An example shows up in the very beginning of the play where it foreshadows two people will be brought together, fall in love, and die all because of fate. “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife,” (1.Pro.6-8). This quote is a perfect example of dramatic irony, just from reading this the audience will know that two people fall in love and die which ends the family feud, but the characters obviously do not know that. This story wouldn’t be interesting if every character had the same traits, and personality which leads to the next literary device, foil.
Foil is a strong difference between two characters, there are many examples of foil in this story, but the two characters that stood out were Romeo and Mercutio. “Romeo! humors! madman! passion! Lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh; Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied! Cry but Ay me! pronounce but love and dove.” (2.1.8-10) This quote shows foil by comparing Romeo’s and Mercutio’s views of love, Mercutio is mocking Romeo’s view of love because Mercutio is an anti-romantic. The use of foil and dramatic irony create suspense, which is the next literary device used in this