Saint Erasmus (St. Elmo) is known as the patron saint of sailors. During their most difficult journeys at sea, sailors were often at the mercy of dark and turbulent waters, especially when traveling during unpredictable thunderstorms.

During such stormy nights, when journeys were most difficult and destinations seemed uncertain, sailors often witnessed a glowing 'fire' high above the mast of their ship. This light which illuminated the dark night's sky often seemed to accompany them safely through their unpredictable travels. Sailors eventually came to look at this occurrence as a miracle, even with religious awe, believing it to be their protector St. Elmo who was guiding them to their destination.

In reality, St. Elmo's fire was nothing but a scientific phenomenon; a bright blue/violet glow in the sky that only appeared to be fire. This luminescent glow was actually the release of electrical discharge when the sharp mast of the sailor's ship came into contact with a cloud's atmospheric electric field. Nevertheless, the phenomenon became regarded by sailors as miraculous, and erroneously described as the guidance of their savior St. Elmo. In the end, although the perception of sailors about the fire was not real, their belief in the phenomenon gave them the faith they needed to reach their final destination.

The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a story of Determinism. The theme revolves around two hating families, the Montaques and the Capulets, who have been enemies for so many generations that peace between them seems to be impossible. The preface of the play states that Romeo and Juliet are ‘star-crossed’ lovers, and it is through the loss of the lives of their 2 beloved children, that the two hating families will learn to set aside their hatred for another. The prologue states:

Two households, both alike in status,

In beautiful Verona, where we hold our play,

From old grudge, breaks out new quarreling,

Where bloodshed makes families’ hands unclean.

From the fatal genes of these two lasting enemies

A pair of ‘star-crossed’ lovers take their lives;

Who with their unfortunate and tragic downfalls

Do with their deaths bury their parents' hatred.

The play begins with Romeo grieving over lost love. He has fallen for Rosaline, a Capulet, who is not interested in Romeo’s sensitive nature. Romeo’s cousin, Benvolio, tries to persuade that Rosaline is not all that what Romeo believes her to be. If he was to compare her to other beauties, he will see that there is nothing special about her. In fact, the Capulets are holding a masquerade this night. There, Romeo could compare Rosaline to other maidens, and see that he is mistaken about his perceptions of Rosaline.

Prior to the Masquerade, Romeo claims to have had an ominous dream. That some tragic consequence, still hanging in the stars, shall begin its term with tonight’s mischief, and end with his early death. His friends mock him at this claim, and urge to move on before they arrive too late and are discovered. Romeo realizing that he has no choice but to follow destiny, continues to move on.

Benvolio: "This conversation we are having takes us away from our cause. Supper will be done, and we shall come too late!”

Romeo: [Aside]"I fear, too early, for my mind misgives. Some consequence yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin its dreadful date with this night's revelry, and expire the term of a despised life with the forfeit of my life and an untimely death. 
But He, that has the steerage of my course, Direct my sail!"

At the Masquerade, Romeo meets Juliet, and they fall in love at first sight. Romeo meets Juliet at her balcony that night, and they promise to meet in secret to get married. The next day, they do by a Friar who plans to bring peace to the two quarreling families through the marriage of their most loved ones.

That day, while walking through the city square, Romeo runs into Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, a master swordsman who has detected Romeo at the Capulet masquerade. Taking offense, he challenges Romeo to a dual. Although Tybalt is a much more advantaged swordsman, destiny has it that Romeo kills Tybalt, and now has to flee Verona for taking a life. Frantically, Romeo goes to the Friar who advises him to escape Verona and take refuge in Mantua, a neighboring city. He will send message shortly on when and where Romeo shall see Juliet again!

Meanwhile, Juliet hears of Romeo's troubles, and goes to Friar Lawrence as to what she shall do. The friar has a plan to save their marriage. He gives Juliet a potion made of flowers that shall make her go to sleep for 3 days as though she is dead! Her family, thinking she is dead, shall bury her safely in the family tomb. Upon awakening, she shall be united with Romeo.

Friar Lawrence then sends a letter to Mantua through a messenger. Again, as Destiny would have it, there is a plague on the way, which delays the message from reaching Romeo in time. In the meanwhile, Baltazar, a devoted young servant to Romeo witnesses Juliet being buried by her family in the Capulet tomb. Not knowing about the Friar's plan, he rides to Mantua through a different course and informs him of the news.

Romeo, angered at his fate, believing he is destiny’s fool, goes to an apothecary to get a dram of his strongest poison. He claims that he will “Defy the Stars” by taking his own life! He goes to Juliet’s tomb, witnesses she is dead, drinks the poison, killing himself. In short time, Juliet awakens, observes Romeo dead, takes his dagger, and kills herself.

By taking the poison, Romeo believes he is defying life and taking revenge on an outrageous fate. Ironically, by doing so, Romeo is merely fulfilling the destiny revealed to him in his dream, one that was already written in the Stars; that he shall die an untimely death!