Two lovers lay dead on the ground. One with a thread of poison on his breath and the other with a dagger inside. In the prologue, Shakespeare reveals that two star-crossed lovers die due to the ongoing feud between their families. When the two families find out what happened and how they caused it, the families decide to end the feud and not fight anymore. Was Romeo and Juliet's death at the hands of the family in the form of fate, or was it their choices that caused this tragedy? In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, free will is more dominant than fate in the outcome of the play and is demonstrated by Juliet's actions, Romeo's actions, and the actions of others. Free will manifests itself first through Juliet's actions, in particular, when she is supposed to marry Paris, she drinks the potion to put herself in a coma and, when she chooses to kill herself. According to fate, Juliet was supposed to marry the county of Paris. “Marry, my daughter, early next Thursday morning / The valiant, young and noble gentleman / The county of Paris, in St. Peter's church / will happily make you a joyful bride.” (3.5.117-120) Instead of making the socially acceptable choice (at the time) and giving in to her parents' wishes, Juliet defies fate and agrees on a plan with Friar Laurence. Juliet would not allow anyone to decide her life except herself. “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo!/ Here, I drink to you.” (4.3.59-60) Juliet drinks the potion to be locked in the depths of the tomb, believed to be dead. He also had Friar Laurence deliver a letter to Romeo, against his parents' consent and against fate. “O happy dagger, / this is your sheath. There it rusts and let me die. (5.3.174-175). This quote shows how Juliet has let go of all will to live. She is so in love with Romeo that...... middle of paper......the last of the two lovers. No force of fate could have forced him to perform such an act. These actions of other characters in the play, such as the death of Mercutio, the apothecary who sells Romeo an illegal poison, and the friar who admits that the deaths of Romeo, Juliet, and Paris are his fault, are the latest examples of how the free agency is more important. dominant of destiny in the outcome of the work. Romeo and Juliet made many choices of their own free will, including an irreversible decision that ended in despair for all the characters. “Everyone is punished!” (5.3.305). In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, Romeo's actions, Juliet's actions, and the actions of others demonstrate that free will is more important than fate in the plot of the play. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York City, NY: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992, 2011. Print.