What is the irony of the Prince's message to the parents at the end of Romeo and Juliet?

Answer 1

That it came true? They were doomed star crossed lovers... Romeo: I fear, too early: for my mind misgives

Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night's revels and expire the term

Of a despised life closed in my breast

By some vile forfeit of untimely death.

But He, that hath the steerage of my course,

Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen.

Answer 2

Irony is a difficult and elusive concept, which centres around the idea that what you say and what you mean are not the same thing. But it is not lying. It is more akin to sarcasm. Sometimes the irony is inadvertent, when what a character says takes on a different meaning because of facts of which he is unaware. The line "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love" is no doubt the line intended. The argument would be that the Prince is saying that love caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet when you would expect it to be hate, and that anything unexpected is an irony. Well, maybe according to some definitions of the term. There is no disjunction between the words and the meaning here.

Answer 3

The irony lies in the fact that the Prince, who failed to prevent the tragedy despite his authority, now admonishes the parents for their years-long feud only after it has resulted in the deaths of their children. His message highlights the senselessness of the feud and the futile nature of their ongoing conflict.