Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Romeo and
Juliet, a popular play that continues to capture the imagination and emotions of
people around the world. The drama portrays the passionate, violent and often
desperate lives of the youth of Verona. Even today, the tragedy resembles a
blueprint of the problems that the adolescents of the twentieth century must
face each day. In this play, Shakespeare explores the pitfalls of young love,
and the consequences they receive from their actions. They explained their love
to be true love and they knew that they had to be together, even though their
families were enemies and it was truly forbidden for the two of them to marry.
The whole idea of love in Romeo's and Juliet's thoughts was totally
misunderstood, and they demonstrated in many sections of the play that they
truly did not know what true love was. In this play, Shakespeare shows that love
can cause and finish anything, even love that is not honestly discovered. The
influence of parents played a major part in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. To
start with, the general situation is rather like a family conflict. The feud
between the Capulets and the Montagues had been passed down through the
generations, until the youngest child had been planted with the seeds of hate.
From the beginning of the play, it is learned that the Capulet's held the
decisive judgement of what Juliet's future would have in store. "But saying
o'er what I have said before. My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath
not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers wither in their
pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride." (I,ii,7-11) This
demonstrates Capulet's intent of choosing Juliet's husband. Romeo and Juliet
kept their relationship secret from the start, in fear that their love affair
would be rejected by their feuding families. That is what led to the death of
both lovers. Had they held a more open relationship, eventually, both families
would have accepted it. However, considering the circumstances, the street brawl
and the later death of Tybalt, Romeo and Juliet felt that their parents would
not have been able to understand the love between the two youths. In today's
society, youth are constantly advocating the change from total dependence on
family, to their own independence. Young people often think they know better
than their parents, often believing that instead of helping them, they are only
punishing them. Romeo and juliet found that they new better then their parents,
but after realizing the wrong they caused when both committing suicide. Romeo
was too young to realize that he had to take responsibility for his actions and
he had to accept the consequences. This is one of the pitfalls that Shakespere
portrayed in his play for young love. Romeo did not understand the outcomes of
his actions. He never realized this until the damage was done. He was too
involved in his love for Juliet that he didn't devote himself to any other
circumstances. Young love is often an ever-changing emotion that enthrals
adolescents. When a boy sees a beautiful girl, he often thinks that he is in
love. That is similar to the emotion Romeo experienced: "To call hers,
exquisite, in question more. These happy masks that kiss fair laidies' brow,
Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair. He that is strucken blind
cannot forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. Show me a mistress
that is passing fair; What doth her beauty serve but as a note Where I may read
who passed the passing fair? Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget."
(I,i,238-246) Here, Romeo is saying how much he loves Rosaline, and that he
cannot forget about her. However, a couple of scenes later, his love quickly
changes: "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs
upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear - Beauty too rich for
use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder
lady o'er her follow shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand And,
touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear
it, sight, For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." (I,v,51-60) How
quickly young love changes. Juliet, a little more cautious than Romeo was,
refused to allow him to swear his love by the moon. "O, swear not by the
moon, th' inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that
thy love prove likewise valuble." (II,ii,114-117) Young love can often
distracting in the minds of young people. Romeo and Juliet found it unbearable
to be without each other, and, to a young couple, the feelings can be mutual at
times. Young love often ends up being ignorant, instead of passionate and true
heart. Most of the time, the two youths are too fickle to understand or even
feel what true love is, due to immaturity. Life in Verona seems to have seldom
difference from today's situation. Romeo portrayed himself to be too fickle to
understand what actual love was. He thought that he was in love with Rosalin,
and then fell in love with Juliet having no idea what true love really was other
than the image in his thoughts. Obviously, Romeo was not ready to commit himself
and the reasons why the certain obscenities took place was because Romeo had to
take the consequences for the actions he committed. Young people seem to face
the same problems, make the same difficult choices and confront the same
obstacles. Parental influence, young love and the revenge code still have an
effect on youths, even after four hundred years, these problems are still
present in the everyday lives of today's youth and for this reason, young love
can cause or finish anything. In conclusion, from the very beginning, the love
of Romeo and Juliet was destined to be destroyed. It is tragic that both these
people had to give their lives just so they could love each other. There were
circumstances throughout the course of their lives that led up to their deaths.
If their parent's had not been feuding and if the Nurse had not betrayed Juliet,
the outcome of this story would have been different, although fate could not be
changed. This was the most important factor in the lives of Romeo and Juliet. In
my opinion the quote that accurately summarizes this play is, "For never
was there a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." (Romeo
& Juliet, V, iii, p. 138, ll.309-310) Love is the biggest thing that can
happen in human life. It can make your life incredible or forgettable. In the
case of Romeo and Juliet, it was both. They had something between them that
would never be destroyed. Their determination to stay together through the tough
times was incredible. Even when they knew that their relationship would never be
normal, they never gave up. It was a case of love at first sight when their eyes
locked on each other. The story of Romeo and Juliet is more to do with love than
hate. Nearly every scene of the text has love conveyed in some way in them. From
the pain Romeo suffered from the rejection of Rosalyn, to the first scene where
the two meet. The only scene in the whole story where love isn't conveyed is the
very first scene where we see the first conflict between the Capulets and the
Montagues. That just shows how much of an impact love has in Shakespeare's story
about two star-crossed lovers. Romeo and Juliet had such a strong love that they
would die for each other. This is what Shakespeare is trying to show us what
love is all about and this is why he chose to write this story, not to show
hate, but to show love. The love in the story is not only shown between Romeo
and Juliet. It is also shown in the form of filial love between Romeo and
Mercutio. Romeo 'loved' Mercutio as a friend so much that he would vow revenge
on the person that brought upon his death. The friendship was everlasting and
would always be treasured by Romeo, even after Mercutio's death. Other love was
shown between Juliet and the Nurse. Juliet grew up with the nurse by her side
all the time. The nurse was more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet ever
was. Romeo's parents cared for him much deeper than Juliet's did for her. His
mother was always worried or concerned about where he was and what he was doing,
hoping he wouldn't get caught up in any trouble. Shakespeare also shows paternal
love to go along with the others in the text. I guess that you could say that
their was a bit of love from Juliet's parents towards her in that they only
wanted what they thought was best for her as well as getting what they want at
the same time. They imagine that Juliet would be happy living her life with
Paris, although Lady Capulet was much more loving than her husband was. Romeo
and Juliet is a story purely based on love. The majority of the text makes
references to love and how it effects those involved. Hate is only shown between
the two families only when they are together, not when they are living their
normal lives. Most of the hate comes from Tybalt's mouth anyway, we hardly hear
any words of hate from anyone else's mouth. I have come to the conclusion that
Romeo and Juliet is more to do with love than hate because of the style of
language used and the way the characters express how they feel about one
another. The story contains mostly references to love and therefore would
conclude that the story was written about love. After all, love is something
that everyone can relate with. omeo & Juliet In the novel Romeo and Juliet,
Romeo shows two different kinds of love depending on before and after he meets
Juliet. Before Romeo falls in love with Juliet he lives a life of sadness. Even
though he has many friends he still finds a way of putting his friends behind
him and living a miserable life.He is very miserable because he has fallen in
love with a woman by the name of Rosaline, but she can not love him back because
she did'nt even know about it.Romeo did not have the courage to tell her.His
love is not true love, he is just in love with the the fact of being in love. He
likes the feeling of being in love and will try to be together with anyone as
long as he has the love feeling and enjoys the time being,not necesserily the
girl he is being with.He is feeling so full of sorrow that he can't take it so
he locks himself in his room in darkness yet he doesn't even know if she loves
him or not,He is afraid to ask her. His love for Rosaline is great but yet she
can not say the same and for that he will continue to be miserable.He has lots
of support from his friends and lots of advice given to him but he doesn't take
the time to think of the many opportunities he has to chose from, such as forget
about Rosaline and find someone else, or tell Rosaline how he feels and see what
happens. After he meets Juliet his love for Rosaline disappears and a new and
different love appears. As he see her for the first time he falls madly in love.
He speaks to her and they both say they feel the same about each other.Even
though they are forbidded to get married or even get together with each
other,they do.He shows a tremendous excitement knowing that he is loving and
getting love back.He gets in trouble because of the killing of Tybalt and he is
banned from Verona and he has to leave.When Romeo must leave Juliet and move
away neither Romeo nor Juliet can put up with the pain.They fight with all the
power they have to try to stay together forever,till it comes to the point that
the only solution to be together is by death. They tried everything else but
they didn't succeed. He just can't bear to live a life without her. He thinks of
his only choices and knows that either he forgets about her and leave town or he
stay with her and is sent to death penalty.Even though he knows he has family
and friends he chooses to die with her, to be together. So we see a big change
In love here.At first he is in love with the idea of being in love and is too
shy or ashamed to tell the woman how he feels, but then when he met Juliet and
fell in love with her the love was mutual, now he does anything to be together
with her. At first he is sad and every minute of his life is sad until he loves
Juliet and he is then happy. Romeo's love life to him was a lot more clear and
happier even though, it meant having to die together. Romeo and Juliet is also a
play which is full of anger, passion, and death. The secrecy of the marriage of
Romeo and Juliet pointed out a form of dramatic irony. This is shown by Juliet's
" double-edged "phrases when Lady Capulet is denouncing Romeo. For
example, "Ay madam, from the reach of these my hands: would none but I
might verge my cousin's death." (Act III, Scene V, line 86) or when Juliet
states in an awkward way, "indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo
till I behold him -dead- " (Act III, Scene V, line 95) O there dramatic
ironies included when Romeo falls in love with Juliet, Mercutio imagines he is
still in love with Rosaline. "Ah that same pale hard-hearted wench, that
torments him so that he will sure run mad. " (Act II, Scene IV, Line 4).
All the dramatic ironies caused a very lively presence throughout the play and
has caught the eye of many readers. Last but not least, Shakespeare' s writing
style has also hypnotised people. Shakespeare had artistic power in his
characterisation. He was often careless in the plot, suck like Romeo and Juliet
where he adds his imagination into the story . This really attracted people as
they read the play. 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. The youth of the society is quite different
from the aged of society. Romeo and Juliet were brought up to despise other
families because for centuries the Montagues and Capulets had been feuding.
These two young people who found love at first sight could not find a problem
with each other even though their parents felt that they were their enemies.
They were able to cross the barrier of hate that was put before them all their
life. This was a remarkable leap because it defied the traditional code of
ethics handed down from generation to generation. Romeo and Juliet's parents
would never even think of relating to an enemy of the family never the less
falling in love with one. Juliet is caught by love that blinds her reason. She
even goes as far as stating she will "…deny her name for only the name is
an enemy not Romeo". The older generation accepted traditional beliefs
without question. This was their way of showing respect to their parents. On the
other hand, Romeo and Juliet had the conviction and trust in themselves to
formulate their ideas based on their own experience of love. Throughout the
play, Shakespeare purposely reveals an underlying theme that contrasts youth
from age. The youth are the new radical generation who have revolutionized their
traditional way of life. The youth overcome barriers and break traditional
ideals. The youth of society can react at a much faster pace than people of
older generations. Juliet, a young person, felt that the aged moved too slowly.
Juliet exclaimed "The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse. / In
half hour she promised to return… / But old folks, many feign as they were
dead, / Unwiedly, slow, heavy, and pale as lead (pg. 105)." Juliet is an
impulsive young women who felt that she might have reacted too rashly.. Juliet
weas frightened and uttered "It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; /
Too like the lightening which doth cease to be / Ere one can say 'It
lightens.'" These examples contrast the speed of the youth and the
sluggishness of the aged - the impulsive versus the more reasoned reaction. In
modern day society, kids act at such an incredible pace that grownups can not
relate to. Kids can operate on the fastest video games out on the market with no
problem. If an adult plays, it will be a whole different story. The main reason
kids can play the video games with no problem is due to the fact that they are
used to the speed. They have been playing them their whole life! Adults did not
grow up playing video games and therefore are not accustomed to it. These games
are hard for them to follow and often make them dizzy. Adults are worried that
kids do not analyze the repercussions of their actions and the results that
could affect their life. In today's high-tech world, kids question the authority
of their parents because they believe they have a better way of doing it. The
traditional code of ethics would have dictated that Romeo do what Lord Montague
asked and not question why. Romeo abandoned everything and followed his heart.
This is applicable in today's modern day society. The issue of respect and
authority of elders is questioned at every turn. The traditional way of behaving
has changed dramatically. Now kids talk back to their parents and find no
problem with it. In earlier times this was unheard of. Now parents no longer
rule their children by a strict sense of morality or fear. This has resulted in
a less strict society which tolerates more. The innocent love between Romeo and
Juliet ended in a horrible tragedy due to their families' intense hatred for one
another. Both families understand how this extreme hate causes this tragedy.
Prince Escalus says to the heads of the two households, "See what a scourge
is laid upon your hate, /That heaven finds means to kill your joys with
love." Society has needed an example of love in order to rectify hatred,
and love is shown to have moral power. Also, in the play there is another level
of interpretation. Love is triumphant over death, time, fate and especially
hatred. Now the families can look back and wonder how the beautiful and innocent
love between Romeo and Juliet turned into a horrible disaster because of ancient
hatred. Members of the family start to question some of their own beliefs that
they grew up learning. They do this to see if their code of ethics makes better
sense than their parents! Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote The
Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, a popular play that continues to capture the
imagination and emotions of people around the world. The drama portrays the
passionate, violent and often desperate lives of the youth of Verona. Even
today, the tragedy resembles a blueprint of the problems that the adolescents of
the twentieth century must face each day. In this play, Shakespeare explores the
pitfalls of young love, and the consequences they receive from their actions.
They explained their love to be true love and they knew that they had to be
together, even though their families were enemies and it was truly forbidden for
the two of them to marry. The whole idea of love in Romeo's and Juliet's
thoughts was totally misunderstood, and they demonstrated in many sections of
the play that they truly did not know what true love was. In this play,
Shakespeare shows that love can cause and finish anything, even love that is not
honestly discovered. The influence of parents played a major part in the tragedy
of Romeo and Juliet. To start with, the general situation is rather like a
family conflict. The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues had been passed
down through the generations, until the youngest child had been planted with the
seeds of hate. From the beginning of the play, it is learned that the Capulet's
held the decisive judgement of what Juliet's future would have in store.
"But saying o'er what I have said before. My child is yet a stranger in the
world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers
wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride." (I,ii,7-11)
This demonstrates Capulet's intent of choosing Juliet's husband. Romeo and
Juliet kept their relationship secret from the start, in fear that their love
affair would be rejected by their feuding families. That is what led to the
death of both lovers. Had they held a more open relationship, eventually, both
families would have accepted it. However, considering the circumstances, the
street brawl and the later death of Tybalt, Romeo and Juliet felt that their
parents would not have been able to understand the love between the two youths.
In today's society, youth are constantly advocating the change from total
dependence on family, to their own independence. Young people often think they
know better than their parents, often believing that instead of helping them,
they are only punishing them. Romeo and juliet found that they new better then
their parents, but after realizing the wrong they caused when both committing
suicide. Romeo was too young to realize that he had to take responsibility for
his actions and he had to accept the consequences. This is one of the pitfalls
that Shakespere portrayed in his play for young love. Romeo did not understand
the outcomes of his actions. He never realized this until the damage was done.
He was too involved in his love for Juliet that he didn't devote himself to any
other circumstances. Young love is often an ever-changing emotion that enthrals
adolescents. When a boy sees a beautiful girl, he often thinks that he is in
love. That is similar to the emotion Romeo experienced: "To call hers,
exquisite, in question more. These happy masks that kiss fair laidies' brow,
Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair. He that is strucken blind
cannot forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. Show me a mistress
that is passing fair; What doth her beauty serve but as a note Where I may read
who passed the passing fair? Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget."
(I,i,238-246) Here, Romeo is saying how much he loves Rosaline, and that he
cannot forget about her.