In Act1 scene IV of the play, Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and Horatio are about to attend a ball a Capulets House. Being Montague’s, they should not be going. Romeo seems in a very depressed mood, due to his feelings for Rosaline. After Romeo has spoken, Mercutio gives a very long enchanting speech. There is a great influence of fairies, fate, fortune, luck and stars. Again, we are reminded of the nature of the play. Romeo says ‘ I fear, too early; for my mind misgives/ Some consequence…’ Romeo has a bad feeling about the evening to come. He realises that their presence at the party will have bad consequences. This gives us a sense of bore boding. He also makes reference to fate. ‘ Yet hanging in the stars…’ He knows that his life is written in the stars and that fate controls his destiny.
When Romeo first saw Juliet he is over come with her beauty and gives a long speech about her. He tells us that her beauty is too dear for earth. This is suggesting to us that she does not belong on earth, and is too precious to survive here. If Romeo believes this, then where should she be? Heaven perhaps? By saying she is too good to earth he is in a way defying the gods as he is telling us that she is better than the gods. This is strongly giving us the suggestion of death.
The second act in the play also gives us a great sense of magic and enchantment,
especially in Mercutios speech in the orchard after Capulets ball. He is trying to conjure up spirits and makes references to death. ‘ The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.’ This is again giving us a sense of death and mortality.
In the balcony scene with Romeo and Juliet, Romeo seems to defy fate and the sun quite a lot. He compares Juliet with the sun and says that she is greater than the moon. It seems as if he deliberately the stars. Romeo seems very over confident. He thinks he is in control of his fate but he’s not. The stars are. Within this scene there are lots of heavenly references made, mainly by Romeo. This helps us to sustain the feeling of apprehension. Juliet is described as a winged messenger of heaven – an angel. The constant religious references remind us of death.
The next scene in the play brings us to Friar Lawrences cell. He rambles to himself for a few minutes. However, these ramblings have an underlying indication of what is to come. When Romeo tells thr Friar about Juliet, his response seems to be a metaphor for what is going to happen. The Friar again brings up an image of death.
‘To turn your households rancour into pure love.’ This reminds us that death will be the only thing that can bring the Montagues and Capulets together. At the end of the scene the Friar gives a warning to Romeo. ‘ Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.’ He is telling Romeo to slow down. His stumble could perhaps be his death.
