Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale where fate and family honour intertwine to create devastating consequences for the young lovers. The play explores how predetermined destiny and ancestral feuds ultimately lead to the deaths of the protagonists, while highlighting the futility of fighting against fate and maintaining meaningless family rivalries.
• The theme of fate in Romeo and Juliet is established from the prologue through astrological references and continues throughout the play
• Family honour drives the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets, though the origin of their feud is never revealed
• The play demonstrates how love can transcend family boundaries but ultimately cannot overcome destiny
• Shakespeare uses dramatic irony by revealing the tragic ending in advance, allowing audiences to form deeper connections with the characters
• The resolution comes too late when both families reconcile after their children's deaths
