“It is not in our power to love or hate, because the will in us is dominated by fate.” In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, it is clear that the main theme is destiny, as it is mentioned several times. Shakespeare allows the audience to see everything that happens “behind closed doors”. Although the actions of some characters have influenced the outcome of the play, fate is the dominant force. The reader realizes this when the prologue states: "Two families, both similar in dignity / In beautiful Verona, where we set our scene, / From ancient times the rancor breaks down in a new mutiny, / Where civil blood makes one impure civil hands./ From the fatal loins of these two enemies/ A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives” (I 1-6). This means that two families have been rivals for many years. Romeo and Juliet are two separate rival families who they fall in love. The reader can recognize that these two individuals meet because of fate. However, they know that because of their parents' hatred for each other, they can never be together. “My only love came from my only hate! / Seen too soon unknown, and known too late!/ Prodigious birth of love is to me, / That I must love a hated enemy” (I v138-140) The decision is made that the only way to be happy is to remove oneself life As soon as the show begins, the audience can anticipate a tragic ending due to the language used. The timing in the show is impeccable, and that's what makes the show feel like fate has such a huge influence. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet desperately search for a way to be together and never want to leave each other. “Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such a sweet pain / That I will say goodnight until tomorrow” (II ii 188-190). Romeo and Juliet......middle of paper......if he believes Juliet is dead, he drinks poison to take his own life as a last resort. What Romeo is not aware of is that Juliet is very much alive, so he is very ironic when he says, “Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, / hath not yet had power over thy beauty: / thou art not conquered; the ensign of beauty is still / is crimson on thy lips and cheeks, / and there the pale flag of death flies not” (V iii 101-105). This is the fate at play in the play. When Juliet sees that her love has not saved her and is actually dead, she kills herself with a dagger found nearby. “O happy dagger/ This is your sheath; rust there and let me die” (V iii 182-183). All death is ultimately caused by fate, so says Friar Laurence, “A power greater than we can contradict/Has thwarted our intent” (V iii 153-154). No one is to blame because everything happens for a reason.