“I’ll Prolly Die ’Cause That’s What You Do When You’re 17”
Fate in Romeo and Juliet and Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN.
Listening to Kendrick Lamar’s album DAMN. through the lens of the 16th century play Romeo and Juliet accentuates the strength that the idea of fate has on the lives of teens. It is a topic that people still struggle with and experience. Fate is a theme in both Kendrick Lamar’s rap songs BLOOD., DNA., and FEAR., as well as in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Kendrick Lamar describes the world of young black teens in Compton, CA in 2017. He raps about their thoughts and expectations of a perceived hopeless future in the world as they know it. Shakespeare describes the world of two teenagers in the Italian city of Verona in 1599. Shakespeare’s play captures the thoughts and actions of two teens and their reactions to a perceived dismal future. Although the social structures differ between the two works both Kendrick Lamar and Shakespeare describe a sense of helplessness and frustration coexisting with a certain acceptance of what is happening and a feeling of being a prisoner in their own lives. Through these two works we find the mechanics of fate remain the same. Both groups find themselves feeling trapped by parental influences, social tensions and expectations, and economic standing leading them to destructive behavior. Kendrick Lamar has the added pressure of racial tension. The only difference is how fate plays out, in Lamar’s DAMN. the only way to fulfill their fate is to die, and in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet the only way to escape their fate is to die.
For Lamar, growing up as a young black man in an extremely low income area on one side of a 50 year old deadly gang rivalry there were conditioned notions of fate that he had to accept. In the song FEAR. he lists all the ways he will “prolly die”, saying that he will prolly die is a very relaxed thing to say about death, furthering the idea that he has accepted death. “I’ll prolly die anonymous, I’ll prolly die with promises, I’ll prolly die walkin’ back home from the candy house, I’ll prolly die because these colors are standin’ out,”The list describes him doing everyday things, conveying that death is an everyday part of his life, and should not come as a surprise in Compton. Yet, the final comment solidifies his “fate”, “I’ll prolly die ’cause that’s what you do when you’re 17”. This lyric is also a reflection of death in the black community as a whole, as the leading cause of death for male black teens in America is homicide, and Compton is one of the most dangerous cities in America. Lamar also sings about how he feels “cursed” and that nobody is praying for him. In the intro to FEAR. his cousin, Carl Duckworth, explains in a voicemail that he is feeling this way because God had smited him and his race. He was born with a big red X on his back, but that is life for him and his people. Duckworth mentions Deuteronomy 28:28 which reads “The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart”. He knows that he must be strong and not be led down the same path so many people he knew took. He wants to break the mold and escape his fate. In the song DNA. he talks about how his father and uncle used to sell cocaine and run high in hardcore street life, until his mother made them leave it behind. “Cocaine quarter piece, got war and peace inside my DNA”. Lamar did not want to follow in that path, so he had to fight and struggle through the trials of Compton. Later in the song he sings the lyric “ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, soldier’s DNA” saying that he must have the discipline and fortitude as a soldier. Lamar felt he was fated to become like his father because it was in his DNA in addition to the social pressure of black pride in his community. Lamar’s feelings are summed up in the following lyrics from Pusha T’s single, Nostalgia, with Kendrick singing “He said, “Son, how come you think you be my connect?” I said, “Pops, your ass is washed up, with all due respect” He said, “Well, nigga, then show me how it all makes sense” Go figure, motherfucker, every verse is a brick, your son dope”. Here Kendrick tells his dad that he is a washed up drug dealer, and that Kendrick has escaped that life. His father says that they are the same and to prove to him how they are different. Kendrick responds by explaining for all the money his dad makes, he makes ten times the amount. Also, Kendrick is trying to say that he still has a lot of respect and loyalty to Compton and his community, but wants to be much more than that. Due to Kendrick’s unique talents as a rapper, he was one of the few able to escape the “fate” of his race and the social pressures of his city, but he had to go through trial after trial to even have a chance at a better life.
One of the most important themes in Romeo and Juliet is fate. For Juliet fate meant her life would be planned and arranged every step of the way by her parents through an arranged marriage. The reader sees this as she is pressured to get married and start a family at 13 years old. It can be seen in this example the expectations Juliet’s father has for her, as well as the anger he holds when she defies his words.
“How, how, how, how! Chopped logic! What is this? ‘Proud,’ and ‘I thank you,’ and ‘I thank you not,’ And yet ‘not proud,’ mistress minion, you, Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next, To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow face! […] Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday, Or never after look me in the face.Speak not; reply not; do not answer me.” (3.5.149–158)
Her father makes his point very clear while almost verbally abusing her to make her fate clear. While this behavior expected and normal in Verona, it is not the path Juliet wants to take. She wants to wait to get married until she falls in love with someone, “Marriage is an honor I dream not of” (1.3.68). Juliet feels constant stress from having her life and marriage planned for her. This drives her to desire a life that has meaning with true love. As soon as she finds Romeo, someone that loves her and has not been chosen for her, she immediately gives in and can not go on without true love. She would rather die in love than accept the miserable fate of false love and wanting what she can no longer have. “Shall be the label to another deed, Or my true heart with treacherous revolt Turn to another, this shall slay them both.” (4.1.59–64). Shakespeare conveys Juliet’s feelings of being trapped and with her only option being suicide.
Romeo, follows a very similar pattern, yet does not have to answer to a path of marriage so early on. Since men carry much more power in this society, Romeo can court many woman and not be judged for it. Yet throughout the play, Romeo never feels content with the idea of love until the Capulet ball, when he feels something coming “I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels, and expire the term Of a despised life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen.” (1.4.106–14.) He feels like something big is about to happen, as it is “in the stars” or his fate. As he is standing on the dance floor he locks eyes with Juliet and he instantly falls in love. Romeo has such an instant connection. Sadly, Romeo’s fate is also in his DNA, as he is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet, so their love is forbidden. Romeo is around the age of 17 and as he predicts his “untimely death” it speaks back to Kendrick’s words “I’ll prolly die cause that’s what you do when your 17”. He foreshadows his own death from true love “Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes; Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.” (1.1.180–85) He describes death as a sweet lozenge you choke on, something that is joyful and exciting when you have it, but will also be the death of you, just as Romeo’s love for Juliet is the death of him. Then, when he sees Juliet at the Capulet ball and falls in love, he realizes he is in love with the enemy but he can not fight the love he is feeling. “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” (1.5.17). Romeo and feels the heavy weight of fate as he his love grows for Juliet. Knowing that what he is doing would cause bloodshed, he persists and accepts the fate that may come to him. This mentality that he carries, ultimately leads to his untimely death.
The feeling of no escape continues to overwhelm teens over many centuries. The negative intentions and destructive behaviors are in Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Kendrick Lamar’s description of modern day problems help make Romeo and Juliet’s struggle more real. For Kendrick Lamar the destructive behavior that results from the notion that life is fated leads to gang violence and death, for Romeo and Juliet it leads to suicide. In both works the feeling of being trapped by parental influences, social expectations, and economic pressures set up a certain fate that lead to these destructive behaviors.
Abstract
While researching and completing this project I wanted to dive deeper into the text of both artists. Shakespeare is known for his wit and cleverness within his writing,so being able to think more into what he is saying unlocks much more information compared to just reading the text once. The same thing goes for Lamar, it was fascinating decoding what he was saying through the words he used. It really helped me understand who I was writing about. The main question I had for both of these texts was to find out how they can be centuries apart and still convey such a similar message. Especially about a topic, that in both texts, lead to death and destruction. If something as tragic a Romeo and Juliet could happen to Lamar and his community in the 80s and 90s, why couldn’t it happen to us now? While trying to uncover the answer I dissected and thought about all of the songs and passages I was working with to provide examples or materials. I took it word by word, and really tried to understand what each writer was trying to say. Through This project I learned a lot about the emotional standings of Romeo and Juliet as well as Lamar. Also, that fate and love can have a such a powerful impact on teens in any society. I concluded that the social pressure for teens in any community must not let them dictate their actions and beliefs.
Citiations
United States, Congress, Public Health. “Leading Causes of Death in America.” Leading Causes of Death in America, USCDC, 16 Jan. 2002. www.cdc.gov/healthequity/lcod/men/2002/02black.pdf.
“Kendrick Lamar — DNA.” Genius, 14 Apr. 2017, genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-dna-lyrics.
genius.com/search?q=blood.
“Kendrick Lamar — FEAR.” Genius, Genius, 14 Apr. 2017, genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-fear-lyrics.
Romeo and Juliet; William Shakespeare; edited by Babrea A. Mowshowitz Paul Werstine;
The New Folger Library; Simon and Schuster Paperbacks 1992;2011
