STAR-CROSSED

"'Star-crossed'" or "'star-crossed lovers'" is a phrase describing a pair of lovers, whose relationship is said to be doomed from the start. It is a reference to astrology and the phrase was first coined by William Shakespeare in his play ''Romeo and Juliet''.

Contents

Star-crossed in Shakespeare

Passage

Destiny

Famous examples of "star-crossed lovers"

Modern examples

See also

References

Star-crossed in Shakespeare

Passage

This phrase was coined in the prologue of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet:

"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
a pair of star-cross'd lovers, take their life."http://www.william-shakespeare.info/act1-script-text-romeo-and-juliet.htm

Destiny

It also refers to destiny and the inevitability of the two characters' paths crossing each other. It also usually means ''unlucky'', since Romeo and Juliet's affair ended tragically. During Shakespeare's time, there was a great belief in the Hierarchy of Being, promoted extensively by the church, and this would be considered part of the predestined societal positions that Romeo and Juliet were attempting to usurp with their lust.

Famous examples of "star-crossed lovers"

Other famous star-crossed lovers include:

★ Pyramus and Thisbe (usually regarded as the source for ''Romeo and Juliet'')

★ Catherine and Heathcliff from ''Wuthering Heights''

★ Lancelot and Guinevere

★ Tristan and Isolde

★ Hagbard and Signy

★ Devdas and Paro (Parvati) in Devdas.

★ Layla and Majnun

Modern examples

More modern examples are:

★ Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler in ''Gone with the Wind''

★ Anakin and Padmé in the ''Star Wars'' saga

★ Buffy and Angel in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''

★ Jack and Rose in ''Titanic''

★ Tony and Maria in the musical ''West Side Story'' (a retelling of ''Romeo and Juliet'')

★ Gennosuke and Oboro in ''

★ Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund in ''Casablanca''

★ Dr. Nick Callahan and Sarah Jordan, both fictional characters in "Beyond Borders" movie (2003), an epic tale

See also

★ Teenage tragedy song

References