...In the prologue of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare calls Romeo and Juliet "star crossed lovers", introducing from the opening minutes of the play the possibility that their tragic end was unavoidable. Fate is seen by many of the characters in Romeo and Juliet as the reason for their downfall. In truth, however, it is the character flaws and actions of Romeo, Juliet, and Lord Capulet that cause their deaths. One character who contributes greatly to the tragic end of Romeo and Juliet is in fact Romeo himself. The reason why Romeo is involved in the death of Juliet and himself is because of his impulsive and rash decision making. Romeo reveals this flaw to Friar Lawrence in this quote:"I stand on sudden haste"[Act 2 scene 3 line 93.] Friar Lawrence recognizes this flaw and reminds him to "Go wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast." This impulse leads Romeo to rashly marry his latest love, the thirteen year old daughter of an enemy. Impulsiveness also leads Romeo to hold such anger at Tybalt, who killed his cousin, that he kills him. This starts a period of unlucky events that follow. Firstly, it forces Prince Escalus to banish Romeo from Verona, which ultimately leads to Romeo committing suicide. Juliet, along with Romeo, plays a role in their death. In a speech on her balcony, Juliet says, "Leap to these arms untalked of and unseen so lovers can see to do their amorous rites"[Act 3, Scene 2, Line 7-8.] In this quote, Juliet makes it quite clear to the reader that she is...
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...The Evolution of the Universe edited by David L. Alles Western Washington University e-mail: alles@biol.wwu.edu Last Updated 2013-7-14 Note: In PDF format most of the images in this web paper can be enlarged for greater detail. 1 “If being educated means having an informed sense of time and place, then it is essential for a person to be familiar with the scientific aspects of the universe and know something of its origin and structure.” Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science ---------------------------"The effort to understand the universe is one of the very few things that lifts human life a little above the level of farce, and gives it some of the grace of tragedy."—Steven Weinberg Steven Weinberg is winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979, and author of the book "The First Three Minutes". 2 Introduction Science at the beginning of the twenty-first century can make some bold, yet simple observations: 1) the universe has evolved; 2) we are a result of that evolution. “We are the first generation of human beings to glimpse the sweep of cosmic history, from the universe's fiery origin in the Big Bang to the silent, stately flight of galaxies through the intergalactic night.” (National Research Council) Order in the Universe Cosmology is the study of the evolution of the universe from its first moments to the present. In cosmology the most fundamental question we can ask is: Does our universe have intelligible regularities that...
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...Themes Although Romeo and Juliet is classified as a tragedy, it more closely resembles Shakespeare's comedies than his other tragedies. The lovers and their battle with authority is reminiscent of As You Like It and The Winter's Tale. "Characteristically, those comedies concern themselves with the inborn, unargued stupidity of older people and the life-affirming gaiety and resourcefulness of young ones. The lovers thread their way through obstacles set up by middle aged vanity and impercipience. Parents are stupid and do not know what it best for their children or themselves . . . [Romeo and Juliet] begins with the materials for a comedy - the stupid parental generation, the instant attraction of the young lovers, the quick surface life of street fights, masked balls and comic servants" (Wain, p. 107). Indeed, one could view Romeo and Juliet as a transitional play in which Shakespeare merges the comedic elements perfected in his earlier work with tragic elements he would later perfect in the great tragedies -- Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear. This mixture of styles ultimately hurts Romeo and Juliet, exposing the immaturity of the playwright. The heroes of the play must contend with external forces that impede their relationship, but, unlike the great tragic heroes, they are devoid of the inner struggle that makes for great tragedy. The influential Shakespearean scholar, A.C. Bradley, went so far as to neglect the play entirely in his well-known collection of lectures...
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...Who is Responsible for the Death of Romeo and Juliet? “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare, is a story written in 1597 about young star crossed lovers. The two young lovers come from feuding families, fall in love, and marry in secret against their families wishes. The play ends in tragedy when the two lovers take their own lives but one must ask, who is really responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet? There are so many possibilities as for who could have caused Romeo and Juliet's death, but ultimately Romeo and his impatience is to blame. The main reason that Romeo is responsible for his and his lover’s tragic death is merely because of his rashness and impatience. The cycle begins when Romeo, heartbroken...
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...Community. William married Anne Hathaway when he was only just a teenager, and together they had three children: Hamlet, Susanna and Judith. Shakespeare has written many plays, and some have been re-made into famous movies such as Romeo and Juliet, McBeth and Hamlet. These show us that in today’s modern society, Shakespeare is still relevant, even if his language may not be heard or spoken. Characters We see supernatural characters in many modern movies today, such as Paranormal Activity, Wicked the musical and True Blood. Shakespeare uses Ghosts, Witches and Fairies as main stars of a few of his most famous plays: McBeth, Hamlet and A Midnight Summers Dress. With the use of these...
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