COMMENTARY 3 Major Themes from the Prologue

FORCE OF FATE  Shakespeare creates suspense by making use of premonition (device used throughout the tragedy forecasting the outcome of future events)  Prologue – “fatal” “star-crossed” “misadventured” & “death-marked” = ironic fate

SOCIETY  Two families, the Montagues and Capulets, have wrecked the social structure of Verona through mutual hatred –  “Civil blood makes civil hands unclean” (lowest levels of society are affected by quarrel) – servants

LOVE OF R&J  Private love triumphs over public hatred acting as a sacrifice for “parents rage” and brings both families together (by way of love) & civil justice to Verona

PERSUASIVE PROMPTS  Who is responsible for the deaths of both Romeo & Juliet? Select one character from the tragedy who you feel is the most culpable. That is, who played the most intricate role in the death of the star crossed lovers.  A major theme throughout the tragedy was the Force of Fate. Selecting either Romeo, Friar Lawrence or Juliet, how does Shakespeare use premonitions as a device to unfold the tragedy before the audience?