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Prologue Analysis of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare's earliest and most successful plays, differs from his other tragedies by showcasing protagonists who are victims of external forces, particularly fate, rather than their own flaws. The play begins with a prologue that sets the scene in Verona, introduces the main characters, and highlights the conflict between the Capulets and Montagues, foreshadowing the tragic fate of the star-crossed lovers. This emotional setup ensures audience sympathy for Romeo and Juliet as they navigate a violent world dictated by family enmity.

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29 views2 pages

Prologue Analysis of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare's earliest and most successful plays, differs from his other tragedies by showcasing protagonists who are victims of external forces, particularly fate, rather than their own flaws. The play begins with a prologue that sets the scene in Verona, introduces the main characters, and highlights the conflict between the Capulets and Montagues, foreshadowing the tragic fate of the star-crossed lovers. This emotional setup ensures audience sympathy for Romeo and Juliet as they navigate a violent world dictated by family enmity.

Uploaded by

Jim Jones
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Getting to Know Romeo and Juliet

Introduction
Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare’s earliest plays. Even when it was first performed around
1597, this play was a major hit. Today, it remains one of Shakespeare’s most successful plays. There have
been numerous film and artistic adaptations over the centuries.

Why It’s Special


Romeo and Juliet differs from Shakespeare’s other tragedies, such as Hamlet and King Lear, which follow a
classical model of tragedy. In that model, the high-ranking protagonist falls from a state of prosperity to
one of misery as a result of a tragic flaw. In other words, the fall comes from within the protagonist.

In Romeo and Juliet, however, the protagonists are brought down by forces largely beyond their control.
The outside force of fate is one of the greatest obstacles that the two protagonists face. The subject of
love, which is present in Shakespeare’s comedies, also sets Romeo and Juliet apart from other tragedies.
In fact, the first two acts of Romeo and Juliet contain elements of comedy before the tone turns more
tragic.

Understanding the Beginning


Romeo and Juliet begins with a prologue in the form of a sonnet that the Chorus recites. The prologue
describes the scene of the action (Verona, Italy) and provides some background information about the
main characters. It also fills the audience in on the hatred and hostility between the Capulets and the
Montagues. The prologue introduces the important thematic concepts of the play, which include love and
sacrifice as well as free will and fate.

The prologue gives the audience an idea about what will unfold on the stage:

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;

These lines tell the audience that the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, can never be together
because of the enmity, or hatred, between their families. This enmity bears ultimate responsibility for
their tragedy.

The young lovers die because they have been born into a violent and cruel world. In this way, the
prologue reveals what will happen in the play. The prologue also creates an emotional intensity that
ensures that the audience will feel sympathetic toward the young lovers, who they know are destined to
die.

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