- Published: November 15, 2021
- Updated: November 15, 2021
- University / College: University of Florida
- Language: English
- Downloads: 11
Romeo and Julietis a classic play by William Shakespeare about a pair of star-crossed lovers whose passion eventually drives them to their unfortunate deaths.
Key themes in Romeo and Juliet:
- Historical time vs present
- Light and dark
- Fate and free will
- Love
- Death
- Youth against age
- Revenge
Love
Since the major theme in Romeo and Juliet is Love as a Cause ofViolence, it is easy to see why Shakespeare uses that thematic focus to show how Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another affected the outcome of their relationship. Most of the time, being in love makes people very over dramatic. When they lose someone they love, certain people tend to think that their lives are over and they can’t go on. This happens a lot in Romeo and Juliet.
For example, when Romeo is exiled from Verona, he overreacts completely and goes to complain to the Friar. He says that being banished is just saying death by another name. He whines and utters that he would rather die than be away from his dear Juliet. Also, after Romeo is rejected by his first love Rosaline, he thinks that there is no one else in the world that can ever compare to her, even though he falls in love with Juliet shortly after. Another example of this over dramatic behavior was when Juliet heard news of Romeo’s banishment. She considered Romeo’s banishment even worse than her own cousin’s death!
Over dramatic behavior is just one of the things that makes love turn into violence. This play also demonstrates the effect love can have on decision making. Love can be very blinding especially in Romeo and Juliet’s case. They both made many rash and dangerous choices because their love clouded their ability to think wisely. An example of one of these rash, terrible decisions was when Romeo bought the poison from a pharmacist/apothecary. He should have considered all of his options before immediately jumping to the conclusion that he had to kill himself.
This theme also came up when Juliet stated, “ I long to die if what thou speak’st speak not of remedy. ” (Shakespeare, Act IIII Scene I) She said this to Friar Lawrence complaining that if he can’t find her a way out of marrying Paris, she will kill herself. This is significant because it shows how her love for Romeo made her think violently, even though she didn’t follow through with what she said she would do. Lastly, Juliet stabbing herself with Romeo’s dagger at the end of the play showed how being without Romeo was unthinkable for her.
Finally, the reoccurring theme of Love as a Cause of Violence is mainly in this play because without it, the audience underestimates the true power of Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another. The theme is what caused the dramatic, tragic ending to the play Romeo and Juliet. The doublesuicidewas what ended the conflict between the two feuding families and showed how love is the source of all or most of the violence that occurs in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet aren’t the only ones who died because of love either.
Lady Montague died of grieving for her banished son whom she loved exceedingly, and Tybalt died because Romeo killed him out of rage from losing his beloved best friend Mercutio. As you can see, the main theme of Love as a Cause of Violence is prevalent throughout the entire play of Romeo and Juliet. The power that love contains works in many different ways. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, love causes overly dramatic behavior, lack of quality judgment, and most of all, particularly violent actions and thoughts by the main and minor characters.
Death and hate
Death is all over Romeo and Juliet. Even before the game set the tone after Mercutio’s death, Shakespeare repeatedly mentioned the death as Juliet’s boyfriend. The threat of violence that penetrates the first actions occurs in the second half of the game, when key characters die and the title lovers reach the terrible end.
There are many ways that the characters of Romeo and Juliet take into account death. Romeo, III. He tries to commit suicide as a cowardly act in the action, but when he calls a pharmacist in the V action, this is a sign of strength and solidarity. The choir tragically finishes the story at the start of the comedy, which reinvigorates the audience’s experience: we know that this young and innocent love will end with the tragedy.
The structure of the comedy as a tragedy from the very beginning makes Romeo and Juliet’s love even more crazy, because the public is aware of their upcoming deaths. The path in the game is a cycle from love to death, and that’s what makes Romeo and Juliet so durable and strong.
Revenge
Romeo and Juliet argue that the desire for revenge is both natural and destructive human quality. From the moment the game turned into disaster on the third act, most of the terrible events were caused by revenge. Tybalt calls Romeo and kills Mercutio because of an unstable request to avenge Romeo’s presence at the masquerade, and Romeo kills Tybalt to avenge Mercutio.
Romeo’s desire for revenge is so great that he doesn’t think of how his attack on Tybalt would jeopardize his last marriage with Juliet. Of course, the main production of the game depends on the long-running feud between Montec and Capulet, the cause of which no longer matters.
The only thing that matters is that these families continue to avenge the troubles that have been forgotten for generations. Although Harespeare is rarely morally, Romeo and Juliet always represent revenge as a meaningless act that does more harm than good.
Youth against age
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare establishes an ideological division that often separates young people from adults. All comedy characters can be classified by young, passionate or older, for more details. It is defined by its energies and impulsiveness such as Romeo, Julieta, Mercutio and Tebaldo. Meanwhile, the dynamic old world serves politics and opportunities.
Capulet and Patriarch Montague are undoubtedly enthusiastic competitions, but victories that ignore their emotional potential. Although apparently representing the interests of Romeo and Juliet, Fra Laurence is able to see the political causes of the troops, young lovers are only interested in satisfying their quickly called hearts.
Although Shakespeare does not advocate morality for the distinction between young and old, he appears during the game and is inevitably the cause of cynicism with age. . There is also a reason why young lovers try to separate them from the world of ” adult violence” and political change.