ROMEO AND JULIET

William Shakespeare

FATE

• The things that will happen to someone, especially unpleasant events

• A power that is believed to control what happens in people's lives

• The Fates: the three goddesses who, according to the ancient Greeks and Roman mythology, decided what should happen in each person’s life.

FATE = STARS & PREMONITIONS

PROLOGUE

CHORUS

“ Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife.

The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,And the continuance of their parents' rage,

Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend”

PREMONITIONS

•Act 1, scene 4 – Romeo

•Act 3, Scene 1 – Romeo

•Act 3, Scene 5 – Juliet

•Act 5, Scene 1 – Romeo

Act 1, scene 4

ROMEO

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.

Act 3, Scene 1

BENVOLIO

O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

ROMEO

This day's black fate on more days doth depend; this but begins the woe, others must end.

Act 3, Scene 1

• TYBALT

    Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,     Shalt with him hence.

ROMEO

    This shall determine that.

    They fight; TYBALT falls

BENVOLIO

    Romeo, away, be gone!     The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.     Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death,     If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!

ROMEO     O, I am fortune's fool!

Act 3, Scene 5

JULIET

    O God, I have an ill-divining soul!     Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,     As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:     Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.

Act 5, Scene 1

SCENE I. Mantua. A street.

    Enter ROMEO

ROMEO

    If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,     My dreams presage some joyful news at hand:     My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne;     And all this day an unaccustom'd spirit     Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts.     I dreamt my lady came and found me dead--     Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave     to think!--     And breathed such life with kisses in my lips,     That I revived, and was an emperor.     Ah me! how sweet is love itself possess'd,     When but love's shadows are so rich in joy!

Act 5, Scene 1

• BALTHASAR

    Then she is well, and nothing can be ill:     Her body sleeps in Capel's monument,     And her immortal part with angels lives.     I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault,     And presently took post to tell it you:     O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,     Since you did leave it for my office, sir.

ROMEO

    Is it even so? then I defy you, stars!     Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper,     And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night.