Romeo and Juliet: Tragic or Pathetic Figures?

One of the most important issues in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is that of choice. Do the characters have the ability to choose what they want to do, or are they simply destined to participate in death and destruction? There is ample evidence of both fate and free will in the play, and the presence of both greatly affects the interpretation of the plot and the characters.
I personally believe that Romeo and Juliet are tragic figures. The characters' personalities, the feud, and simple bad luck cause most of the problems that arise throughout the play. …