Starcrossed Lovers- Explain what does it mean please

[juliadavison12]

Star crossed lovers- I wonder if anybody could give a brief defintion of what it means please.

I know the meaning but not in depth, can someone explain it better for me please and what it generally means please in better terms please. Does it mean that the couple will have obstacles in the way for them to be together, is this is what it means please.

does it mean that two people are meant for each other no matter how hard they try and avoid it even if the relationship fails not to work and they are destined for each other no matter what has happened in their relationship and something will false them to get back together under different circumstances.

[Barb_D]

I interpret it to mean that fate (the stars) have determined that these two cannot live happily ever after.

Romeo and Juliet are the archtype of star-crossed lovers.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Barb_D

I interpret it to mean that fate (the stars) have determined that these two cannot live happily ever after.

Romeo and Juliet are the archtype of star-crossed lovers.

(except for the typo - was it one, or is this AmE?)*
Their destinies (as represented in the stars) are crossed.


* There is a Java class ArchType: ArchType

[juliadavison12]

what do you mean bob k by crossed, do you mean that they lives are intewined with each other even though everything they have been through such as pain and heartbreak and they both cannot get away from each other because fate will intervene all the time and bring them together as they have obstacles in the way to be together as a couple in love is that correct, am i going the right way please.

[bianca]

I believe Bobk simply means that, although the lovers' destinies are crossed, their odds are firmly stuck against them, i.e. there's no chance that they can be together as a (married) couple. it is really sad...

[Anglika]

It must also be remembered that the "stars" in this context are those in Astrology, which in Shakespeare's day were regarded as controlling and directing human life in all its aspects.

[Delmobile]

Julia, that is just beautiful, but bianca is right. "Star-crossed" means crossed, or thwarted, by fate. Romeo & juliet are each "crossed" by their personal stars, and their romance is doomed to fail. "Fate-thwarted lovers" doesn't sound nearly as nice, though.

Another well-known Shakespeare quote is "The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves [that we are underlings]." This means that we can't blame fate for our problems, it's our own fault if we don't succeed.

Sometimes Shakespeare wrote about blaming fate, and sometimes he didn't. :)

[Barb_D]

Originally Posted by BobK

(except for the typo - was it one, or is this AmE?)*
Their destinies (as represented in the stars) are crossed.


* There is a Java class ArchType: ArchType

Not even a typo. I just a wretched speller. Archetype is what I meant. Sorry.

Sorry if I didn't make it clear that I mean that fate was "written in the stars."

The crossed part doesn't refer to their lives, but to the fact that the stars have crossed them - made it impossible to be together.

[MrPedantic]

Should we discount the ambiguity altogether? If the stars "crossed" them, by determining their unhappy ending, then the stars also dictated that their paths should "cross" in the first place. It seems Shakespearianly compact to me.

MrP

[Delmobile]

Jacques Derrida is paging you to the "lion's share" thread, Mr.Pedantic :)

Joking aside, I think you are right, which is why Shakespeare is still being performed, studied and enjoyed in 2007.