William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Micheal Jordan famously wrote “If you accept the expectations of others then you never will change the outcome” (Jordan). One can appreciate the context of the quote when relating it to one of William Shakespeare’s greatest work, “Romeo and Juliet”, in which two long-feuding families finally end their strife after their children defy the societal expectations, and consequently take their lives away. The two lovers struggle to live up to the expectations society demands from them, which oppose the existence of their love. For example, the audience sees Juliet challenge her family’s expectations in order to protect her relationship with her true love, Romeo. Additionally, both Romeo and Juliet challenge their gender roles in order to love freely without any opposition from society. Also, as the love between the two intensify, both Romeo and Juliet struggle to abide to the social expectations of their Christian faith. In a nutshell, one of William Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays, “Romeo and Juliet”, is about how two lovers choose to defy the social expectations demanded by their society in an attempt to create an environment where the “true love” they possess can exist.

To begin, Juliet challenges her family expectations in favour of living a life where she can express her love to Romeo, who is her family’s enemy, freely. For example, as Romeo and Juliet speak with each other on the balcony, she states “Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (II, ii, 100-102). Juliet understands society will not allow her to be with Romeo, a Montague, because he is the family’s (Capulet’s) enemy. But due to her intense love toward Romeo, she is ready to give up her family ...

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...er love to Rome freely. In addition, the lovers struggle to uphold on to their Christian faith firmly due to the deep sensation of love they feel toward one another. Finally, both Romeo and Juliet choose to disregard their gender roles in order for them to practice their love without any opposition. The societal expectations of family, religion, and gender place Romeo and Juliet into a vulnerable position, yet they choose to defy place were supposed to abide to AUltimately the two lovers lose hope, end their lives, and

There comes a point in everyone’s life when they are pressurized by society’s demands. One is given the option to either conform or challenge these social norms in order to suit one’s life.

Works Cited

http://voices.yahoo.com/romeo-effeminate-character-shakespeares-play-2982392.html?cat=9

http://www.litcharts.com/lit/romeo-and-juliet/themes