...LOVE In Romeo and Juliet, love is definitely one of the dominant themes but it differs in its forms. There are various types of love throughout the play; such as in the beginning of the play where Romeo displays a more childish and superficial love for Rosaline. This changed very quickly as soon he became infatuated with this irrational love he felt for Juliet. The play is filled with intense passion and romantic gestures between the individuals and it focuses on the romantic love surrounding them. Throughout the play, love is portrayed as an overpowering and controlling emotion that's overtakes all other loyalties or values that they may have previously cared for. The love that Romeo and Juliet shared consumed them completely, but it was also very hasty and rushed. There were many different manifestations of love in this play; such as physical, passionate and spiritual. Family and friends were being pushed away as the two lovers became engulfed with one another and this was when problems arose. Juliet spoke ‘deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wit not, be but sworn my love, and ill no longer be a Capulet’. Her undying devotion to Romeo soon became an overpowering force in which she began to ignore all common sense and rational thoughts. The love in this play was not a pretty, idealized emotion that always ended perfectly, though it was always intimate and passionate. But with that passion came new obstacles and problems for themselves and the people surrounding...
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...resolution to conform to what society expects of them. However, more frequently it is linked to the idea of love and relationships; and in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” that is certainly the translation that is examined. Act 2, Scene 2 of the play in question is where the famous “balcony” scene takes place. It is the location where both lovers declare their mutual love for eachother and their desire to commit to eachother. Very quickly Juliet commits to “… follow thee my lord throughout the world”. In short she falls in love with him so entirely that the instantly commits to conforming to the role of a woman that was expected by society in Verona during the Shakespearian era – to become her husband’s “servant”. Of course by 2015 standards that would seem awful to most people, however, in the 15th century this was very much the accepted view. Juliet refers to Romeo as her “lord” for his duty to her once married was to provide for her, and offer her the security that her father’s wealth did not as women were unable to inherit their father’s estate. In return married women were expected to be grateful for the opportunity of marriage and were required to show this by baring her husband’s children (heirs), maintaining the home her husband provided her with, and to obey her husband’s every decision or request. Up until this point however, Juliet seemed to reject this convention. Earlier on in the play when her mother had asked her if she had ever thought of marriage she had replied “it is...
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...Themes of Love and Hate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet 1 Themes of Love and Hate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction from the beginning because of the hatred between the two families, Montagues and Capulets. Therefore, the themes of love and hate are very important in the play as the plot is driven by these two themes. Shakespeare brings out the love between the two rivals through Romeo and Juliet and their relationships with the Friar and the Nurse. I want to argue that in the play, the themes of love and hate are closely linked. To show this, I have selected some of the most important scenes in the play, which illustrate the idea that love and hate are closely bound together. The first example is the chorus, which is found at the beginning of the play, in the prologue. It is a short summary of what the play is about. The chorus is in the form of a sonnet and sonnets were often associated with love in the time of Shakespeare. However, the words of the chorus seem to emphasize the idea of hate although there are some words about love. “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” (Prologue, 3-4) These two lines are about the feud between the families. It shows that it is a feud, which has been brewing for many years. By repeating the words civil, Shakespeare is stressing the fact that they are all civilians...
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...In this scene Romeo faced pressure multiple times, one being after Tybalt had killed Mercutio and then came back and that’s when Romeo had to make a choice whether to fight Tybalt or show mercy. This was a form of pressure because he is now related to both sides of the family feud because he is married to Juliet. Romeo didn’t show mercy and choose to slaughter Tybalt. On the other hand, before Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo showed mercy by telling Tybalt that he doesn’t know who is to him but he loves him even without him knowing. This was a form of pressure because again he had to choose whether or not he wanted to fight Tybalt. Romeo also faced pressure when the Prince declared banishment as his punishment because therefore he can’t see Juliet anymore....
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...Story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is know all over the world for being one of the most famous love stories. The play teaches us about forbidden love and young death. Romeo and Juliet's unforgettable story of love and loss is the inspiration for many well know songs. The play and these songs relate to each other in many ways. Check Yes Juliet written and performed by We The Kings has almost direct relation to Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet". Romeo and Juliet are teenagers who come from two of the richest families in Verona, Italy (Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet) . Their families are enemies and this causes trouble for the two young lovers. In the popular song Check Yes Juliet the singer's lover is off...
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...Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Edexcel Certificate KET0/01 Edexcel International GCSE 4ET0/01 English Literature Paper 1: Drama and Prose Section A: Drama The purpose of this pack is to provide centres with the question paper, mark scheme and a set of exemplars with commentaries. Included in this pack: • Question from Summer 2012 paper • Marked scripts with the mark and band • Examiner commentary and mark scheme Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare 5 EITHER (a) How far do you agree that the character of Tybalt is presented as the villain of this play? OR (b) In what ways is the theme of death explored in this play? (Total for Question 5 = 30 marks) Candidate A response to part (a) 22 marks Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Examiner summary: The answer is focused very strongly on the question, choosing an argument that is fully relevant and well balanced. Points are well sustained and thorough development is evident, for example the idea that Tybalt’s love of confrontation is ‘more than just a family feud’. Understanding is thorough and there is sustained appreciation of the writer’s craft in the presentation of this character. The answer meets Level 4 criteria securely. Level this response achieves in the mark scheme: Level Level 4 Mark 1924 A01/A02/AO4 • Thorough knowledge and understanding of the text...
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...no boundaries when it comes to love. These themes can make people in love reach high, however sometimes they can also lead to their ruin. The actions which come from fate, chance, and free will can be drastic when it comes to love, and because of this the outcome can vary from happily ever after to tragedy. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare fate, chance, and free will play a major role throughout the tragic love story. Not only are these themes seen all through the play but they are particularly seen in their deaths. Fate was a main theme in the play including their deaths. There are multiple examples of fate having a hand in their deaths. One example of fate leading to their deaths is that they were fated to meet and fall in love, however due to their families feud their love was fated to not work out. This means that from the beginning their love was doomed to fail, since they loved each other more than anything else the only way for it to fail would be for them to die. Another example would be that once Juliet took the sleepy potion...
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...both Romeo and Juliet made thrilling moves for the desperation of their love. In both art forms we see that Romeo is trying to get to Juliet after he heard the news that she was dead, and Romeo was on a mission to see her wife. In the movie when Romeo arrives at the church, there is a guard standing guard the door, but you can see the desperation on Romeos face and the way he acts towards the guard. He tackles him and puts a gun to his head threatening to kill him if he doesn’t let Romeo into the church to see Juliet. This here is an example why...
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...In the play Romeo and Juliet, there are several themes shown as well as forms of figurative language used to show them. When writing, Shakespeare uses figurative language in the form of metaphors, similes, personification, and imagery in order to advance the overall theme, the brutality of love. The brutality of love in this play is that a boy who may seem to be fully committed to one girl, can so easily turn to be in love with another when he is not given his way, as well as the fact that love may not always last forever when the fate of love is put in the hands of other people, and there are always outside forces urging the two of them to stay away from each other. All of this is seen occurring very early in Romeo and Juliet, and continues...
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...There are many themes in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet; the most important themes are love, death and grief. These themes are displayed in the play in a number of scenes and incidents. Romeo and Juliet is the most famous and oldest recorded love story in the English literary tradition. Love is naturally the play’s dominant and most important theme this play may be over 400 years old but, is still relevant today due to popular and common themes in modern times. Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is about two teenagers who fall in love at first sight, but is forbidden and unrequited because the two families (Capulet and Montague) are feuding. The lack of communication between the two in this play leads to both of the lovers taking their own lives so they can be eternally together. Love is unsurprisingly the play’s most overriding and most significant theme. The love that Shakespeare ultimately portrays in the play is a youthful lust that the kind of love that Romeo and Juliet display leads the star crossed lovers to enact a selfish isolation from their parent’s demands and expectations around them. Romeo and Juliet avoid their commitments to anyone else and choose to act selflessly only towards one another. Romeo and Juliet’s youthful lust is one of many reasons why their relationship grows so intense so quickly. Throughout the play, Shakespeare only describes Romeo and Juliet's love as a short-term burst of youthful passion. In most of his work, considering that no other relationships...
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...OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET By ARTHEA J.S. REED, PH.D. S E R I E S W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., E D I T O R S : UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet 2 INTRODUCTION William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an excellent introduction to Shakespearean drama; teenagers can relate to its plot, characters, and themes. The play’s action is easily understood, the character’s motives are clear, and many of the themes are as current today as they were in Shakespeare’s time. Therefore, it can be read on a variety of levels, allowing all students to enjoy it. Less able readers can experience the swash-buckling action and investigate the themes of parent-child conflict, sexuality, friendship, and suicide. Because of the play’s accessibility to teenagers, able readers can view the play from a more literary perspective, examining the themes of hostility ad its effect on the innocent, the use of deception and its consequences, and the effects of faulty decision making. They can study how the characters function within the drama and how Shakespeare uses language to develop plot, characters, and themes. The most able students can develop skills involved in literary criticism by delving into the play’s comic and tragic elements and its classically tragic themes: the role of fate and fortune...
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...Romeo and Juliet Essay: Why Romeo and Juliet is Engaging Would you do anything for the people that you are loyal to? Romeo and Friar Laurence from William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet would. The consistent and foolish loyalty captivates readers. Through his dynamic plot, Shakespeare is able to involve audiences in his stories. This play is no exception. Romeo and Juliet is an engaging play because of all the characters, the narrative techniques and the Theme. To start, Romeo is dramatic and twists the plot. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” (1.5.93). Romeo is a guy that will take a risk and be dramatic or romantic at that moment. In this moment Romeo kisses Juliet, and he just met her. Next, Friar Laurence is a sneaky character. He’s sneaky because he can makes plans and they are very smart plans. “Hold then, go home be merry. Give consent to Marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow. Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone let not the nurse lie with thee in thy chamber.” (4.1.92). Friar Laurence is telling Juliet a plan so that she can pretend to be dead and not marry Paris. Also, the Nurse is a dramatic character and she cares for Juliet. “She’s dead, deceased, she’s dead, alack the day”. (4.5.24). this tells us that the Nurse was very heartbroken and hurt when she found at that Juliet was “dead”. Furthermore, the characters in this...
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...Romeo and Juliet was William Shakespeare’s last play, and quite possibly one of his most popular. There are many hidden themes and metaphors, one of which is fate. This play is about 2 teenages from feuding families that fall into a forbidden love, and the plot of this play describes the issues they run into and the hoops they jump through in order to be together. In this story, Shakespeare uses the age and timeline of the story to show the theme of fate through misdelivery of Friar Lawrence’s letter, the resolution between the Montagues and the Capulets, and the love between Romeo and Juliet that lead to suicide. One event that was prudent to the future of Romeo and Juliet was the delivery of Friar Lawrence’s letter, which was quite unforgiving when it came...
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...of Romeo and Juliet written by Shakespeare in 1595 is about a love relationship trying to rise above anger, family feuds and other challenges. The main theme centers on romance especially of the leading characters – Romeo and his Juliet. The story takes places in the city of Verona where it was ruled by a prince. Romeo and Juliet falls in love instantly on their first meeting and live through their dream of marrying and living together. But, the city is full of anger by a long feud between their lovers’ families - the Montagues and the Capulets. This fued leads to varies fights, efforts and plots to break up the lovers. Sadly It ends by Juliet killing herself, and shortly after Romeo does the same thing out of despair. Their sad and hopeless endings does in the end bring good to the city as both families decides to end their fights and issues live in peace. Shakespeare cleverly tells this story in a emotional narration fully of drama enhanced through is effective use of poetic device and dramatic techniques. After reading this intense story and almost living through its acts and scenes, I will analyze the techniques used by Shakespeare and how they convey the themes love and fate in this powerful play. My focus will be on scene 2, Act 1. I scene 2, A .. In Scene … to the long disagreement between their families – the. The story takes place in romantic city of Verona where any families it interrupts the city of Verona and causes tragic results for Romeo and...
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...the Characters in Romeo and Juliet and the Speakers in the Sonnets You Have Studied In: English and Literature Explore the Different Attitudes to Love Are Presented by the Characters in Romeo and Juliet and the Speakers in the Sonnets You Have Studied Explore the different attitudes to love are presented by the characters in Romeo and Juliet and the speakers in the sonnets you have studied. Love is presented through the use of characters, themes, linguistic, structural and contextual references. That pieces are ‘Romeo and Juliet’ written by William Shakespeare, ‘Sonnet 116’ by William Shakespeare again, ‘Sonnet 43’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, ‘Sonnet 130’ by Shakespeare and also ‘Sonnet 18’ again by Shakespeare. They were all written in the time that was considered the Elizabethan Era. A religious theme is set in both Romeo and Juliet and sonnet 43 to convey the attitudes to love. In Romeo and Juliet the theme of religion is used to express their love between each other and suggesting it is similar to religion can impose that it is a life-long commitment and will always be there even if they lose faith. At that time their attitude towards religion was very strong and it was their integral, which links to the love between Romeo and Juliet that now they have found it fully they will be part of each other’s’ lives for eternity. In Act 2, scene 2 Romeo states that Juliet’s eyes were “Two of the fairest stars in all of heaven” this is conveying that Juliet is angelic. Angels...
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