Theme of Premonitions/Fate
Premonitions are increasingly used throughout the play to build the audience’s anticipation for the
death of Romeo and Juliet. This theme also has strong links to the technique of foreshadowing.
Fate is another key theme since it is one of the reasons for the death of Romeo and Juliet. Fate, as
Friar Lawrence says, is a ‘greater power’ than they can ‘contradict’ and thwarts their ‘intents’. It is
expressed through dramatic devices such as the entrance of characters. For example, when
Mercutio’s ‘mad blood’ is ‘stirring’, Tybalt enters and a fight begins. The lovers also have ominous
dreams that that foreshadow what will happen to them.
Scene Quotation Idea Analysis Device
Act 2 ‘too rash, too Premonitions Parallels between the two; Structural
Scene 2 unadvised, too they both have premonitions.
sudden’ She likens ‘their contract’ to
‘like the lightning’ ‘lightening’, which is ‘too rash,
too unadvised, too sudden’.
Romeo has a premonition
before the party too and in
Act 5 has a similar
premonition with ‘lightening’
Act 3 ‘I were so apt to Fate Mercutio is in this
Scene 1 quarrel as thou art’ quarrelsome mood and Tybalt
Turning (Benvolio) enters. He wants to find
point of Romeo but Mercutio wants to
the play fight him.
Fate At the point that Mercutio Dramatic
Foreshadowing and Tybalt are quarrelling,
Romeo enters. Foreshadows
the action that Romeo will
step in between Tybalt’s blow.
‘brave Mercutio's Fate Fate is working; as Romeo Dramatic
dead!’ blames himself, Benvolio
(Benvolio) enters with the news that
‘Mercutio’s dead!’
Act 3 ‘Methinks I see thee, Premonition Premonition. Juliet says,
Scene 5 now thou art below, looking down at Romeo, that
As one dead in the it looks as if he is at the
bottom of a tomb’ ‘bottom of a tomb’.
‘till I behold him – Premonition Ominous – she will see him
dead-‘ dead
‘to bear a poison’ Premonition Irony, foreshadowing. Romeo Linguistic
uses a poison to kill himself.
Act 5 ‘A lightning before Premonition Reference to ‘too like the
Scene 3 death’ Parallel lightening’. Parallels between
(Romeo) the two.
‘greater power than Fate He realises how Fate has been
we can contradict’ controlling their actions.
Premonitions are increasingly used throughout the play to build the audience’s anticipation for the
death of Romeo and Juliet. This theme also has strong links to the technique of foreshadowing.
Fate is another key theme since it is one of the reasons for the death of Romeo and Juliet. Fate, as
Friar Lawrence says, is a ‘greater power’ than they can ‘contradict’ and thwarts their ‘intents’. It is
expressed through dramatic devices such as the entrance of characters. For example, when
Mercutio’s ‘mad blood’ is ‘stirring’, Tybalt enters and a fight begins. The lovers also have ominous
dreams that that foreshadow what will happen to them.
Scene Quotation Idea Analysis Device
Act 2 ‘too rash, too Premonitions Parallels between the two; Structural
Scene 2 unadvised, too they both have premonitions.
sudden’ She likens ‘their contract’ to
‘like the lightning’ ‘lightening’, which is ‘too rash,
too unadvised, too sudden’.
Romeo has a premonition
before the party too and in
Act 5 has a similar
premonition with ‘lightening’
Act 3 ‘I were so apt to Fate Mercutio is in this
Scene 1 quarrel as thou art’ quarrelsome mood and Tybalt
Turning (Benvolio) enters. He wants to find
point of Romeo but Mercutio wants to
the play fight him.
Fate At the point that Mercutio Dramatic
Foreshadowing and Tybalt are quarrelling,
Romeo enters. Foreshadows
the action that Romeo will
step in between Tybalt’s blow.
‘brave Mercutio's Fate Fate is working; as Romeo Dramatic
dead!’ blames himself, Benvolio
(Benvolio) enters with the news that
‘Mercutio’s dead!’
Act 3 ‘Methinks I see thee, Premonition Premonition. Juliet says,
Scene 5 now thou art below, looking down at Romeo, that
As one dead in the it looks as if he is at the
bottom of a tomb’ ‘bottom of a tomb’.
‘till I behold him – Premonition Ominous – she will see him
dead-‘ dead
‘to bear a poison’ Premonition Irony, foreshadowing. Romeo Linguistic
uses a poison to kill himself.
Act 5 ‘A lightning before Premonition Reference to ‘too like the
Scene 3 death’ Parallel lightening’. Parallels between
(Romeo) the two.
‘greater power than Fate He realises how Fate has been
we can contradict’ controlling their actions.
