Romeo being ruled by chance and fate (act 1 scene 5) Flashcards
Big idea 1
When Romeo fatefully first catches sight of Juliet he poses aloud “did my heart love till now? Foreswear it, sight!/For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”.
Quote explained in big idea 1
The idea that if Romeo had not seen Juliet at the Capulet ball, then he would have been deprived of true “love” is one that gives rise to theories of free will and determinism.
enviromental factors 1
The Elizabethans were particularly interested in ideas of fate and the stars and believed that celestial bodies could determine ones destiny.
evidence of determinism
the later assertion of “pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair”
explained evidence of deteminism
it appears ironic in the sense that praying will do them no good if all their actions are pre-determined.
How does the prologue amplify the tone of determinism
The lovers notion that they may alter their fate through prayer is dramatically ironic.
what is determinism
human actions are all determined and that humans don’t have free will.
Romeo quote
“give me my sin again”
What does the romeo quote do?
subverts the excitingly seductive connotations of a kiss, turning it into a arim enactment of Romeo’s fate.
Romeo mentioned in the previous scene…
‘some awful destiny. that will result in [his] own untimely death’
what is significant about his mention
its grimly foreboding but it also shows the power of fate to be so vast
what is significant about his mention (continued pt 1)
that even the characters in the world of the play can feel its effects.
what is significant about his mention pt 2
It almost inspires a sort of nihilistic (meaningless of life) reaction on the part of the audience
In the sense that? (his mention pt 2 continued)
if Romeo’s actions are pre-determined and doomed for death, then to hope otherwise is foolish.
big idea 2
The concept that Romeo has no free will, however, allows his actions to be viewed less as a character flaw and rather objectively.
