Instead of choosing a set of lines from the actual play, I chose to recite the prologue under the category of “Fate or Destiny”. The prologue is quite famous for its foreshadowing and prediction of what will come of Romeo & Juliet. The whole theme of fate and destiny is one of the core lessons behind the classic tale. Shakespeare used the two young lovers and their tragic journey as the perfect story line. The story of two young kids in love and the hardships that are involved in an intimate relationship is a plot that we have seen in countless numbers of books, poems, plays, and movies. “From ancient grudge break to mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”. The actual break-down and analysis of these lines translates to some pretty simple ideas. “Ancient grudge to new mutiny” refers to the families’ long standing feud with each other and how the new generation of Montegues and Capulets will continue the feud. “Civil blood” and “unclean hands” refers to the fighting back and forth and how people will die because of it. “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” means that Romeo and Juliet will only perpetuate the fighting by falling in love. The term “star-crossed” means that they are destined to fall in love and eventually take their own lives because of their desperate love affair. With the imminent danger clearly lurking within the story, Shakespeare puts you on the edge of your seat with this famous prediction. The whole story is about love and the fact that nothing, not even death, can tear that apart. In the end we all know Romeo & Juliet commit suicide. The story however is centered around the destiny they have both had since birth to be together. Ever since that fateful night at Capulet’s ball when they first saw each other. The rest of the story is about their passionate, all-out, pursuit of a happy life together. You can see from early in the story that the hostility between the two families will have an impact on Romeo & Juliet’s relationship. The foreshadowing prologue also tells us that their demise will eventually come because of their families. It is interesting to think about the fact that Romeo and any of the adult Capulets ever meet throughout the entire story, however the parents’ rage in uncontrollable when Juliet refuses to marry Paris. Not even on the grounds that she loves Romeo, but just simply on the fact that she doesn’t love Paris. I wonder what the story would’ve been like if Capulet and Romeo were ever to meet face to face.
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