When you hear the words “Romeo and Juliet”, what comes to your mind? For most people, the mention of these names brings about images of young people declaring their love from balconies and defying fate to be together. Romeo and Juliet is certainly a story of youthful romance. However, the first-time reader will often miss the underlying ideas that the writer only hints at over the course of this play. To fail to realize the subtle political and social themes within the plot is to fail to understand the author’s full intentions. Shakespeare uses complex characterization and pervasive symbols to describe life during the Victorian era.
Romeo and Juliet, which was written in 1597 by William Shakespeare, tells the story of two young people, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love despite social restrictions in sixteenth century Verona (New York University Libraries). An unknown feud has caused discord between the Capulets and Montagues, two prominent families, and the servants and family members engage in a public fight, broken up only when the prince of Verona threatens death to anyone who disturbs the city’s peace. Shakespeare then introduces us to the two title characters. Romeo Montague is lovesick because the woman he loves, Rosaline, has vowed never to marry. Romeo’s friends convince him to go to a party that night to look at other girls. Juliet Capulet’s parents want her to marry Count Paris, even though she is only thirteen years old. At the party that night, Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love immediately.
After the party, Romeo leaves his friends to seek out Juliet. He finds her balcony, and the two exchange words of love and express their desire to be married as soon as possible. Romeo goes to his mentor, Friar Lawrence, ...
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Thought the play, these lovers go through many obstacles that range from arranging a wedding and finding a time to meet to Juliet trying to get out of marrying Paris. The entire time fate is tossing them around. Romeo realizes this after he kills Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, in a brawl. At first, Romeo does not want to fight because Romeo and Juliet are already married at this time and he knows that they are cousins. Tybalt asks for a brawl from Romeo but Mercutio fights instead. Mercutio gets killed by Tybalt and that is what makes Romeo mad and fight Tybalt.
In the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, a quintessential pair of teens fall in love, but their fate ends in misfortune. The pair falls in love in a time where women are seen as unimportant and insignificant. In spite of this, Romeo breaks the boundaries of male dominance and shows a more feminine side. Throughout the play, there is an interesting depiction of gender roles that is contrary to the society of the time period.
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Romeo and Juliet, one of the most famous and acclaimed plays of William Shakespeare, recounts the romance of a couple whose lives destiny would at the end head towards tragedy. This play takes place in Verona in the late 1500’s. The play deals mostly with the fact that Romeo couldn’t be with Juliet since their families were such big rivals. However, though all of their family hated each other so much, Romeo and Juliet had never met before.
Accidentally, incidentally, unintentionally, intentionally; no one ever really knows, but we are for certain one thing: “the heart isits own fate.” For Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, two star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare’s masterpiece play ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ this holds especially true. Romeo and Juliet’s “misadventure piteous overthrow” is fueled by their love for each other and their determination to be together, no matter what. Romeo and Juliet’s love with stands the hate surrounding them. Thus, fate is undoubtedly the most responsible influence for the two young lovers’ heartbreaking tragedy.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York City, NY: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992, 2011. Print.
Throughout the years, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been celebrated as one of the great tragedies of all time. William Shakespeare is an English playwright born in Stratford upon Avon during the 1500’s. Two innocent young hearts are caught in the middle of an everlasting conflict. How is the most romantic love story of all time also the most tragic? Is it the burning passion that the two lovers share? Or is it the pure hatred that their families have for each other? A force more powerful than love is expressed in this timeless tale. That force is chaos.
'Romeo and Juliet' is a play written by William Shakespeare that teaches current and future generations important lessons about love and vengeance. Hatred and revenge is a key theme throughout the play as everyone is blinded by pessimistic opinions and ideas about their enemies. Although their pride and passion for violence is extremely overpowering and demeaning, there is a small seed of hope and love (Romeo and Juliet) beginning to grow in the immense darkness. By analysing these themes, it helps to enlighten and strengthen your knowledge of the consequences of forbidden love and assists the reader in becoming more optimistic.
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