Fate is a central theme in "Romeo and Juliet" with characters believing in their destined paths, foreshadowing of tragic events, and mentions of stars and fortune.. These textual references, including Romeo’s foreshadowing, Juliet’s premonition, and the prologue’s description of star-crossed lovers, underscore the role of fate in the unfolding tragedy. By incorporating visual and thematic elements that highlight these references, such as lighting, staging, and celestial motifs, a production can emphasize the central theme of fate in “Romeo and Juliet.” For starters, throughout the play, Romeo and others mention their association with stars and fortune, hinting at their belief in their own fate. Early on in the play, Romeo says, “I fear, too early; for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars” (I. IV.106-107) This reflects Romeo’s premonition that something bad is going to happen at the ball and that it has already been decided by a supernatural force. …show more content…
In Act 3 scene 5, Juliet experiences a premonition of doom as Romeo prepares to leave following their secret wedding night. “Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb”(III.V.55-56). This foreshadows Juliet's fateful death and entombment in the capulets family tomb. For moments like these where a character is foreshadowing the future we can darken the lights and keep the light on them as they speak. The biggest and most obvious textual evidence of Romeo and Juliet’s fate is right in the prologue. “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” (prologue 6) The term "star-crossed" means that Romeo and Juliet's destiny was set by the alignment of the stars. It suggests that their love is bound by fate, which leads to their untimely deaths. A way that we could emphasize this in our play is to use motifs such as a celestial backdrop to emphasize the star crossed