What are some arguments for Romeo and Juliet's fate being decided by choice?

Answer 1

In the final analysis, Romeo and Juliet had to choose to do what they did. Romeo could have decided not to swallow the poison; Juliet could have decided not to stab herself fatally. Those decisions, in particular, seem to have been made in spite of other options being available. They could have decided to become a monk or a nun, for example.

Their earlier decisions left them less choice. Romeo, faced with Mercutio's blame for his death, was totally driven by his guilt and was out of control. He only realizes the consequences of what he did after it was done. He did not make a free choice to kill Tybalt. Similarly, Juliet, in going along with the friar's loopy "faked death" plan, was under severe time pressure, and no other options except suicide appeared to be on offer. Again, her choice was so limited as to be not a choice at all.

Answer 2

They aren't really affected by fate. They sort of put their consequences on themselves. In Act 4, Romeo kills Tybalt which ends up getting himself banished. Juliet also, in Act 5, drank the potion that was given to her by Friar Lawrence and everyone thinks she's dead; including Romeo. In the end, you could put all of the blame on Romeo and Juliet's actions...

-matt (9th grader who just finished reading this story)