Myth: Stars

As I am studying Mythic and Archetypal Criticism in Shakespeare's plays I thought I would look up some history on stars and astrology.  In many of his plays Shakespeare's characters believe their fate is laid in part by the stars, or the month they were born.  This is somewhat superstition, but it also plays into the idea of fate and how much control people really do have over their lives.  In Shakespeare's time it really was a question.  But, as he states himself, "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."


The role stars play may seem crazy, but think about it.  One of Shakespeare's most famous quotes is of Romeo and Juliet being, "star-crossed lovers."  this means they didn't have a choice, fate meant them to be together and they couldn't help themselves.  Throughout the play this struggle against the uncontrollable is shown in quotes like, "Some consequence yet hanging in the stars" (1:4),or "is it even so? then I defy you, stars!" (5:1).  Juliet is even compared to a star, "Juliet is the sun" (2:2).  

One of the best plays to look at to see this struggle between being in control of your destiny or not is King Lear.  Edmud states this problem eloquently, "this is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune, -- often the surfeit of our own behavior, -- we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains by necessity."  Many times it was easier for people to believe they didn't have control of their own destinies.


The tragedy of King Lear is all about choices and fate.  In the end there is still a continuing argument between destiny and choice.