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In Act 5, Romeo says, "then I defy you, stars!" What does that reveal about his personality?

Romeo’s exclamation shows that he is an impetuous and strong-willed young man. After hearing of Juliet’s death, he immediately decides to commit suicide. By doing this, he is going against social and religious convention. We have already seen Romeo’s readiness to defy tradition. He fell in love with Juliet Capulet, the daughter of his enemy, without a second thought. This aspect of his recklessness is arguably positive. He follows his feelings rather than sanctioned bigotry.


By this statement, Romeo also shows his desire to place his fate in his own hands. He defies the “stars,” or fortune itself, and decides to kill himself at Juliet’s grave. The context of this quote is also important, for Romeo has just had a wonderful dream that “presage[d] some joyful news at hand:”



I dreamt my lady came and found me dead--
Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!--
And breathed such life with kisses in my lips,
That I revived, and was an emperor.



This vision cheers him. It is a strange prediction of what could and what does happen. Juliet does kiss the dead Romeo, who perhaps wakes in the afterlife. On the other hand, if Romeo had not poisoned himself, he and Juliet could have had this lovely reunion. It is after having this dream that Romeo hears the sad news of Juliet’s feigned departure. For fortune to give him this joyful premonition and then to deliver him sorrow is too cruel. In shock and anger, he replies, “then I defy you, stars!”

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