“If I profane with my unworthiest hand: this holy Shrine. The gentle fire is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss (II, ii, 33-36).” said Romeo to prove his love for Juliet though it was the first time the two met. When the two found out that Romeo is a Montague and that Juliet is a Capulet, Juliet vowed to Romeo and proclaimed “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or if thou will not, be but sworn my love and I’ll no longer be a Capulet “(II, ii, 33-36).
Two of Shakespeare’s most well known plays; ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ are both based on multiple themes of love. Both contain the elements of; love at first sight and love being shallow. Shakespeare’s classic tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’ features two young lovers from feuding families who fall in love and are willing to sacrifice almost anything for their love. Whereas the comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, is about two couples; Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero, these couple’s love follow the trend of a love is declared, then challenged, and then is finally reasserted in the harmony of marriage. Claudio and Hero fall in love, break apart, and then fall in love again, while at the same time, Beatrice and Benedick are being tricked into loving each other.
Romeo's words are reminiscent of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130, in which he condemns the kind of "false compare" Romeo employs in this scene. Nevertheless, this oath proves to be a plot trigger as Juliet defies patriarchal convection by taking control of the relationship, commanding Romeo with the imperative " do not swear," claiming it is "too rash, too unadvised," and instead advises Romeo that if his love is honourable, he must marry her. Similarly, Benedick takes on the role of a courtly lover in his unrequited love fir Beatrice. However, this is in keeping with the playful nature of comedy, as his lovesick state, "like cover'd fire, consume away in sighs, waste inwardly," is contrived by Hero and Ursula to manipulate Beatrice. The image of Benedick "wast[ing] inwardly" is used playfully as the audience know it isn't true.
In the Text What themes can be noted about the work? Let’s step back and analysis. Fate: Examples Romeo receiving an invitation to attend the Capulet ball Juliet and Romeo meeting Lord Capulet stopping Tybalt from attacking Romeo Friar Lawrence's letter not getting received by Romeo Romeo’s untimely suicide. Quote on Fate JULIET: “O fortune, fortune! all men call thee fickle:... wilt not keep him long,But send him back”.
This forcefulness of love becomes so strong and intense that it turns to violence and hatred for all obstacles blocking their reunion. “Romeo and Juliet” is not a play portraying a constant romantic and idealist love like most of the ancient love poems or plays do, but rather represents the power of love as a natural brutal force and instinct; catapulting them against their own world and in the end against their lives : “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, whose misadventured piteous overthrows ». Romeo and Juliet describe their love for each other as a sort of magic, that can’t totally be explained or shown by words and metaphors. Also, in “The Merchant of Venice”, the love Jessica detains for Lorenzo compels her to abandon her house, her father and the entire religion she has been praised by since she was born : ‘I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so’. This quotation shows that although she is sorry for the act she is committing, she is still following the influence of her love.
Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” Juliet is asking Romeo to deny his family to love her. She then says that she will sacrifice her families love for her to be with him. She is portraying her true feelings. Romeo feels platonic love for Mercutio. He enjoys Mercutio’s company.
It was fate that brought these two opposite people together. Two people from two big prominent families who hate one another for some ancient and unknown reason were brought together by fate, but also by irony. Shakespeare could have told an easy love story, but it had to be one with an extreme paradox – love through hatred. Fate, dramatic irony and the visions that he kept giving to his audience, all showed that the two opposites were destined for each other no matter what the practical approach might have been. Juliet says “My only love sprung from my only hate” (1.5.52).
Romeo and Juliet In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet are portrayed as two adolescent “star-crossed lovers” who in an unfortunate turn of events and miscommunication, end up with their lives tragically turning upside down in a tale of love and misfortune. Although many characters play their own part in the events that occurred, some are more responsible than others. But the question that has arisen is who is truly guilty for the devastating outcome for the two lovers? A reasonable assumption based on the evidence, suggests the most likely characters to be responsible are Friar Laurence, Rosaline, Mercutio and Balthazar. Firstly, it seems as though a likely person to blame would be Friar Laurence.
Friar Lawrence: Unnoticed Importance In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, many secondary characters play an essential role in the play. Friar Lawrence is one of the most important secondary characters in the play. He marries Romeo and Juliet, helps Romeo and Juliet grow in their love for one another, and eventually helps end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. He helps the characters in the play grow in a way they would not have on their own. Friar Lawrence affects the action of Romeo and Juliet by marrying Romeo and Juliet, helping Romeo escape Verona safely, and helping them reunite by giving Juliet a sleeping potion to fake her death.
Who is to blame? By John Magee Romeo and Juliet is one of the most controversial and enduring stories of forbidden love due to Romeo and Juliet’s passionate innocence and their tragedy. Their innocence comes from their age and infatuation, but the tragedy is surely the result of the self-serving, manipulative and at times terrible judgment of Friar Lawrence. Romeo and Juliet’s love faced many obstacles, including a feud between their families, Juliet’s promised marriage to Count Paris, and their own youthful innocence. But if any one person is to blame for their tragic death that person is their most trusted advisor Friar Lawrence.