William Shakespeares: Romeo and Juliet
Throughout the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare displays
various types of love. Benvolio believes women are interchangeable,
while, at the beginning Romeo believes love is pain because of his
relationship with Rosaline. At the beginning Juliet does not even have
a definition of love and both Paris's and Lady Capulet's definition of
love is in appearance and rank. They also believe along with master
Capulet that marriages are only arranged for rank and wealth, which is
criticised by friar Lawrence, he states:
“For ‘twas your heaven she should be advanced
And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced
Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself?
O, in this love, you love your child so ill.
Lady Capulet believes love comes from appearance, both physical and
political, and has nothing to do with emotion. She shows this when she
speaks favourably of Paris's looks and his nobility. Shakespeare
portrays the Capulet’s as being dull and unloving throughout the play.
Lady Capulet even shows that she does not love Capulet when she
publicly denounces him. In doing this it is obvious that Shakespeare
wants to portray the message that the only true love is the love that
exists between Romeo and Juliet.
The first type of love is the exchangeable love of Benvolio. According
to Benvolio, a man should love a woman for only the duration of their
relationship and if their relationship should end, the man should feel
no grief. Before Romeo met Juliet his definition of love is pain, an
opinion derived from his relationship with Rosaline. I believe Romeo
is both right and wrong: not returned love is pain, but Romeo does not
truly love and it could be said that he only loves with his eyes.
Friar Lawrence criticises this form of love and his relationship with
Rosaline saying:
“Young men’s love then lies not truly in hearts but in their eyes.”
Romeo however dismisses this assumption saying in return:
“Thou chidest me oft for loving Rosaline.
Although they are the basis of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, these main characters are dull, undynamic, and do not specifically appeal to certain readers. Nurse could be considered as a more interesting character because she brings her wit, drama and insight into the plotline.
In all of the best works of literature, each of a writer's characters has a purpose whether the role is small or big. Even if it goes unnoticed, the small characters usually play a key role to the story's plot development. These minor characters also add depth to the story's world and also help in the development of the major characters' personality. In William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the minor characters of Friar Lawrence, the Nurse, and Tybalt are in many ways the most pivotal characters to the play's development.
wither in their pride/ Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.” From
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet At the beginning of the play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is portrayed as
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would
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.
is once again brought up by Romeo at the end of Act 1, scene 4 when he
of life: if something is meant to be, it will be, no matter what the
His love for Rosaline is great but yet she can not say the same and
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet "Many a morning hath he been there seen /With tears augmenting the
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet The prologue is read by a News Reporter on television. One line says from ancient grudge to new mutiny, this shows that the families have had a grudge for a long time. Another line says civil blood makes civil hands unclean this means that the fighting is upseting the public members. Another line says a pair of star cross’d lovers take their lifes this is talking about Romeo and Juliet.
In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare reveals an underlying message that points to the contrasts between youth and age that are even apparent now today. The youth of society tend to question and then possibly disregard the rules that are important to their parents if they do not have good reason to believe in these rules. The rebellious actions of youth can eventually cause their own untimely destruction. We see today in the headlines many instances where teens have followed their own unguided course bringing about tragic results. Shakespeare shows us in his play how these factors contributed to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet I have been studying Romeo and Juliet in class and I have watched a production on television. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet for an audience used to sixteenth century stage conventions, we must appreciate that these conventions are very different from our own. The Elizabethan theatre was very distinctive, when a play was performed thousands of people would pack inside the theatre, the rich would be able to pay for seats in the stand sheltered from the wind and rain, while the poor had to stand and brave the elements as the theatre had no roof.
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love tales, but what if the play is not actually a tale of love, but of total obsession and infatuation. Romeo has an immature concept of love and is rather obsessive. Romeo is not the only person in the play who is obsessed though. Many people throughout the play notice his immaturities about love. Very rarely was true love actually shown in the play. attention. Romeo childishly cries to his friend, Benvolio because Rosaline will not love him back and says " She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow/ Do I live dead that live to tell it now" (I i 219-220). Romeo is stating that he's ready to die for loving Rosaline. This is exactly the same attitude Romeo had towards Juliet a little later in the play. During Scene I, Act ii, Romeo's friend, Benvolio tries to get him to go to the Capulet's party to help him get over Rosaline and meet other women Romeo gets very angry and emotional when he suggests this. “Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, / Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” (II 5-6). The chorus expresses Romeo’s juvenile way...
in the bottom of a tomb. ’O God, I have an ill divining soul! Methinks