San Diego Jewish Academy 9th Grade Humanities The Fate Debate in Romeo and Juliet "Fortune's Fool"

• "The best of men cannot defend their fate: The good die early and the bad die late."- Daniel Defoe, 18th century
• "Our hour is marked and no one can claim a moment of life beyond what fate has predestined."- Napoleon, 19th century
• "What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
  It boots not to resist both wind and tides."- Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3

1. How would you define fate?
2. What are the advantages of believing that fate rules life? What are the disadvantages?
3. How is fate a part of Romeo and Juliet? What are some specific examples of how fate has played a part in the relationship prior to the last act?
4. List examples of fate's role in RJ 5.1-2:
5. List examples of fate's role in RJ 5.3: