Romeo and Juliet: Dreams, Visions and Premonitions
What part do dreams, visions and premonitions play in Romeo and Juliet?
In Romeo and Juliet, dreams, visions and premonitions play a very important role. They foreshadow the eventual tragedy, tell us about a character’s view over a particular matter, and reflect underlying messages in the play. They are symbols, telling us about the various themes in the play as well.
An example of a dream foreshadowing the eventual tragic ending of the play is found in Act 1 Scene 4, in which Romeo says that he “dreamt a dream tonight” to his friends Mercutio and Benvolio, while heading to Capulet’s feast. His dream is ominous, and he is fearful of whether his dream will come true, saying that he fears the “vile forfeit of untimely death”. This proves true at the end of the play, as he does eventually die before his time, confirming his premonition. As the dream foreshadows the eventual ending of play, the audience will not be shocked by Romeo and Juliet’s eventual double suicide, seeing that it has been a recurring motif(?) that the lovers, like Romeo in this example, are doing to die.
In the same scene, Mercutio also expresses his view on dreams and desires in his Queen Mab speech. After Romeo says that he dreamt a dream, Mercutio says that he dreamt one as well, but says that “dreamers often lie”. He begins to describe Queen Mab, a fairy which brings to birth the fantasies and and longings of people who sleep, such as lovers. The speech starts out imaginary and whimsical, but starts to take on a grim tone at the end. Mercutio concludes it, saying that dreams are “children of an idle brain” and is nothing but fantasies and desires, which are inconstant. This shows Mercutio’s view on dreams and desires, which is that they are corrupting and fragile, as compared to Romeo, who thinks dreams and fantasies are quite real and true. His dream acts as a contrast to the real and ennobling love of Romeo and Juliet as well. As such, dreams also tell us about a particular
In Romeo and Juliet, dreams, visions and premonitions play a very important role. They foreshadow the eventual tragedy, tell us about a character’s view over a particular matter, and reflect underlying messages in the play. They are symbols, telling us about the various themes in the play as well.
An example of a dream foreshadowing the eventual tragic ending of the play is found in Act 1 Scene 4, in which Romeo says that he “dreamt a dream tonight” to his friends Mercutio and Benvolio, while heading to Capulet’s feast. His dream is ominous, and he is fearful of whether his dream will come true, saying that he fears the “vile forfeit of untimely death”. This proves true at the end of the play, as he does eventually die before his time, confirming his premonition. As the dream foreshadows the eventual ending of play, the audience will not be shocked by Romeo and Juliet’s eventual double suicide, seeing that it has been a recurring motif(?) that the lovers, like Romeo in this example, are doing to die.
In the same scene, Mercutio also expresses his view on dreams and desires in his Queen Mab speech. After Romeo says that he dreamt a dream, Mercutio says that he dreamt one as well, but says that “dreamers often lie”. He begins to describe Queen Mab, a fairy which brings to birth the fantasies and and longings of people who sleep, such as lovers. The speech starts out imaginary and whimsical, but starts to take on a grim tone at the end. Mercutio concludes it, saying that dreams are “children of an idle brain” and is nothing but fantasies and desires, which are inconstant. This shows Mercutio’s view on dreams and desires, which is that they are corrupting and fragile, as compared to Romeo, who thinks dreams and fantasies are quite real and true. His dream acts as a contrast to the real and ennobling love of Romeo and Juliet as well. As such, dreams also tell us about a particular