflict is a significant theme in every good story, even more so in Romeo and Juliet. The background information of the play is that the Capulets and Montagues held a long time grudge against one another for a long-forgotten reason, and it is evident that the current generation of the families are quick and eager to sustain their ancestors’ antipathy toward another, suggesting that they are fiery-tempered, competitive and loyal. Furthermore, the characters from each family are constantly chomping at the bit to start a brawl with each other, for “to strike [them] dead [they] hold it not a sin.” (I, v, 59) This provides a suspenseful atmosphere for the audience; a constant threat of an uncivil encounter between “both [their] houses!” (III, i, 89) It’s a clever use of a theme that, even in modern times, is still relevant.
Love is the most universally popular theme in any traditional plot. In almost every story a person can think of, the characters’ motivations for any actions that occur are friendship or love for a person. This is the