Relationships In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

How Romeo and Juliet’s Relationship Impacts Others

“The course of true love never did run smooth” –William Shakespeare. Shakespeare truly proved this quote in his illustrious play called Romeo and Juliet. These two star-crossed lovers definitely did not have a smooth course to true love, as they experienced many hardships along the way that ultimately resulted in their downfall. Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love unleashed a strain on their reputations, friendships, and their relationship with their families.

To start off, it effects their reputations. To expand, in the text it says “Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” (Shakespeare, 71). Juliet is troubled because she

loves Romeo, but since he’s a Montague, that makes him an enemy in the eyes of her family. She says that if he swears he loves her, she will leave her Capulet name behind for him. Overall, the Capulets have a reputation that is combated by the Montagues, so they are all expected to hate each other. Another quote is “I think it best you married with the County. O, he’s a lovely gentleman! Romeo’s a dishclout to him.” (Shakespeare, 171). This means that since the Capulets are a rich family, they want to keep that reputation and wealth. Paris is a good-looking, young and intelligent boy who comes from a noble family. If Juliet married Paris, it would bring more money and honour to the family name. Since Juliet refuses to do so because she is in love with Romeo, she jeopardizes her and her family’s reputation.
Not only were their reputations effected, but Romeo and Juliet’s friendships with others too. As stated in the text, “Go, counselor. Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.” (Shakespeare, 173). This quote symbolizes that Juliet felt betrayed by her Nurse because she turned on Romeo. Juliet and the nurse have a mother-daughter like bond because the Nurse is more motherly towards Juliet than her actual mom, Lady Capulet. Their friendship was tarnished because the Nurse betrayed Romeo by speaking ill of him, which then in turn meant she betrayed Juliet. Since the Nurse encouraged Juliet to be with Paris instead of Romeo, Juliet vowed to never trust her again, thus ruining their close bond. The second quote is “A plague o’ both houses!” (Shakespeare, 121). Romeo refused to fight Tybalt because of his entanglement with Juliet. Enraged at Romeo’s refusal, Mercutio, Romeo’s friend, decided to battle Tybalt on his behalf, and got himself killed in the process. Mercutio was infuriated because Romeo’s relationship with Juliet primarily led to his downfall, thus he cursed them and their families.
Lastly, Romeo and Juliet’s love affected their relationships with their families.

To explain, in the text it says “I’ll send to one in Mantau, where that same banished runagate doth live, shall give him such an unaccustomed dram that he shall soon keep Tybalt company.” (Shakespeare, 163). Lady Capulet was seeking revenge on Romeo for killing Tybalt. This, along with the feud between their families, meant that Juliet could never be honest about her relationship with Romeo. This means that Juliet’s family would not be supportive of her and Romeo being together, so Juliet must keep it a secret. Since her mother hates Romeo for his transgression, she’ll despise Juliet in association, therefore tarnishing whatever tiny bond they had. Another example from the text is “But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you! Graze where you will, you shall not house with me!” (Shakespeare, 169). Juliet declined Paris’ marriage proposal because she was married to Romeo already. Her parents could not know this because Romeo was of the Montague family, making him an enemy, and not to mention he was Tybalt’s murderer. Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris because of her allegiance to Romeo angered her dad, and resulted in him threatening to disown her, thus ruining her relationship with her

father.
All in all, the message Shakespeare was trying to convey is that Romeo and Juliet’s toxic relationship created numerous strains on their reputations, friendships, and relationship with their families.