Themes In Romeo and Juliet

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“A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life” (Prologue Act I Line 6). The themes of Romeo and Juliet uncovers through the relationship of the main characters in the play. The most significant themes Shakespeare develops over the course of the play are fate, hatred and violence, and love.

To begin with, fate plays a valuable role in Romeo and Juliet’s lives as well as in their deaths. Fate is demonstrated when Romeo never receives Friar Laurence’s letter. Friar Laurence is frustrated because he tries to warn Romeo that Juliet is not dead, “Meantime I writ to Romeo, That he should not hither come as this dire night, To help to take her from her borrow’d grave, Being the time the potion’s force should cease. But he which bore my letter, Friar John, Was stay’d by accident, and yesternight Return’d my letter back.” (Act V Scene III Line 246-252). Romeo believes that Juliet is dead because Friar Laurence’s fateful explanation never reaches Romeo. Moreover, fate proves itself again when Romeo decides to take his own life. Believing Juliet is dead, Romeo seals his own fate while saying to his wife, “Here’s to my love! (Drinks.) O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act V Scene III Line 119-120). When Juliet awakes she finds Romeo dead beneath her and then she too decides to take her own life so that she will again be reunited with Romeo. Fate plays a role in both their deaths because if Romeo would have waited just a minute longer to drink the poison, he would have found that Juliet was still alive. Ultimately, it was fate that leads to the death of both Romeo and Juliet.

Secondly, the theme of hatred and violence displays itself by the hostility between the Montague and Capulet families throughout the ...

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...n order to see her true love Romeo again. Just before she swallows the sleeping potion Juliet speaks a few words, “Romeo, I come! This do I drink to thee.” (Act IV Scene III Line 58). Juliet sacrifices her fears if the potion would not work and drinks the potion in honour of Romeo so that they soon can be together again. Therefore, Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another is a true passionate bond that establishes the most known theme between the main characters.

In conclusion, the relationship between Romeo and Juliet uncovers through the themes of fate, hatred and violence, and love. Love brings Romeo and Juliet together, but hatred and violence determines their fate. It is stated best at the end of the play when Prince says, “For never was a story of more woe, Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” (Act V Scene III Line 9-10).

Works Cited
Romeo and Juliet Book

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