Forbidden Love In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

WWII Romeo and Juliet

Love is a almost unstoppable forced that can change a persons view on another person no matter race or personality. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo loves Juliet even though Juliet is from another family. During World War II, Jewish people faced lots of hatred from Germans. Sometime love can over power hatred. A German soldier and Jewish girl would be an example of Romeo and Juliet story because the setting and society denied it and it is a story about forbidden love.

A German soldier and a Jewish girl is an example of Romeo and Juliet because the setting denied it. In the time of World War II, Hitler convinced the German community that certain races are superior to others. This idea of superiority lead to the persecution of Jews and ultimately to the Holocaust. A story of love between a Jewish girl and a German soldier would be outlawed by the setting. The setting of Berlin, Germany denies love between a German soldier and a Jewish girl because Berlin is the center of conflict during WWII. This is like in Romeo and Juliet when setting of Verona denied love because Verona is the center of conflict of Romeo and Juliet. “Two household, both alike in dignity( in fair Verona where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny)” (ROM. Prologue, 1-2). If Romeo and Juliet would have been

lovers in a different city, the history of the conflict between the two families in Verona wouldn’t interrupt their love. This is why a Jewish girl and a German Soldier would be a good example.

Another reason a Jewish girl and a German soldier would be a good example because society denied it.

Even though most of society denied it, some people rejected discrimination . During the time World War II, the Catholic Church didn’t treat one race better or worse than another. Even though the church also faced persecution from Germany, they still didn’t discriminate against Jewish people. This is like in Romeo and Juliet when Friar Lawerence supported the love of Rome and Juliet even though the families forbid it. Friar is happy about the wedding and says “So smile the heavens upon this holy act that after hours with sorrow chide us

not”.
The final reason Jewish girl and a German soldier would be a good example of Romeo and Juliet because the love is forbidden. A German soldier was not allowed even help Jews let alone loving them. Germans could face death for helping a Jewish person. In Romeo and Juliet, their love is forbidden because the two families, Capulets and the Montagues, are fighting each other. Friar could of gotten in trouble for helping to marry Romeo and Juliet. Friar says this when he hears a guard coming “Stay not to question, for the watch is coming. Come go good Juliet, I dare no longer stay” (ROM. Act 5, scene 3, line 170-171).
Overall a Jewish girl a and German soldier would be a good example of Romeo and Juliet. The history of WWII relates to the history of Verona in that the two sides oppose each other. The friar is similar to a priest that helped the Jewish people. But most importantly, they both show that love can overpower any force no matter how strong.