Aysha Carter Dr. OrbanEnglish 411April 24, 2015The most excellent and lamentable tragedy of Romeo and JulietForeshadowing has been used throughout literature revealing the intended or unforeseen endings of intrigue, death and love. Many of these themes only appear in the last scene or in later readings of the work. William Shakespeare used imagery and language to foreshadow love and death. Many writers use this writing technique to demonstrate the ability of foreshadowing to add much more meaning to a novel or play. “In Romeo and Juliet, the occult becomes a language through which the connection between feeling and cognition is repeatedly articulated” (Spellburg). The foreshadowing of the play begins with the framing of the story. While spending time with his friends, Romeo imagines his own death. “I fear it is too soon, for my mind distrusts the consequences still hanging in the stars […] by some ignoble abandonment of an untimely death” (Shakespeare 918). Romeo laments that he is nervous because of a bad dream he had about his death, which occurs at the end of the play. Literary critic Matthew Spellberg explains that “narrative dreams are present in this tragedy – dreams that carry with them bad omens and ominous symbols” (Spellberg). This further proves that Shakespeare uses dreams to paint a picture of what is to come. In the same breath, Romeo exclaims: “But he who directs my course directs my sail! Come on, vigorous gentlemen” (Shakespeare 918). Romeo says it's all up to God, and God would never lead him down the wrong path, right? He and his friends walk cheerfully towards the Caplets: “Give me my Romeo, and when I die, take him and cut him into little stars, and he will make the face of the sky so beautiful […]” (Shakespeare 943) . Juliet is very impatient for her wedding night, as Spellburg explains: "Playing on the double meaning of 'to die,' Juliet chooses the two most intensely felt carnal experiences – orgasm and death – to be the points anchoring his ensuing fantasy. » (Spellberg). The only thing that could describe their love are two penultimate physical experiences for all humanity. Foreshadowing is used to predict the outcome of the play and to express the love that Juliet and Romeo share for each other. In the end, love and death bridge the gap between the two families. The moral of the story is to stay away from the opposite sex and obey your parents. She also reminds parents that if they deny two young lovers the opportunity to be together, the young person will try harder to be together.