1. The Star-Crossed Lovers Definition: Two Souls Brought together through circumstance to be torn apart by fate

2. Basic Definition
“Lovers whose relationship is doomed to fail are said to be ‘star-crossed’ (frustrated by the stars), because those who believe in astrology claim that the stars control human destiny… ‘Star-crossed lovers’ refers to any lovers whose affection for each other is doomed to end in tragedy” (“Star-crossed lovers”).

3. Mythic Examples
Pyramus and Thisbe (Roman Mythology) – This tale features two lovers who are kept apart by parental wishes. Communicating through a crack in a wall, these lovers arrange a secret meeting but by the end of the tale both characters tragically kill themselves ("Pyramus and Thisbe").

4. More Mythic Examples
Tristan and Isolde (Celtic Mythology) – The Cornish knight, Tristan, travels to Ireland to bring back the fair Irish princess, Isolde, for his uncle King Mark to marry. But on the way back from Ireland, Tristan and Isolde accidentally ingest a love potion that causes them to become madly enamored with one another ("Tristan and Isolde").

5. Further Mythic Examples
Lancelot and Guinevere (Arthurian Legends) – Kept apart by circumstance and moral concerns, the love between this leading knight and queen mars the Round Table and dooms Camelot ("Guinevere”) .

6. More Mythic Examples Layla and Majnun (Arabic Legend) –
These two lovers are kept apart due to parental disapproval. Towards the end of the tale, Majnun is driven insane by his separation from Layla (Coker).

7. Further Mythic Examples
The Butterfly Lovers
(Chinese legend) –
In this legend, often called the Chinese Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are kept apart due to an arranged marriage already in place for the young maid, Zhu. This drives her love, Liang, to ill health and death. Upon his death, Zhu travels to Liang’s grave and jumps down into its depths – ending her life. Both lovers are then transformed into butterflies (“China to seek world heritage listing of ‘butterfly lovers’ story” ).

8. Literary Application –Star-Crossed Lovers
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s arresting novel The Great Gatsby, an economic and social divide ostracizes Gatsby from his lovely Daisy. In a pivotal flashback scene the idea of a destined but tragic love is foreshadowed, “There was a stir and bustle among the stars…His heart beat faster and faster…So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch…the incarnation was complete” (Fitzgerald 117). Though in her youth Daisy loves Gatsby, she marries a wealthier man due to his elevated social status, “‘Congratulate me,’ she muttered…She began to cry – and cried and cried…Next day at 5 o’clock she married Tom Buchanan without so much as a shiver” (Fitzgerald 81). But Gatsby is never able to detach himself like Daisy from their failed love affair, “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he asked incredulously. ‘Why of course you can’” (Fitzgerald 116). Gatsby’s efforts to reestablish relations with his lost love Daisy directly lead to his ruination, completing this tragic literary love story.

9. Musical Examples
In the 1957 musical and 1961 film West Side Story, the tale of Romeo and Juliet is altered and updated. Set in 1950’s New York City, the musical traces the tragic love between Tony (a member of the white gang, The Jets) and Maria (sister to the leader of the Puerto Rican gang, The Sharks). Separated by both cultural and racial differences, Tony and Maria are definitely star-crossed. At the end of the two act story, Tony is murdered by a rival gang member and Maria is emotionally shattered.

10. Semi-Modern Examples
In the 1980’s, the work of filmmaker John Hughes helped to codify the teen movie as a valid film genre. In such memorable films such as Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, and The Breakfast Club, the director captured both the texture of teenage angst and the hope somehow tied to the impossible fruition of star-crossed loves.

11. Modern Examples – a little closer
In the 1997 film Titanic, Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt Bukater must contend with the barrier of economic differences as they struggle to enjoy their ill-fated affection. Though they are content for a few brief moments, their blissful union ends in icy tragedy.

12. Modern Examples
In Stephenie Meyer’s 2005 bestselling series Twilight and the subsequent film adaptations, Bella and Edward are periodically kept apart due to their differences. Although by the end of saga these characters are finally able to be together, for most of their tragic tale these lovers are separated by their mortality or lack thereof.

13. More Modern Examples
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins places Katniss and Peeta
inside the arena where they
are forced to fight for their lives.
Unfortunately, the fight ends only
when one person remains alive.
Luckily, Katniss thinks quickly and
is able to save them both.

14. Modern Examples – Nicolas Sparks
Writes A.O. Scott in the New York Times, "In Mr. Sparks's novels ... star-crossed lovers, often shadowed by illness and death, have an odd way of producing happy, or at least blissfully cathartic, endings. He is a master of the feel-good weepie." Linda Barnard in the Toronto Star agrees, saying that Dear John is contrived to have "romantics reaching for their hankies…“
Megan Driscoll of The Rebellions pens, “Most people are quite familiar with the characteristics of a typical Nicholas Sparks movie.  There is always a cute romance and a tragic death. Many would argue that these elements of the story are what make his novels and movies so addicting.  One may either come into the theater wondering if they are about to watch yet another corny chick flick, or they might go in thinking it will surpass The Notebook— a romantic movie of two star crossed lovers.  Either way, his films and novels always attract large audiences and readers.” 

15. Major Resources
Coker, J.T. “Follow Your Heart: The Story of Layla and Majnun.” Theosociety.com. TheoSociety. Web. 22 Mar
“China to seek world heritage listing of ‘butterfly lovers’ story.” Newsguangdong.com. Newsgd.com. 22 Mar
"Guinevere." The Camelot Project. University of Rochester. Web. 22 Mar

16. Major Resources
Moore, Thomas. Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life. Harper Collins, Print.
"Pyramus and Thisbe." About.com. The New York Times Company, Web. 22 Mar
“Star-crossed lovers." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 22 Mar
"Tristan and Isolde." Timeless Myths. 24 June Web. 22 Mar