Symbols

Star:

Shakespeare uses many symbols throughout his plays to help develop plot, theme, character, and setting. In this case, the star symbolizes fate and is used in the play Romeo and Juliet to help develop plot. Romeo and Juliet are "star-crossed lovers" which means that they are not supposed to be together. They have a life-long feud between families and their love for eachother is basically doomed.
In the play it says, "I fear too early, for mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's revels,and expire the term" (Shakespeare I.iv.106-109). Romeo says this line just before entering the masquerade party. He is saying that he fears that there will be some sort of consequence for going to the party but is unsure of what it is. The use of the word stars symbolizes Romeo's fate because he fears that there is a consequence "hanging in the stars" (Shakespeare I.iv.107) which means that a consequence of the party is part of his fate. The symbol of the star also forshadows Romeo's future because it is hinting that there will be a consequence of going to the masquerade party, when in the end, Romeo dies because of it. Also in the play it says, "Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!" (Shakespeare V.i.24). Romeo says this line when he finds out that Juliet is dead. Again, the stars are symbol of fate, therefore Romeo is saying that he will defy his fate and be with Juliet. Romeo and Juliet were destined to not be together but they are doing everything in their power to challenge it. The only problem is that fate is not in their control.

Cupid's Bow and Arrow:

Shakespeare also uses the symbol of Cupid and his bow and arrow throughout Romeo and Juliet to help develop plot and theme. Cupid is the mythological God of love and once struck by his arrow, you will have no choice but to fall madly in love. In the play Mercutio says, "You are a lover, borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound" (Shakespeare I.iv.17-18). Mercutio is telling Romeo to get over Rosaline by talking to and maybe falling in love with other women. In this line, Cupid symbolizes the quick changing nature of love because even though at first Romeo is reluctant, he ends up going to the party and quickly falling in love with Juliet. This symbol helps to develop plot because Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love so quickly, and everything else happens so fast also. Because they are so in love with eachother, everything is much more dramatic. The symbol of Cupid helps to develop the theme that teenagers tend to fall in and out of "love" quickly. Cupid helps develop this theme because before the masquerade party, Romeo claimed that he was madly in love with Rosaline. As soon as he set eyes on Juliet, it seemed that Romeo had forgotten all about Rosaline and was now madly in love again. The entire play from the masquerade ball to their untimely death in the Capulet's tomb, takes place in just a few days which proves the theme that teenagers fall in and out of "love" very quickly.

Poison:

Shakespeare also uses the symbol of the poison throughout the play Romeo and Juliet to develop plot. The poison in the play symbolizes Romeo and Juliet's forbidden love. They were never allowed or supposed to be together. In the play Romeo says, "Here's to my love! [Drinks] O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die" (Shakespeare V.iii.119-120). In this line, Romeo kills himself with the poison because he thinks that Juliet is dead. This shows that even after all of the sneaking around together and effort, they were still never meant to be together. Also in the play Juliet says, "Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here's drink- I drink to thee" (Shakespeare IV.iv.58). Juliet says this just as she is drinking the poison that will make her appear dead. This poison was supposed to be the only way that Romeo and Juliet could finally be together, but instead it ended up being the reason for both of their deaths. The symbol of poison helps to develop plot throughout the play because it foreshadows the future events. Juliet drinks the original poison so that she could be with Romeo forever, which tells the audience that it probably won't work out that way in the end.