Question

How do the phrases "star-cross'd lovers" and "death-mark'd love" introduce the themes of love and fate in the prologue to Romeo and Juliet? Support your response with evidence from the prologue.

Answer 1

They have very similar meanings. "Death-mark'd love" is pretty self explanatory, and "star-cross'd lovers" are lovers that are fated for doom. This basically foreshadows the fate of Romeo and Juliet and what will likely happen to them due to their forbidden love. Unfortunately I don't have the prologue on me nor did I read it in a very long time, so I can't provide evidence. But that's basically what it is trying to say.

Answer 2

In the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, the Chorus reveals that the play is going to be a tragedy. The audience learns that Romeo and Juliet are ”star-cross’d lovers” destinated to dir, which brings out the themes of love and fate.

In the prologue, Shakespeare uses phrases such as ”death-marked love” and ”star-cross’d lovers” to show that fortune and fate are responsible for the tragedy. Shakespeare also described Romeo and Juliet’s defiance of their parents as ”misadventured piteous overthrows.” This description suggests that the lovers’ efforts to be together will be hopeless against what fate has in store for them.

Shakespeare also suggests that the death of the lovers will reconcile the two families and bring peace:

The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,

And the continuance of their parents’ rage,

Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,