- Published: September 16, 2022
- Updated: September 16, 2022
- University / College: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Language: English
- Downloads: 32
Were Romeo and Juliet really “ star-crossed” lovers? Some people may argue both ways on this subject, and there could be arguments each way. You would think only bad things could result from love between the two most hateful families ever heard of, and I also believe only bad things could result from this love Romeo and Juliet were horribly in love even though they were both in opposite sides of the Capulet – Montague historic feud. The prologue even states, “ A pair of star- crossed lovers take their life”.
So, we know this doomed love will take their lives. But, will they be the only casualties of this hated love? One of the people this doomed love influenced, probably more than anyone else, was Romeo himself. Knowing she was a Capulet and that there love would never work out made him depressed and always crying and whining. Also, he was then more disheartened when he killed Juliet’s cousin that she loved very much. He was so miserable he once tried to kill himself in Friar Lawrence’s cell in front of Nurse, and Friar Lawrence.
So, Friar Lawrence said, “ Hold thy desperate hand. Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art; Thy tears are womanish,” basically telling Romeo he needs to stop what he’s doing and act like a man and stop crying all the time like a woman. Eventually, though, the love of Romeo and Juliet killed Romeo when he was in the Capulet tomb with the “ dead” Juliet. She didn’t wake up exactly when planned so he immediately killed himself, thinking he was doing it for her while saying, “ Here’s to my love! O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. ” But, do you really think this love only cost Romeo’s life? This doomed love also marred Juliet in multiple ways. First of all, this love earned Juliet hatred from her family because they told her she was going to marry Paris, but obviously she had someone different in mind. So, she refused to listen to their wishes so she could run away with Romeo, her love. This made her parents so mad her Father, Lord Capulet, almost disowned her when she refused to listen to his marital orders.
One of the things he said while angrily ranting Juliet and calling her names was, “ Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! ” So, he was very hateful. And, also like Romeo, this doomed love also caused her to eventually kill herself. This happened when she woke from her sleep in the Capulet tomb and saw Romeo’s body after he killed himself because she wasn’t awake. So, now she thought the only option was to die; so she grabbed Romeo’s dagger, and impaled herself and fell on top of Romeo’s dead body.
All because she didn’t want to live without her love, Romeo. Romeo and Juliet’s hopeless love affected other people as much as it affected the star-crossed lovers themselves. This doomed love had a huge impact on Paris. Paris had consent from Lord Capulet to marry Juliet and had the wedding planned, but obviously Juliet was in love with Romeo so that kept Paris from getting what he wished. He was heartbroken when Juliet was “ dead” after taking the potion saying, “ Uncomfortable time, why camest thou now to murder, murder our solemnity?
Which meant why did Death come to kill our celebrations? Also, going with the trend, the love of Romeo and Juliet cost Paris his life in the end. This occurred when Romeo and Paris happened to be at the Capulet tomb at the same time to see Juliet. Romeo is there to kill himself, but Paris tells him to leave. So, Romeo tells him that if he doesn’t leave he will kill Paris to. So, Paris stays, and they fight and after the fight Paris yells while falling to the ground, “ O, I am slain!
If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet. ” So in the end Paris, Romeo, and Juliet all lay in the tomb- dead. Were Romeo and Juliet really “ star-crossed” lovers? They definitely were. There love did not help anyone in the end. The only thing there love produced was hatred, sadness, and deaths. Even though I only discussed three people, their doomed love affected and cost the life of other people involved with the families as well. It’s safe to say, Romeo and Juliet’s love, was doomed at first sight.