...that comes to mind is happy and heartwarming things, not violence and heartbreak. But when reading the story of Romeo and Juliet there is so much rage and violence die to the fact that both families are different. Die to these tragedies deaths and separations between the families. This proves that Romeo and Juliet’s overall theme is that violence causes death and heartbreak due to the violence it caused by the deaths of Mercutio, Paris, Romeo and Juliet which caused heartbreak of the families. Starting with the differences between the families. It is noticeable during the play that the Capulets and Montagues do not exactly connect. At the beginning of the play when Sampson bites his thumb and Abraham asks...
Words: 474 - Pages: 2
...Romeo and Juliet died next to each other from suicide; their lives being taken never needed to happen. If their families got along, they would have been happily married and alive. This play -- Romeo & Juliet-- is written by William Shakespeare. It features the politics of two feuding families and the struggles of a young couple who were born from opposing sides. From bodies piling up one by one in the Capulet tombs, to the shared grief of both houses, it is imperative that their problems could have been solved without violence, because violence is never the answer. To begin, many characters thought violence was the answer. Either by death or threats of bloodshed, they were ignorant of the problems they would cause. Prince Escalus explains...
Words: 1069 - Pages: 5
...HATRED AND VIOLENCE BREED ONLY TRAGGEDY Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare. “Hatred and violence breed only tragedy”, is a major theme in this play. The Montague and Capulet are two rival families. They were involved in a family feud that goes back years before anyone can remember. However, the grudge still continues, due to the fact that both families are not ready to forgive and forget the past. The families’ ongoing quarrels and feud, lead to the deaths of several characters including the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The characters who died first in Romeo and Juliet are Mercutio and Tybalt. They were associated in each other’s deaths. Tybalt, hot-tempered cousin of Juliet, vowed to get revenge on Romeo for sneaking in to the Capulet Ball without an invitation. The day Tybalt came seeking for Romeo, is the day he was wedded to young Juliet. Romeo wants to keep peace between him and his new relative but Tybalt keeps tantalizing him with rude insults and remarks. Romeo, not wanting to pick a fight, retrieves and soon Mercutio jumps in because he wants to defend his best friend. Tybalt and Mercutio challenge each other to a sword fight. Romeo tries to stop them because he does not want his best friend or his relative to get hurt so he intervenes. At that moment, Tybalt stabbed Mercutio “under Romeo’s arm”. In anger and guilt, Romeo retaliates and catches Tybalt, and because of his impulsiveness, Romeo kills Tybalt. Mercutio's death...
Words: 740 - Pages: 3
...Introduction Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy about two opposing families, the Capulets and the Montagues who are constantly feuding. Romeo and Juliet are two young lovers but they come from different families, Romeo is a Montague whilst Juliet is a Capulet. Although the most obvious theme in the play is love, there are several scenes which contain violence and conflict. The play opens with violence due to the conflict between the two feuding families and it is this conflict that ultimately results in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Examples Get help with your essay Read more about our Essay Writing Service > Looking for examples of OUR work? Click here to see our Essay Writing Examples > Want to know more about our services? Take a look at our Writing & Marking Service Index > Act III, scene 1 is a pivotal scene in Romeo and Juliet transforming the play from one of Romance into Tragedy. The scene opens on the streets of Verona and begins with talk of violence, ultimately leading to the deaths of two of the main characters in the play - Tybalt and Mercutio. Benvolio is eager to avoid a fight with the Capulets and he suggests to Mercutio that they should return home: ‘I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire/ The day is hot, the Capels are abroad’ this quote is foreshadowing the fight to come between Tybalt and Mercutio, whose death at Tybalt's hands sets the stage for Romeo's eventual undoing and the deaths of the two lovers.In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare...
Words: 967 - Pages: 4
...Romeo and Juliet were born into the feud their families had been fighting for generations. It is much like the countries that have hated each other for as long as anyone can remember. The minor characters even started a brawl at the beginning of the play over a simple little insult. In fact all through the story violence was impacting major events. The best example of this of course is the ending. Violence not only affected the ending to Romeo and Juliet it was the reason for most events leading and including the ending. For some people escaping a life style can be impossible no madder how hard you try. Growing up in the violent families Romeo and Juliet did they gain the means of having lethal weapons like poison and swords. If Romeo wasn’t part of the feud or carry a sword he couldn’t have killed tybalt. Of course then he wouldn’t have gotten in trouble and banished. Also he couldn’t have gotten the poison from Friar Laurence to kill himself. Although carrying a sword would be normal back in the 17th century poison was a touchy subject. As Friar Lawrence put it “every plant, herb, and stone has its own special properties”, The theme of the story was violence. Romeo and Juliet were always connected to passion, whether the passion was love or hate. The connection between hate and violence is obvious but the connection between love and violence isn’t. Love much like hate can make people do things they never would do under normal circumstances. When Romeo and Juliet first...
Words: 343 - Pages: 2
...Romeo and Juliet was Shakespeare’s most famous play which is about love of two teenagers of two rival families. Since Romeo’s family and Juliet’s family are rivals, their families don’t agree with the marriage of their children to each other. However, Romeo and Juliet despite the opposition of their families secretly get married at church and insist on reaching their goal of being together. The whole story is played in the theatre style of the Renaissance; audiences could see violence, young boys are playing female rolls without wearing masks, many scenes and time change. However, if it was played in Greek theatre style, the audience could see a different style of performance and there would be a different effect. In Greek Theatre we would see no violence; males would play female parts by wearing masks, there would be one setting and day light only. In the Renaissance theatre violence was shown frequently at their performances. In the story of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is involved in a street fight and he kills Tybalt, who was Juliet’s cousin. In the Greek theatre no violence was shown. If it was played in Greek theatre style, the audience wouldn’t see violence in the theatre. In my opinion, if we want to play Romeo and Juliet in Greek Theatre style, the option would be a narrator to tell the story of the street fight which ends up with the death of Juliet’s cousin which eventually raises the tension between two families and the opposition of Juliet’s family with marriage to Romeo...
Words: 826 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 692 - Pages: 3
...Romeo and Juliet The play Romeo and Juliet has survived throughout the ages; it has historical, social and cultural contexts. No matter the difference in version or perspective they still have the same underlining meaning to the play. There are many similarities and differences referring to the views of the original play written in the 1500’s by “Williams Shakespeare”, ‘Romeo + Juliet’ in 1996 directed by Baz Luhrmann and ‘Gnomeo and Juliet’ in 2011 directed by Kelly Asburgis. All of which became indulged and in love with the breathe taking romantic love story. The original play written in the 1500’s in Verona (cities in Northern Italy) and was based upon an Italian tale translated inverse as “The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet” by...
Words: 1077 - Pages: 5
...story plot. In the play by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet without the minor characters, the story would have been a tedious romantic story. Paris the man of wax which the Capulet’s want him to be Juliet’s groom. Tybalt the character which wants an excuse to fight. Prince Escalus is the character who has power in Verona. In Romeo and Juliet the minor characters complicate the relationship between the young lovers therefore contributing the tragic ending. Frist minor character, thought to have shaped the destinies of Romeo and Juliet, is Paris. Lady Capulet reports, Juliet will marry with Paris, after the death of Tybalt. She announces that Juliet is to marry "the County Paris, at Saint...
Words: 960 - Pages: 4
...Disobedience against authority always leads to retribution. In Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, Romeo challenges authority which can lead to severe consequences. Romeo attends the party of the Capulets even though his family is their enemy and Romeo kills Tybalt and has fears for the consequences. Romeo attends the party of the Capulets even though he is the enemy of the Capulets. First, before the party, Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio are conversing with each other and Romeo is predicting the events that can occur after attending the party. Out on the streets, Romeo thinks: “Some consequence is hanging in the stars,/ Shall bitterly begin his fearful date (1.4.107-108). If Romeo attends the party of the Capulets, he might come across some fearful consequences that can lead to his death. Next, Tybalt overhears Romeo admiring the beauty of Juliet and establishes the punishment for him. During the party, Tybalt says:...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...GCSE COURSEWORK- ROMEO & JULIET For my Romeo and Juliet coursework I will try to answer the question: Shakespeare uses many dramatic devices to ensure that Romeo and Juliet is a play full of violence, conflict and tension. With the focus on Act 3 Scene 1, how are these techniques developed by Shakespeare through language, setting and plot? The very hopeful tone of Act II where Romeo and Juliet got married changes dramatically at the beginning of Act III as Romeo becomes entangled in the brutal conflict between the two families. The searing heat “day is hot”, flaring tempers “mad blood stirring” and sudden violence of this scene is a abrupt contrast with the romantic, peaceful previous night. The play reaches a dramatic climax as Romeo and Juliet’s private world clashes with the public feud with tragic consequences- death of Mercutio and Tybalt. Mercutio’s death becomes the catalyst for the tragic turn the play takes from this point onwards. The choice of the setting plays a big part in the development of this tragic turn. Shakespeare shifts the setting from the privacy of Friar Lawrence’s cell where Romeo and Juliet got married to a public place where friends, honour and family ties hold sway. This setting shows that innocent people are getting hurt because of all this feuding; “civil blood makes civil hands unclean”. On top of that it suggests that the families’ feud has reached its ultimatum-it has gone from private to public. We also get the feeling that they are...
Words: 2039 - Pages: 9
...Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare, is a play which shows how prejudice leads to escalating violence. Prejudice leads to violence shown in the play when the feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets fight. In each case, disruption, fighting, injuries and death occur. Also, the prejudice against the two families never got resolved because they were enemies. The prejudice started in Act one Scene one, when the Capulets and Montague servants confronted each other. Then the Capulets servants insult the Montagues. Which lead to a street brawl of the two feuding families. Furthermore in Act three Scene one, the prejudice between the families get worse. When Tybalt wanted revenge with the Montagues, he then confronted Romeo and Mercutio and started a duel. In addition the prejudice between families got even worse, when Tybalt kills Mercutio. Also, in Act five Scene three, Tybalt challenges Romeo to fight and Romeo kills him. Which lead to prejudice between the families. The street in Verona, a public place, is where the prejudice starts between the two families. In Act one Scene one, Sampson and Gregory servants for the Capulets, insulted the Montagues servants Balthasar and Abraham by biting his thumb at him. This leads to a fight, which involves the Lord’s of both families and the Prince. No death occurred, but the families attitudes against each other were worse then before. Which caused a lot of prejudice against the...
Words: 542 - Pages: 3
...Hate is an overwhelming emotion that is an integral portion of society; expressed greatly in media such as literature. This emotion is additionally vital in a play written by William Shakespeare. A famous poet during the Elizabethan era, one of William Shakespeare’s plays entitled, Romeo and Juliet demonstrated the impact hatred has on the people it surrounds. Romeo and Juliet is a play set in Verona, Italy in which two people, infatuated with each other, venture to extreme lengths to complete their desires in opposition to the venom held between their families, conclusively leading to their demise. This feeling of detest blinds entities from morality and influences them to commit regrettable mistakes, much present in modern society through...
Words: 1111 - Pages: 5
...Romeo and Juliet One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, Romeo and Juliet centers on the ill-fated love between the adolescent offspring of two leading, but warring, families of medieval Verona. Because of the feud between the families and the dictates of the day, which gave Juliet's father the right to promise her in marriage to any man of his choice, Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage is destined to bring tragedy both to the couple and to their families. Although critics disagree over the nature of the young couple's love for each other, most concur that themes of love and sexuality are central to the play's meaning. Scholars have focused on issues such as the nature and extent of Romeo and Juliet's love for each other, the social dictates and consequences of sexuality in medieval times, and the passage of the title characters from childhood to adulthood. Many commentators have examined the nature of Romeo and Juliet's love for one another, concentrating on its brevity and the extent to which it was lustful. Ronald B. Bond states that Romeo's love for Juliet is ocular and is based only on satisfying his senses. Bond claims that even in death their love is "devoted to the flesh" and that the play is about "the intensity of youthful love." However, Marjorie Kolb Cox distinguishes between the Nurse's interpretation of the romance in terms of lust and Juliet's stress on abiding love, maintaining that Romeo and Juliet's love does not fit the Elizabethan Courtly Love model...
Words: 717 - Pages: 3
...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...
Words: 456 - Pages: 2