A pair of star=crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous
overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents" strife. (1.1.6-8)
In theof that is spoken by the , who
introduce the play to the Elizabethan audience, the term "star-crossed" would be one
quite familiar to these Elizabethans. For, the stars are part of the Chain of Being. When one
part of this chain is upset, as in the stars, then there is disorder and chaos. So, when the
stars are taken out of their order, things go awry and fate changes the order of
things.
Therefore, whenandhave their stars taken out of order and
"crossed," they become fated lovers, lovers to whom misfortune will come. Thus, their
lives contain a destiny that will prove tragic for them. In modern times, one would say that
they have bad luck, such as when they meet and their families are in a feud against one another;
or, when Romeo happens uponandfighting and he inadvertently kills Tybalt; or, when John cannot
get the Friar's message to Romeo because Mantua is quarantined; or, whenruns out of the
catacombs and Juliet is left alone to her fate.
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