Act 5 Scene 3 "An Untimely Death" Prompt F

How dare Romeo come to slander Juliet's tomb!  His actions killed her.  He killed Tybalt and Juliet's grief for Tybalt killed her.  I was going to marry the beautiful Juliet.  And now here she lies, dead.  Now he comes to do utter disrespect to Juliet.  Oh, how I hate him!  I will fight him.  I would rather die with a chance of killing him, then to live and let Romeo live. 

Act 3 Scene 5 Romeo's Flight Prompt E

The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is obviously a very close and intimate one.  However, this scene shows that their relationship also has many dimensions.  For example, Juliet tells Romeo, "Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay husband, friend!"  This multi-faceted relationship produces interesting dynamics, showing how such a relationship may be an asset as well as a burden.  In the beginning of the scene, Juliet tries to prevent Romeo from leaving.  Juliet's obsession with Romeo as the object of her love could end up endangering Romeo.  However, Juliet lets go of Romeo and distances herself, acting instead as a "friend".  She tells Romeo to leave, otherwise he will be killed.

Act 3 Scene 1 The Rash Fight Prompt B

Mercutio-Why did you provoke Tybalt?
Tybalt-Why are you so intent on fighting?
Romeo-Why did you decide to fight Tybalt when a good outcome was not possible?
Prince-Why did you allow Romeo to live?
Benvolio-Why did you stay to the side and not do anything about the fight?

Act 2 Scene 3 Romeo's Haste Prompt C

Friar Lawrence says, "Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, And vice sometime by action dignified."
I think this quote is very meaningful and insightful.  Good and evil are not necessarily clear cut like white and black, as we often think it is.  Rather, the Friar explains that all things have the potential to be both good as well as evil.  Something good can become evil when it is misused and done for bad reasons.  Something evil can become good when it is done with honorable intentions and the right reasons.

Act 2 Scene 2 Driving Desires Prompt A

In this scene, Romeo visits Juliet even though he knows that he will die if he is caught.  This is similar to a Chinese TV show that I've watched.  The show takes place during the Qin Dynasty of China.  In the show, Yushu, the girl, and Yi XiaoChuan, the guy, are in love with each other. However, Yushu is the concubine to the Qin Emperor.  Similar to Romeo and Juliet, they cannot be together.  Despite YuShu being a concubine, Yi XiaoChuan and YuShu continue to love each other.  Yi XiaoChuan manages to sneak into the palace to visit YuShu even though he will die if he is caught. 

Act 1 Scene 3 Forcing Affections

 

This image is a pawn, which represents how Juliet is only a pawn of her mother's ambition.  Her mother wants Juliet to dutifully marry Count Paris, a man of great affluence.   Juliet is not very powerful, like a pawn, so it is very hard for her to stand up against her mother's wishes. 
(Prompt D)

Lessons from Chess

Lessons From Chess 

If I could sum up

all of what chess has taught me about life,

it would be this:

The threat is stronger than the execution.

By creating threats,

nudge your opponent in the wrong direction.

Watch him or her

scramble to deal with threats,

weakening their position.  

Chess is 99% tactics.

Immediate dangers are often most radical.

They will change the game.

A weakness is not a weakness unless it can be attacked,

what you perceive as a weakness,

may sometimes be irrelevant.

Sacrifices are necessary.

the sacrifice of a piece may be essential

for greater good in the end.

It’s fun throwing your pieces at your opponent.

Metaphorically of course.  

But if you do sacrifice,

it’d better be sound.

Playing down a queen is not fun.

I speak from experience.

And have fun.

In the end, 
it really is just a game.