This line is representative of the apparent dichotomy in many (if not all) of Shakespeare's tragedies: free will versus fate. By cursing the stars, Romeo is expressing his independence by saying that he is in charge of his own life and is not ruled not by some predetermined course of events. The truly tragic part of this exclamation is that we, as readers, know that Romeo is mistaken and that the events that befall him were going to happen no matter what and that he was destined to fall in love and come to a tragic end.
Specifically, Romeo says this when he receives the news that Juliet is dead. He feels that fate (the stars) have struck him the cruelest possible blow, and he is going to defy the stars by committing suicide and joining Juliet in death.
That, and it also makes reference to the beginning of the play, where they're referred to as "star-crossed lovers," which is admittedly also a statement of its being fate-oriented, but "I defy you, stars!" would be a reference to the stars being symbolic of fate as they were in the description of the "lovers" early on.
He is talking about when he found out Juliet died.
stars = fate. he wanted to be in control of his own life rather than fate deciding it for him. so therefore he is defying the stars (fate)
By this he means is that he is going against fate or "To go against fate."
hope this helped!
Romeo told him that he was getting married to Juliet.
No, I wouldn't say they were. Juliet did defy her father by her marriage to Romeo, but that wasn't rebellious as we know it today. It was normal for young women to have arranged marriages to older men, but if there hadn't been a feud with Romeo's family her father may had consented to a marriage.
Well, if fate had him slated for a nasty end, he felt that he may as well try for a happy ending and fail as meekly accept the nasty end. Hence, "I defy you stars."
Because they shine. And also, the play is full of star-imagery (often related to fate), such as "star-crossed lovers", "then I defy thee stars", "and cut him out in little stars", "earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light" and "inauspicious stars".
oooooh i love this... Juliet symbolizes light shining in darkness. she is compared to this throughout the book. the cool part is romeo is continually referred to as night. so basically "juliet is the sun" and romeo is the night... and guess what. the night and the sun never get to see eachother!!!!!
"Defy you stars" is a phrase from William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." It expresses a sense of rebellion against fate or destiny, suggesting a desire to challenge or alter the course of one's life despite the belief in predetermined outcomes.
He gets angry ("Then I defy you, stars!") but very quickly decides to ride to Verona and to kill himself by Juliet's body. He becomes very calm, purposeful and determined. He says to Balthazar, "Go get those horses!"
Romeo told him that he was getting married to Juliet.
They died.
When Romeo says "Then I defy you, stars!", he is expressing his defiance against fate and destiny that have brought him to a tragic end. He is rejecting the idea that his fate is predetermined and is asserting his agency in choosing his own actions and decisions.
Juliet initially agrees to consider her mother's idea of marriage, but ultimately falls in love with Romeo and chooses to defy her parents' wishes by marrying him in secret.
No, I wouldn't say they were. Juliet did defy her father by her marriage to Romeo, but that wasn't rebellious as we know it today. It was normal for young women to have arranged marriages to older men, but if there hadn't been a feud with Romeo's family her father may had consented to a marriage.
In the passage, Juliet expresses her deep love for Romeo and her willingness to forsake her family name for him, showing that she is willing to defy societal norms for their relationship. Additionally, her impulsive decision to marry Romeo despite the risks involved suggests her passionate and headstrong nature in pursuing their love.
Well, if fate had him slated for a nasty end, he felt that he may as well try for a happy ending and fail as meekly accept the nasty end. Hence, "I defy you stars."
"Then I defy you, stars!" He immediately makes plans to go to Verona even at peril of his life.
Because they shine. And also, the play is full of star-imagery (often related to fate), such as "star-crossed lovers", "then I defy thee stars", "and cut him out in little stars", "earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light" and "inauspicious stars".
oooooh i love this... Juliet symbolizes light shining in darkness. she is compared to this throughout the book. the cool part is romeo is continually referred to as night. so basically "juliet is the sun" and romeo is the night... and guess what. the night and the sun never get to see eachother!!!!!