FATE AND DESTINY

Question 1

ANALYSE “star-crossed lovers take their life” (prologue)

Answer 1

FEATURES:
celestial imagery

ANALYSIS:
-astrology
-WILL fall in love and WILL take their lives
-established early in the play displaying their importance
-very tragic as it cant be changed
-efforts throughout the play is futile

Question 2

ANALYSE “these violent delights have violent ends” & “thou art wedded to calamity” (A2S6)

Answer 2

• friar is the most notable religious figure in the play
• religion and fate are interlinked
  -God has a role in the predetermination of life events
  -friar is God’s representative & he forebodes

Question 3

ANALYSE “a greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents” (A5S3)

Answer 3

• fate is more powerful than man
  -no matter how powerful you are there is always something greater than you
• we should respect fate rather than waste time trying to change it

links to a5s2 where friar john couldn’t send romeo a message due to a random “infection” that came up. this displays that all efforts are futile when it comes to fate.

Question 4

ANALYSE “my grave is like to be my wedding bed” (A1S5)

Answer 4

• although throwaway comment for juliet, her dialogue forebodes
• r + j reunite in death in capulet tomb
• lives are already predestined and prearranged ahead of time
• fate & dramatic irony are linked