answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

There is no difference between "fate" and "character". The idea of people having a "character" is like the Elizabethan idea of the "humourous man": the idea that people are dominated by certain unchangeable character traits. The Victorians, like the Elizabethans, loved this idea. At its worst, you get infantile and cardboard-thin characters in plays who are like the Spice Girls--their personalities can be summed up in one adjective. The idea of a fixed character also means that character development is out of the question: a person is what he is and can never change.

If you think that Romeo has a "character" that he can be a vicitim of, you are already saying that fate has given him this character, and that he is therefore indirectly a victim of fate.

If, on the other hand, you interpret characters in plays as people who make choices and decisions to deal with the circumstances they face, you do not need to appeal to "humours", "persona" or "character" to define them. They are always free agents, choosing according to the circumstances. As characters learn to avoid pitfalls in choosing, or to take more and deeper factors into consideration, they grow as characters. The tougher the choices, the more they grow. When Juliet is faced by the advice of her oldest and best confidente to commit bigamy, she is faced with a hard choice. Her response is unlike anything she has said before: she is cold as ice, and she turns the nurse off like a faucet.

When Romeo hears about Juliet's death from Balthazar, he asks, "Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?" He's on the right track, but he chooses not to pursue it. "No matter" he says. Why does he make this choice, which dooms him? Is he overwhelmed by a desire to see Juliet's face again before she disintegrates? Does he feel helpless, and that he should be taking some kind of action, not waiting for more information? These are questions for actors and directors to struggle with, but they show that there is no need for a concept of a fixed personality to understand a character in a play.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Yes, because he assumed Juliet was dead without even checking to see if she was breathing and commited suicide leading to Juliet's suicide

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

because he thought Juliet was dead

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is romeo a victim of fate or of his own character?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Performing Arts

Why does Romeo say shake the yoke of inauspicious stars?

He is saying that he wants to take his fate into his own hands. Inauspicious means unfortunate, so he is blaming fate for what has happened. The dramatic irony is that he is thinking that he is taking his fate into his own hands, but he is actually fulfilling fate, obviously by killing himself.


What does Romeo mean when he says Then I defy you stars in Romeo and Juliet Act V Scene I?

This line is representative of the apparent dichotomy in many (if not all) of Shakespeare's tragedies: free will versus fate. By cursing the stars, Romeo is expressing his independence by saying that he is in charge of his own life and is not ruled not by some predetermined course of events. The truly tragic part of this exclamation is that we, as readers, know that Romeo is mistaken and that the events that befall him were going to happen no matter what and that he was destined to fall in love and come to a tragic end. Specifically, Romeo says this when he receives the news that Juliet is dead. He feels that fate (the stars) have struck him the cruelest possible blow, and he is going to defy the stars by committing suicide and joining Juliet in death. That, and it also makes reference to the beginning of the play, where they're referred to as "star-crossed lovers," which is admittedly also a statement of its being fate-oriented, but "I defy you, stars!" would be a reference to the stars being symbolic of fate as they were in the description of the "lovers" early on.


How would you describe your own setting for Romeo and Juliet?

the setting in romeo and Juliet is like old style from back on the days


What is the one material possession that Romeo and Juliet own?

The ring which Romeo gives to Juliet. Everything else belongs to their parents.


Is a Tragedy is intended to be depressing?

No. Tragedy is a dramatic form from the Greek theatre tradition. It is more concerned with a person bringing about their own downfall through their actions. It is also linked to the classical belief that tragedy - or 'bad fate'- was in the stars and there is nothing a character can do to avert it. In a modern sense, it is more explained as a fault in a character that leads to a demise or death.

Related questions

Why does Romeo say shake the yoke of inauspicious stars?

He is saying that he wants to take his fate into his own hands. Inauspicious means unfortunate, so he is blaming fate for what has happened. The dramatic irony is that he is thinking that he is taking his fate into his own hands, but he is actually fulfilling fate, obviously by killing himself.


What does Romeo mean when he sayS Then I defy Youstars!?

When Romeo says "Then I defy you, stars!", he is expressing his defiance against fate and destiny that have brought him to a tragic end. He is rejecting the idea that his fate is predetermined and is asserting his agency in choosing his own actions and decisions.


What is the difference between a victim of fate and a tragic hero?

A victim of fate is someone whose life is determined by external forces beyond their control, while a tragic hero is a character who is brought down by their own flaws or mistakes. Tragic heroes typically have a fatal flaw or hubris that leads to their downfall, whereas victims of fate are more passive recipients of their destiny.


How does the prologue support or contradict romeos belief that he is a fortunes fool?

The prologue supports Romeo's belief that he is a "fortune's fool" by foreshadowing the tragic outcome of the story and setting a tone of fate and destiny. It suggests that Romeo and Juliet's love is doomed from the start, reinforcing Romeo's belief in his own helplessness in the face of fate.


What is the main character in a tragedy called?

a tragic figure the main character in a general story is the protagonist.


What does the prologue in act 1 say about fate in Romeo and Juliet?

The prologue in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet suggests that the fate of the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, is predetermined. The prologue mentions that "star-crossed lovers" will take their lives, implying that their tragic end is guided by fate and destined to happen.


Is Juliet a stock character?

No, Juliet from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is not considered a stock character. She is a well-developed and complex character with her own unique personality, motivations, and emotions.


What does Romeo mean when he says Then I defy you stars in Romeo and Juliet Act V Scene I?

This line is representative of the apparent dichotomy in many (if not all) of Shakespeare's tragedies: free will versus fate. By cursing the stars, Romeo is expressing his independence by saying that he is in charge of his own life and is not ruled not by some predetermined course of events. The truly tragic part of this exclamation is that we, as readers, know that Romeo is mistaken and that the events that befall him were going to happen no matter what and that he was destined to fall in love and come to a tragic end. Specifically, Romeo says this when he receives the news that Juliet is dead. He feels that fate (the stars) have struck him the cruelest possible blow, and he is going to defy the stars by committing suicide and joining Juliet in death. That, and it also makes reference to the beginning of the play, where they're referred to as "star-crossed lovers," which is admittedly also a statement of its being fate-oriented, but "I defy you, stars!" would be a reference to the stars being symbolic of fate as they were in the description of the "lovers" early on.


Why do you like merida character in the brave animated movie?

Because she is a fiery spirit and wants to have her own say in life, just like we do today: we want to have a say in our own fate


Character of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet?

She is very naive at times, she's stubborn but also a little open-minded. She really loves Romeo, as he loves her. She wants to be free to do her own thing, but feels so trapped. She wants to be free and with Romeo.


How does fate affect the characters in Romeo and Juliet?

Fate plays a significant role in Romeo and Juliet as the two main characters are destined to meet and fall in love despite the obstacles that arise. The tragic events that unfold in the play, such as the feud between their families and the untimely deaths, are often seen as predetermined by fate. This theme underscores the idea of the powerlessness of individuals to control their own destinies.


What dream does Romeo describe at the beginning?

Romeo describes a dream in which he is dead but Juliet revives him with a kiss, making him feel alive again. It foreshadows their tragic love story and the fate that awaits them.