Final answer:
Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' explores the theme of fate through 'star-crossed lovers' destined for tragedy. Pivotal accidental events like the miscommunication about Juliet's feigned death and their ill-fated family feud exemplify the characters' powerlessness against their fates.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a classic play that revolves around the concept of fate and how it can be cruel and out of our control.
The term "star-crossed lovers" used in the prologue sets up the idea that Romeo and Juliet's relationship is doomed from the start, influenced by the stars or forces beyond their control. Throughout the play, there are several accidental and unfortunate events that highlight this idea of fate. One such event is the miscommunication regarding Juliet's feigned death which leads to the tragic end.
The climax of the play occurs when Romeo, believing Juliet is truly dead, takes his own life. Moments later, Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead and, unable to live without him, she also ends her life. Thus, their deaths are a result of a series of mishaps and ill-timed actions that support the theme of characters being helpless against the predetermined course of their lives, represented by the stars.
Another example of the stars' influence is the initial event that catalyzes the whole tragedy: the longstanding feud between the Capulets and Montagues which prohibits Romeo and Juliet from being together openly. This feud could be seen as a representation of the stars' alignment which has put them on opposing sides.
In summation, Shakespeare's portrayal of Romeo and Juliet as 'star-crossed lovers' is supported by a sequence of accidental events, such as the crucial miscommunication and timing of Juliet's fake death, Romeo's impulsive reaction, and the predestined family feud, all suggesting that their fates were sealed from the outset.