Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare (1594-1596) is largely based on Arthur Brooke's poem, “The Tragic Tale of Romeus and Juliet”, published in 1562, which itself was another translation of an Italian folklore that can be dated back many years, Shakespeare in turn adapted Brooke's poem, his main source of inspiration, of a poem lasting nine months in a play told in 5 acts, where each act represented. a day, in turn, intensifying the outcome of the story. Say no to plagiarism "? Get an original essay. An overview of the play is given to the audience through. the prologue. So that the Elizabethan audience does not encounter surprises during the play, Shakespeare uses a sonnet presented by a chorus. The sonnet which is conventionally used to write about 'love, foretells and prefigures what will happen in the work: his love and. tragedy. A Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines (each with 10 bars), is written in iambic pentameter and has a rhyming couplet at the end, and has a metrical rhythm. This increases the pace of the sonnet which foreshadows that the work will be intense and fast, just as love is. However, the sonnet, which represents love, juxtaposes with its violent message, showing the intertwining of the theme of love and violence. Shakespeare mentions two “star-crossed lovers who take their own lives.” This further foreshadows how these characters' love for each other leads to a violent and fatal end. Furthermore, 16th century audiences would have been shocked that lovers would "take their own lives", as religion played an important role in everyday life. At the time it was compulsory to attend mass on Sundays, if unable to attend, a fine would be paid, and marriage was not legitimate unless celebrated in church: religion could sometimes prevail over the law. Furthermore, "Star-cross'd" has connotations related to fate as the stars are unattainable and immutable and, if they are "cross'd", they cannot be made to meet: this is a persistent theme in the work. In religion, the five-pointed star, as night stars are depicted, represents the birth and incarnation of Jesus, carrying the theme of the "fatal loins", showing that their extremities were written in stone as soon as they were born. a and as because of death, “fatigue will seek to repair” – showing a new beginning. It is used to show how love happens due to fate, but so does violence (their death). Their fate is marked in the stars and is not destined to be, it also foreshadows how their death will go through; each will cause the end of the others. Their love is metaphorically “marked for death,” further emphasizing their own death but also foreshadowing other deaths. It also refers to the idea that there is no choice: it's fate. The prologue also explores how the “two enemies” fight as Romeo and Juliet's relationship flourishes, adding to the overlap of love and violence. Romeo is shown to be mourning the love he had for Rosaline for much of the first act. While lamenting Rosaline's unrequited love, Romeo says, "O quarrelsome love, O amorous hatred." This quote shows how love and hate have a thin line between them. They are both strong. The oxymoron "Love Brawls" reveals that Romeo believes that love is chaotic and violent. This is contrasted with “loving hate,” another oxymoron. These opposites show the closeness of love and hate. Violence is a direct consequence of hate and a secondary consequence of love. Love causes loyalty and honor, the main cause of feuds between families, since.