Romeo and Juliet Essay

Bobby Yang

2nd Period

There are overflowing examples of foreshadowing. All of those point to the death of

both Romeo and Juliet. Many think the prologue is an example of foreshadowing, facts says

differently. Foreshadowing is the presentation in a work of literature of hints and clues that tip

the reader off as to what is to come later in the work. According to this definition,

foreshadowing is a “hint” or “clue”. The prologue doesn’t hint, it tells. Some “real” examples of

foreshadowing includes “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives, some consequence yet hanging

in the stars…” (1.4.104-113), "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall / Now seeming sweet

convert to bitter gall" (1.5.91-92), "O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?...”(3.5.51-57), and

"Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again" (4.3.14)

At the door of Capulet's house, when his friends are ready to go in, Romeo makes

objections. He first says he's too melancholy. Mercutio tries to kid him out of it, but then

Romeo says he shouldn't go in because he had a dream. Mercutio, in his famous "Queen Mab"

speech, mockingly declares that dreams are illusory wish-fulfillment. Finally, Benvolio (who

really wants to go to the party) remarks that this "wind" (that is, Mercutio's windiness) is

getting to be a real problem. Supper is over, and if they don't go into Capulet's soon, they will

be too late. Once Romeo hears this he replies: “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives, some

consequence yet hanging in the stars…” (1.4.104-113). This is the most important example of

foreshadowing in this play, because its foreshadowing what’s going to happen in the rest of the

play. A fateful chain of events ("consequence") does begin its appointed time ("date") that
night, and that chain of events does terminate the duration ("expire the term") of Romeo's life

with premature ("untimely") death. But, despite his premonitions, Romeo does go into

Capulet's house. How seriously does he take himself? If he really believes what he says, why

does he go in? Or is it that he has picked up Mercutio's mocking tone and is now mocking his

own melancholy?

Tybalt is about to attack Romeo for being at the Capulet’s party but is restrained by Old

Capulet. Tybalt is forced to leave, but swears that Romeo will pay for what he has done. He

says, "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall / Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall"

(1.5.91-92). Gall is anything that is tremendously bitter, but it also has a secondary meaning,

poison. As it turns out, Romeo’s love for Juliet ends up with him poisoning himself.

After Romeo and Juliet's one night of married happiness, Romeo must leave for Mantua.

Romeo leaps down from Juliet's window and then they exchange their final farewells. Romeo

promises he will write to her every chance he gets, but Juliet is suddenly filled with foreboding.

She asks, "O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?...”(3.5.51-57). Romeo reassuringly

answers, "I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve, For sweet discourses in our time to

come" (3.5.52-53). He means that he's sure they will get together again, and when they do, it

will be sweet to talk about how they suffered for one another. But Juliet, looking down at him,

says "Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my

eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale" (3.5.55-57). Again Romeo tries to reassure her, but as a

matter of fact the next time she sees him he will be dead in a tomb.
 When Lady Capulet and the Nurse leave Juliet alone on the night before the morning

that Juliet is supposed to marry Paris, Juliet says, “Farewell! God knows when we shall meet

again" (4.3.14). This is heartbreaking. Because of the abundant foreshadowing in the play, we

sense that Juliet will never again see her mother or the Nurse, who has been like a mother to

her. Juliet herself feels the dread of death. She says, "I have a faint cold fear thrills through my

veins, That almost freezes up the heat of life" (4.3.15-16). "Thrill" means "pierce" and also

"shiver"; Juliet feels as though she's freezing from the inside. She has an impulse to call back

her mother and the Nurse, and she actually does call for the Nurse, but then reminds herself

that "My dismal scene I needs must act alone" (4.3.19).

All of the examples point to the death of Romeo and his faithful wife, Juliet. It didn’t

really matter what they did, their deaths were as inevitable as an apple falling to the ground

because of gravity. The tragic story of Romeo and Juliet has many if not countless examples of

foreshadowing, including, “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives, some consequence yet

hanging in the stars…” (1.4.104-113), "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall / Now seeming

sweet convert to bitter gall" (1.5.91-92), "O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?...”(3.5.51-

57), and "Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again" (4.3.14).