ABSTRACT
Romeo and Juliet is a tissue of improbable coincidence: Capulet's illiterate servant happens by mere chance to ask Romeo to read the list of those invited to his master's entertainment; Romeo, by a most unusual chance, decides to attend his arch-enemies' festivities, and so chances to fall in love with Juliet; at just this time the Prince chances to make a stringent edict against brawling, and Romeo chances to kill Tybalt and so is banished; and, also at just this time, Old Capulet chances to betroth Juliet to the Count Paris. Not only is the play replete with ominous predictions, but many of these predictions are associated with the hours and days and with the heavenly bodies that mark time. The Prologue refers to Romeo and Juliet as 'star-crossed lovers'. On falling in love with Juliet, however, Romeo rebounds to his natural self.
