More detailed stuff

• Fate: ‘Star cross’d’ suggests their fate was decided from the beginning, no action could be taken to reverse it - pessimistic approach
• Juliet - A leo (Act 1)

  • Firey and impulsive
• Ovid’s metamorphoses

  • similar as both have the idea of Fate separating lovers and ending in tragedy
  • Shows the destructive nature of feuds
• The Italian stereotypes are demonstrated through:

  • Juliet's lustfulness and sexual promiscuity
  • Tybalts fiery, easily provoked nature
• Italian stereotypes

  • Male violence runs throughout the play
  • Lustfulness also runs throughout
  • Suggests that love and violence are closely linked
• 'Death-mark'd love' - prologue

  • Promotes the idea that love cannot exist without violence
  • The generations long violence ends once the two lovers pass
  • Links to the belief of fate and astrology, their destiny was set
  • Fate links to 'star-cross'd lovers' and the common belief of fate in astrology
• The great chain of being

  • God created the world with a hierarchical structure
  • Common belief that women were beneath men
  • Idea of women assuming power over men was breaking the structure, therefore disobeying God
• Great chain of being

  • Juliet assuming a position of power over Romeo breaks the societal norms of the time
  • By breaking 'Gods hierarchical structure' she disobeys god
  • Further proves the scandalous and forbidden nature of their love
• Romeo's impulsivity contributes to the theme of fate by suggesting that his actions are predetermined and beyond his control.
• Romeo's impulsivity also highlights the destructive nature of passion and desire, which ultimately leads to tragedy.
• Shakespeare's tragic portrayal of Romeo and Juliet reinforces that even the seemingly boundless power of love is ultimately constrained by forces beyond human control.
• Shakespeare reinforces Elizabethan ideas of determinism (everything is pre-set out) showing celestial bodies (stars/moon/planets) were powerful forces on human life.
• Shakespeare links how their impulsiveness and recklessness is their hamartia (fatal flaw) - the very qualities that led directly to their imminent demise
• Shakespeare highlights the dangers of unchecked passion and the importance of considering consequences before acting impulsively.
• • These foundational constructs in society are insurmountable (can't overcome), even in the face of true love.
  • Thus, he makes Romeo's hamartia his impetuousness (impulsiveness) - his inability to navigate social expectations reinforces the folly (foolishness) in the youth.