Romeo And Juliet Foreshadowing

Aysha Carter

Dr. Orban

English 411

April 24, 2015

The most excellent and lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Foreshadowing has been used throughout literature revealing seen or unforeseen endings of scheming, death, and love. A lot of these themes are not seen until the last scene, or on subsequent readings of the work. William Shakespeare used imagery and language to foreshadow love and death. Many writers use this technique of writing to demonstrate foreshadowing’s ability to add so much more significance to a novel or play. “In Romeo and Juliet the occult becomes a language through which the connection between feeling and cognition is repeatedly articulated” (Spellburg).

The foreshadowing in the play begins with the framing of the

While spending time with his friends, Romeo imagines his own death. “I fear too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars […] by some vile forfeit of untimely death” (Shakespeare 918). Romeo laments that he his nervous because of a bad dream he had about his death, which occurs at the end of the play. Literary critic Matthew Spellberg explains that, “Dreams with narrative concerns are present in this tragedy—dreams that carry with them ill omens and portentous symbols” (Spellberg). This proves further that Shakespeare uses dreams to paint a picture of what’s to come. In the same breath Romeo exclaims “But he that hath the steerage of my course direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen” (Shakespeare 918). Romeo says it is all up to God, and God would never steer him wrong, right? He and his pals march off merrily to the Caplet’s

“Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine […]” (Shakespeare 943). Juliet is very eager for her wedding night, as Spellburg clarifies, “Punning on the double-meaning of “die,” Juliet chooses the two most intensely felt carnal experiences—orgasm and perishing—to be the anchors for her ensuing fantasy” (Spellberg). The only thing that could possibly describe their love are two penultimate physical experiences for all of humankind.

Foreshadowing is used to predict outcomes of the play and to express the love which Juliet and Romeo share for one another. In the end, love and death heal the rift between the two families. The moral of the story is stay away from the opposite sex and obey your parents .It also reminds parents that if they forbid two young lovers the option to be together , the youngster will strive harder to be together at all