The Themes of Love and Hate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The Themes of Love and Hate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

During Romeo and Juliet love is juxtaposed constantly with hate. This

is shown through language and actions of the characters, and also by

the layout and setting of the play itself.

For instance the love between Romeo and Juliet is contradicted by the

hate between the two families, Montague and Capulet. During Act 5

Scene 1 these emotions are highlighted. Shakespeare does this to

highlight the struggle the young couple are facing.

Shakespeare’s use of language is very deliberate to highlight the

emotions and relationships between the characters. When Romeo and

Juliet are together biblical, heavenly images are conjured up. “This

holy shrine, the gently is this”. This shows that it is almost divine

intervention, an act of god for the couple to be together. Also that

it is a natural relationship.

The heavenly images are juxtaposed with Tablet’s fiery hellish tongue.

Shakespeare portrays Tybalt in this way to highlight the feud between

the families- the contrast between heaven and hell. This is also

effective because it draws the audience into the play and forces their

involvement and as they almost choose a side as if they were

themselves part of the feud.

Shakespeare brings the two rural gangs together so early in the play

to introduce the mains themes of love and hate and the consequences

that will follow.

In act 5 scenes the audience see the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet

but this is not the first mention of love. At the beginning

Shakespeare introduces love in the unrequited form from Romeo. At the

ball the other side of love, requited, is now ...

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...ionship the audience built with

two main on stage characters, Romeo and Juliet, heightens the tragedy

of their death and emphasizes the waste of their death and feud

between the two families. The audiences’ feelings of love towards the

couple change to anger and almost hatred towards the remaining family

members. The audience’s emotions are mixed which again shows the many

sides of love, when both families realise what their fighting has

done. The audience fell relieved that they have both finally seen that

the feud cannot continue, but the audience feel annoyed that the young

couple had to die from both families to realise that. The audience

also wish that the Capulets and Montagues could have seen the error of

their ways earlier in the play. This reinforces the message/ morals

the audience are to take from the play.