Romeo and Juliet is essentially a love story. However, beneath all the passionate love shared between this pair of lovers, lies other themes and elements which make the play an even more intriguing and interesting one, making it much more than just a simple love story with a -not- so- happy ending.

A major theme highlighted throughout the story is the theme of Fate. Right from the start, at the Prologue, there is a strong sense of foreboding that they story is coming to a tragic end. The "star- crossed lovers" will not have a happy ending and we are reminded of this throughout. Much of the story lies with the link to Providence, to God, who has control over all things in which man cannot have. The characters have ominous forebodings and predictions which lead readers on to find out the process to this tragic ending. For...