In Romeo and Juliet, which is more powerful: fate or the characters’ own actions?

 In the opening prologue of Romeo and Juliet, the chorus refers to the title characters as "star-crossed lovers," an allusion to the belief that stars and planets have the power to control events on earth. This line leads many readers to believe that Romeo and Juliet are inevitably destined to fall in love, and are likewise destined to have that love destroyed. Although Shakespeare's play raises the possibility that some impersonal, supernatural force may shape the lives of Romeo and Juliet, by the end of the play it becomes clear that the characters have more responsibility than Fortune.

Although the prologue provides the first and perhaps most famous examples of celestial images in Romeo and Juliet - references to the stars, sun, moon, and sky are found throughout the play, overall these images seem to express a different view of man's responsibility. In Act 1, Scene 4, Romeo says that he "fears a consequence that is still in the stars" if he and his gang approach the Capulet's ball. However, the next time he mentions stars, Romeo does not refer to their astrological power. Rather, he uses the image of stars to describe Juliet's beauty. Most of these sky images in the play follow in this vein, from Romeo's lovelorn comparison of Juliet to the sun to Juliet's own desire to "cut [Romeo] into little stars" when he dies. Throughout the play, these astral images are more often associated with the two lovers than with the divine fate.

Romeo's tendency to rash actions gets him - and his lover - in great trouble. His impulsiveness has made him a romantic icon in our culture, but in the play, it proves his undoing. Shakespeare warns us from the start not to view Romeo's sudden fits of passion too idealistically, after all, Shakespeare makes it clear that Romeo's love for Juliet has only supplanted the other. With Romeo’s hasty actions, he drives the play more aggressively towards tragedy than any other character. On the night they meet, he climbs over Juliet's wall as he presses her to bind herself to him. He kills Tybalt in a blind rage. Then, thinking Juliette is dead, he poisons himself. Romeo’s lack of foresight makes him responsible for their dreadful out-turn.

Although Juliet proves to be a strong-willed partner for Romeo, she is less to blame for their common fate. In the balcony scene, she compares her love to a lightning bolt that suddenly flares up, but can just as quickly vanish into darkness. Unlike Romeo, every fateful decision Juliet makes is a logical response to a situation. She agrees to marry him because she needs evidence that he is dedicated to her. She doesn't take the potion out of desperation, but because she believes Friar Lawrence's plan will set things right. Although each of her decisions will get her and her lover deeper into trouble, at least those decisions result from careful consideration. Only when she sees her beloved dead does she yield to Romeo’s impetuous behavior and kill herself out of grief.

Romeo and Juliet concludes with sharp criticism of the characters' actions. In the ending scene, the Capulets and Montagues gather around the grave to witness the consequences of their absurd conflict. Even if you don't believe that Romeo and Juliet could have saved themselves, you have to admit that it was their families' blind hatred that caused the situation, not the gods. As the prince notes, on this tragic day itself, "the sun for sorrow will not show his head” " - even the sky weeps at the human folly they see below.