Fortune's Fool

In the play, there are many moments when the theme of fate is demonstrated.  Here are some moments when the theme is most prominent.

1. In the Prologue, it is said that Romeo and Juliet's star-crossed love is death-mark'd.  Their love is fated to die and so are they
2. Romeo and Benvolio meet up with a Capulet servant who is illiterate.  He asks of them to read the message that Capulet gave him, when they do they learn of the party.  If Romeo and Benvolio had not met this servant, they would not of gone to the party, hence, Romeo and Juliet would not of met.
3. Before Romeo enters Capulet's party (end of act I scene IV), he fears that something that will happen that night at the party will change his life entirely, leading to a "vile forfeit of untimely death" (I; IV; 111).
4. Friar Laurence warns Romeo that people who act impulsively tend to have negative consequences.  Romeo makes decisions to quickly and easily assumed Juliet dead, so he killed himself to follow her.
5. Romeo dreams that Juliet will find him dead ---> Juliet does find him dead.
6. After Mercutio is stabbed by Tybalt, he yells out, "A plague on both your houses".  With this the audience is reminded that a tragedy is FATED to happen.
7. Romeo eventually realizes that these events were fated to occur, "Oh I am but fortune's fool!".
8. Juliet dreams that she'll find Romeo dead at the bottom of a tomb ---> she does find him like that.
9. When Romeo finds out that Juliet is "dead", he say, "I defy thy stars".  He is saying that he is going to defy fate by following her to the grave, but really his death was already fated to happen.
10. Fate did not allow the Friar to contact Romeo about their ruse, that Juliet was not really dead.  Fate did not allow Friar Laurence to contact Romeo because the messenger, Friar John, was confined for fear of having the plague.
11. When Juliet awakens at the end of the play, Friar Laurence says that some higher presence has foiled with their plans; the higher presence being fate in this case.