Romeo and Juliet

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Ayona Bieber Blackmon
Mrs. Crawford
Freshman Honors English
4 April 2013

The Role of Foreshadowing in Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet foreshadows the execrable endings and dreadful fates of “A pair of star-crossed lovers” (Prologue.6). By chance of destiny, the characters Romeo and Juliet unite, wed, and die. William, as he does a plethora of times, reveals this affair with the use of foreshadowing. Shakespeare utilizes foreshadowing to bestow a relief to his audience as well as keep them interested simultaneously.
Shakespeare uses foreshadowing to develop anticipation for the reader. He writes …”I’ll look to like, if looking liking move” (1.iii.99) here Juliet speaks of her lack of attraction for Paris, suspense grows here because the reader awaits the encounter of the two again.
In Romeo and Juliet a significantly heart-breaking ending takes place, however with Shakespeare's commitment to foreshadowing, he is capable of preventing his audience from being too astonished. For instance, Juliet says, "O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of the tomb"(3.5.14-56). Juliet has mixed feelings about the arrangement devised by the Friar so that the two of them can be together. Juliet thinks disaster will come of previous tactics developed to allow Romeo and her to be together. In addition, when Romeo is speaking of his love for Juliet he says, "And but thou love me, let them find me here. / My life were better ended by their hate / Then death prorogued, wanting of thy love"(2.2.75-77). Romeo's immense love for Juliet will eventually lead to the fall of himself. Death lingers throughout the play between Romeo and his love, Juliet. In conclusion, when Juliet is thinking about Romeo she says, "Give me Romeo; and when he shall die / Take him and cut him out in little stars, / And he will make the face of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in love with night," (3.2.21-25). This suggests that in the play Romeo will end up dying and Juliet will be there to see it. Juliet prophesizes over many topics in the play and in the end they become true. Foreshadowing is used in this play to help the audience trounce the dreadful outcome.
Shakespeare use foreshadowing in the play to reveal a love that can’t be thwarted and let us in on imperative scenes to come. For example, when Romeo and Benvolio are talking about Tybalt, Romeo says, "This day's black fate on more days doth depend: / This but begins the woe others must end" (3.1.115-116). Romeo is going to kill Tybalt for the hatred he has bestowed upon him. Romeo makes rash decisions that tear their relationship between one another apart even more. In addition, when Juliet's mother is talking to her she says, " To bear a poison, I would temper it- / That Romeo should upon receipt thereof / Soon sleep in quiet" (3.5.93-99). Lady Capulet wants to Kill Romeo. Also it hints to the reader that Romeo will die by poison. Furthermore, as Benvolio and Romeo discourse, Benvolio exclaims, "Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead: stabbed with a white wench's black eye; run through the ear with a love song" the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft" (2.4.13-16). Romeo is going to die because of his pursuing love of Juliet. Romeo is an affectionate person who alas just wants to be with Juliet. Shakespeare use foreshadowing to tell us about upcoming scenes and expose the love between Juliet and Romeo.

In conclusion, foreshadowing is used to help the reader from being to astonished by disastrous outcomes and help hint at scenes to come. In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, foreshadowing is used to predict outcomes of the play and express love, which Juliet and Romeo share for one another. Many Shakespearean writers exploit the use of foreshadowing to make there writings all the better. Today this skill is used throughout literary fields taking advantage of its powerful influences on the reader.