COMMENTARY 3 Major Themes from the Prologue FORCE OF FATE Shakespeare creates suspense by making use of premonition (device used throughout the tragedy forecasting the outcome of future events) Prologue fatal star-crossed misadventured & death-marked = ironic fate SOCIETY Two families, the Montagues and Capulets, have wrecked the social structure of Verona through mutual hatred Civil blood makes civil hands unclean (lowest levels of society are affected by quarrel) servants LOVE OF R&J Private love triumphs over public hatred acting as a sacrifice for parents rage and brings both families together (by way of love) & civil justice to Verona PERSUASIVE PROMPTS Who is responsible for the deaths of both Romeo & Juliet? Select one character from the tragedy who you feel is the most culpable. That is, who played the most intricate role in the death of the star crossed lovers. A major theme throughout the tragedy was the Force of Fate. Selecting either Romeo, Friar Lawrence or Juliet, how does Shakespeare use premonitions as a device to unfold the tragedy before the audience?