Enemies to Lovers (Romeo and Juliet Literary Essay)

“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes / A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” (Prologue.5-6). Two lovers from rival families will give up anything for the other person even if it means death. Thinking their secret relationship will work, their destiny says otherwise. With timing against them, their families as enemies, and the foreshadowing scenes in the play, leads to the sorrowful deaths of Romeo and Juliet. 

Juliet, a Capulet, and Romeo, a Montague, are from rival families. The Capulets and Montagues have fought on the streets of Verona again, so the Prince tells the citizens, “Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate. / If you ever disturb our streets again, / Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace” (1.1.97-9). This scene shows the continuous rivalry between the two families. The prince has told them that if the fighting between the two families continues, the price they will have to pay is death. The consequence of death is harsh, signifying the rivalry between the families is grievous. Mourning over the loss of their children whose lives were taken out of love for each other, the Prince declares, “Where be these enemies? – Capulet and Montague / See what scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love” (5.3.301-4). This scene provides an idea of the never-ending rivalry between the Capulets and Montagues. The families rivalry and hatred towards each other has led to a devastating moment for both of the families. As the Capulets and Montagues have held a grudge against each other, it is expected for deaths to happen, but some that are unexpected. Although the family rivalry is still growing each moment, foreshadowing events throughout the play also lead to tragedy.

Foreshadowed events are important points in the play, leading to Romeo and Juliet’s future. Based on Romeo, he wakes up from a dream, talking to himself, “I dreamt my lady came and found me dead / (Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to / think!) / And breathed such life with kisses in my lips” (5.1.6-9). This scene demonstrates a warning Romeo has come across, but chooses to ignore. Romeo has a dream about Juliet finding him dead, but she brings him back to life with a kiss. He does not worry about the fact that he died, but focuses on how Juliet revives him. His feelings and desires for her are so strong that he does not recognize the danger he is being informed about. As Romeo and Juliet confess with each other on the balcony, Juliet mentions, “O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. / Either my eyesight fails or thou lookest pale” (3.5.54-7). This scene shows a vision of foreshadowing Juliet has encountered. As well as Romeo, Juliet decides to ignore the foreshadowing vision of how Romeo looks pale, looking almost as if he were dead. She loves him so dearly that she does not pay attention to that detail and will not accept the fact that he looks dead. Both the two lovers, ignore encounters of dreams and visions, still yet to figure out what their fate leads them into, however timing is also a problem.

Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet, timing is always against the two lovers. For example, Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo does not get delivered in time, but Balthasar arrives to Romeo immediately, informing him that, “Her body sleeps in the Capels’ monument, / And her immortal part with angel lives. / I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault” (5.1.19-21). This scene demonstrates that timing affects Romeo’s actions. If the Friar’s letter had arrived to Romeo before Balthasar arrived, it would not have caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Timing can not always be in their favor, although it is crucial at the most important moments, changing their life. For instance, right as Romeo drinks the vial of poison, Juliet awakens, finding the bottle of poison in Romeo’s hands, muttering, “I will kiss thy lips. / Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, / To make me die with a restorative. /  Thy lips are warm!”  (5.3.169-172). This illustrates that timing has yet again turned against them, resulting in a tragedy. Romeo’s lips are warm when Juliet kisses him insinuating that Romeo has not died long before she woke up. If Romeo had arrived just a bit later, or if Juliet had woken up just a bit earlier, they could have had a Happily Ever After story, but not all love stories can end with a Happily Ever After. Timing between the lovers is always wrong , leading to the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. 

With their families as enemies, the foreshadowing scenes, and timing never in their favor, lead to the tragic deaths of the two lovers. The significance of the play focuses on the idea of relying on destiny, desire, and human nature, leading to an act of defiance. What if timing was on their side? What if their families were never enemies? Would they still have loved each other as much as they did? The “star-crossed lovers” were drawn to each other by acts of defiance and love.