This piece of writing was most challenging was the Romeo and Juliet essay because I found it difficult to connect with the play and was therefore unable to clearly communicate thoughts in this essay.
Romeo and Juliet Essay
Corryn Roadnight
In many ways William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet relates to today's society. The story of teenage romance and fated love has been around for centuries, and it is clear that it still resonates within today's communities. Although times have changed drastically, and the Elizabethan Era is long gone, the basic ideas and concepts continue to remain visible, even four centuries later. Throughout the play, there are present themes that can relate to today's society and the life that exists today. Even though the play was created centuries ago, similar events and themes are compliant with both Shakespeare's world and today's society. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet transcends time by addressing the issues of hate, parent-child relationships, and love problems in regards to social standards, themes that modern-day teenagers face. Whether the century is the seventeenth or twenty-first, it is apparent that teenagers still experience the same themes, and it is clear that the two societies represent several similarities.
One of the first themes that Shakespeare introduces in Romeo and Juliet is that of hate. It is clear that, in this particular play, hate is a common value, and is thrust upon one another for simple reasons such as to what surname one may hold. A quote from the Prince, spoken after a street brawl, is an example of the consequences of hate:
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel-
Will they not hear?-What ho, you men, you beasts!
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins:
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate;
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away:
You, Capulet, shall go along with me,
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old Free-town, our common judgement-place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. (I.i.75-97).
This quote represents how strong the hold of hate has on a society, in particular the one portrayed in this play. Although in Romeo and Juliet the hate is more pronounced, the case is still present in today's communities. For example, violence is still discovered and relevant all around the world and, in most cases, this violence is sprung from hate, whether it be general or specific.
The next theme that is present in Romeo and Juliet is parent-child relationships. Throughout the play, the relationship between Juliet and her parents is very minimal, instead Juliet has a strong relationship with the Nurse. In the play, Juliet's father seems pretty genuine and it is clear that he cares about her. At first, when Paris requests Juliet's hand in marriage, Lord Capulet refuses as he believes that Juliet is too young, however, he later gives permission for Paris to marry his daughter. Although Juliet depicts her father's actions as cruel and unjust, he is only trying to do what he thinks is best for her, and what will help lead her into a healthy life and future. The relationship between Lord Capulet and Juliet can be related to father-daughter relationships in today's society.
The final theme that has a strong portrayal throughout the play is that of love problems in relations to social standards. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, the tension between the Capulets and the Montagues increases and feeds the tension that is everlasting throughout the play. In the play, Romeo and Juliet are faced with countless problems in regards to their relationship, and the constant negativity directed towards them by society. Shakespeare portrays a strong message of love problems and complications by creating a story about two young lovers facing the challenges of having an opposition to what society has conformed to and considered correct. After falling in love rather quickly, Romeo and Juliet are faced with the fact that they are supposed to be opposed to one another, but they have fallen in love, regardless. The following quote spoken by Juliet describes the enemies that they face:
How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb
And the place death, considering who thou art
If any of my kinsmen find thee here. (II.ii.62-65).
In this quote, Juliet describes the impossibilities that Romeo and she must face in order to maintain their relationship. The last two lines of the quote state how, if caught, Romeo would be considered dead, due to the fact that he is a Montague and an enemy. The same situation is quite capable of being present in today's society, where citizens are frowned upon for doing actions that neglect societal standards. Another quote spoken by Juliet in regards to Romeo's surname shows that although it is forbidden, she is intrigued and in love with him:
My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy. (I.ii.137-140).
This quote also describes the complications that lie within Romeo and Juliet's relationship.
For an example, although an extreme one, a young women in Pakistan was murdered in an “honour killing” due to the fact that she became impregnated by a man who did not conform to her family's standards. It can be determined that the twenty-first century is much like the Elizabethan Era, in certain parts of the world, in regards to this subject. From the quote provided by the play and the example given about how people react today, it is clear that the mark of society is strong, and that it plays a huge part in determining what a person can and cannot do.
In conclusion, it is apparent that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet transcends time by addressing the issues of hate, parent-child relationships, and love problems in regards to social standards, themes that modern-day teenagers face. By examining the play and comparing it to today's society, it can be determined that modern-day teenagers are faced with similar problems as those faced by Romeo and Juliet. Hate is still present in today's society, parent-child relationships are still similar as the ones portrayed in Romeo and Juliet, and love problems are still existent in the face of social standards. It is clear that, through the centuries since Romeo and Juliet was created, the same themes continue to remain present.
Corryn Roadnight
In many ways William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet relates to today's society. The story of teenage romance and fated love has been around for centuries, and it is clear that it still resonates within today's communities. Although times have changed drastically, and the Elizabethan Era is long gone, the basic ideas and concepts continue to remain visible, even four centuries later. Throughout the play, there are present themes that can relate to today's society and the life that exists today. Even though the play was created centuries ago, similar events and themes are compliant with both Shakespeare's world and today's society. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet transcends time by addressing the issues of hate, parent-child relationships, and love problems in regards to social standards, themes that modern-day teenagers face. Whether the century is the seventeenth or twenty-first, it is apparent that teenagers still experience the same themes, and it is clear that the two societies represent several similarities.
One of the first themes that Shakespeare introduces in Romeo and Juliet is that of hate. It is clear that, in this particular play, hate is a common value, and is thrust upon one another for simple reasons such as to what surname one may hold. A quote from the Prince, spoken after a street brawl, is an example of the consequences of hate:
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel-
Will they not hear?-What ho, you men, you beasts!
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins:
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate;
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away:
You, Capulet, shall go along with me,
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old Free-town, our common judgement-place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. (I.i.75-97).
This quote represents how strong the hold of hate has on a society, in particular the one portrayed in this play. Although in Romeo and Juliet the hate is more pronounced, the case is still present in today's communities. For example, violence is still discovered and relevant all around the world and, in most cases, this violence is sprung from hate, whether it be general or specific.
The next theme that is present in Romeo and Juliet is parent-child relationships. Throughout the play, the relationship between Juliet and her parents is very minimal, instead Juliet has a strong relationship with the Nurse. In the play, Juliet's father seems pretty genuine and it is clear that he cares about her. At first, when Paris requests Juliet's hand in marriage, Lord Capulet refuses as he believes that Juliet is too young, however, he later gives permission for Paris to marry his daughter. Although Juliet depicts her father's actions as cruel and unjust, he is only trying to do what he thinks is best for her, and what will help lead her into a healthy life and future. The relationship between Lord Capulet and Juliet can be related to father-daughter relationships in today's society.
The final theme that has a strong portrayal throughout the play is that of love problems in relations to social standards. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, the tension between the Capulets and the Montagues increases and feeds the tension that is everlasting throughout the play. In the play, Romeo and Juliet are faced with countless problems in regards to their relationship, and the constant negativity directed towards them by society. Shakespeare portrays a strong message of love problems and complications by creating a story about two young lovers facing the challenges of having an opposition to what society has conformed to and considered correct. After falling in love rather quickly, Romeo and Juliet are faced with the fact that they are supposed to be opposed to one another, but they have fallen in love, regardless. The following quote spoken by Juliet describes the enemies that they face:
How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb
And the place death, considering who thou art
If any of my kinsmen find thee here. (II.ii.62-65).
In this quote, Juliet describes the impossibilities that Romeo and she must face in order to maintain their relationship. The last two lines of the quote state how, if caught, Romeo would be considered dead, due to the fact that he is a Montague and an enemy. The same situation is quite capable of being present in today's society, where citizens are frowned upon for doing actions that neglect societal standards. Another quote spoken by Juliet in regards to Romeo's surname shows that although it is forbidden, she is intrigued and in love with him:
My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy. (I.ii.137-140).
This quote also describes the complications that lie within Romeo and Juliet's relationship.
For an example, although an extreme one, a young women in Pakistan was murdered in an “honour killing” due to the fact that she became impregnated by a man who did not conform to her family's standards. It can be determined that the twenty-first century is much like the Elizabethan Era, in certain parts of the world, in regards to this subject. From the quote provided by the play and the example given about how people react today, it is clear that the mark of society is strong, and that it plays a huge part in determining what a person can and cannot do.
In conclusion, it is apparent that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet transcends time by addressing the issues of hate, parent-child relationships, and love problems in regards to social standards, themes that modern-day teenagers face. By examining the play and comparing it to today's society, it can be determined that modern-day teenagers are faced with similar problems as those faced by Romeo and Juliet. Hate is still present in today's society, parent-child relationships are still similar as the ones portrayed in Romeo and Juliet, and love problems are still existent in the face of social standards. It is clear that, through the centuries since Romeo and Juliet was created, the same themes continue to remain present.