the story, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

Shakespeare is still relevant today. In the story, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, the two characters Romeo and Juliet fall in love. They both come from different families such as the Montagues and the Capulets which are enemies. As their hidden love for each other grows they also have to face many consequences. Romeo is hated by Juliet’s family and finds himself in a life or death situation. As Romeo and Juliet fall in love, they get married without anyone knowing. When Juliet finds out she is destined to marry another guy named Paris it begins the downfall of their love. Shakespeare’s characters Romeo and Juliet are the ideal meaning of love at first sight. As their love unravels a path of hate it shows society today how to love and hate. Although some might say Romeo and Juliet’s love is childish and immature, they are actually the true meaning of love at first sight and prove how love overrides the abundance of hate throughout the story.

Shakespeare’s writings are relevant and show society today how to love. Romeo and Juliet’s love is inspiring and courageous and many people could relate to the love they have. They are both passionate about each other which shows why they fall in love together.  During the party, once Juliet had just fallen in love with the son of her family’s enemy at her father’s party, Juliet says “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.” (1.5.152-155) Juliet’s only love came from the family she is enemies with. Juliet will have to love Romeo but has to face the consequences for her family. Juliet and Romeo will always have to remember they are enemies. Juliet feels trapped in love and wishes she would have met Romeo later in time. Romeo and Juliet had to keep their relationship a secret from everyone around them which still occurs in society today addresses this idea in her essay by saying, “The language is rich, the characters are complex and many of his basic themes – love, treachery, honor, bravery and political intrigue – still resonate today, said Craven.” (Tumiel 5) Shakespeare teaches how to love and shows the problems today that relationships can divide a family. In today’s world, love can change a person’s behavior and can cause you to take risks. Tumiel states that Shakespeare’s writings are filled with relevant ideas about love. Tumiel also proves that many of the themes such as love and honor have an impact on relationships today. T Many of the character’s traits in Romeo and Juliet demonstrate both love and hate for others which exist today.

Shakespeare’s writings are relevant and show society today how to hate. Romeo and Juliet’s hate is shown by the overwhelming feud between the two families. Romeo’s hate is shown by the built-up anger that Tybalt caused him. During the fight scene after Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo says  “Fire eyed fury be my conduct now” (3.1.128-129) Romeo is furious and wants to seek revenge for his best friend Mercutio. This is unlike Romeo since he is usually a loving and calm person. Romeo confronts Tybalt for every problem he has caused both families. “These Dynamics –  the interplay between individual desire and larger forces, love and violence, children and adults –  or why the play has endured and why cultures and conflict reach Romeo and Juliet time and again.” (Butler 3-4) Shakespeare teaches how to hate by showing the violence and anger that takes place in the plot. It shows the hate between the two families and how love overrides hate. With hate comes violence throughout Romeo and Juliet. Mercutio and Tybalt’s death resembles the forever hate between the families. Butler states that Shakespeare’s writings are filled with violence and hate which add to the plot. Butler also proves that Romeo and Juliet are filled with love but with love comes hate which can be conquered by love. The conflicts between Romeo and Juliet cause hate and violence.

Many may argue that the story of Romeo and Juliet does not teach you about love nor hate since they barely had the chance to know each other and decide to get married a few hours after meeting each other. The hate between the two families is also immature and unrealistic. Romeo falls in love with Juliet without even realizing he was just in love with Rosaline. When Romeo was speaking with Friar Lawrence he told him about his love for Juliet. Friar Lawrence then went on to explain how he was just in love with Rosaline and now he has just moved on so fast. When Romeo was outside, Friar Lawrence said “Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (2.3.71-72) Romeo and Juliet are both immature and their love and hate are childish. Romeo and Juliet both fall in love without even knowing each other and both face the consequences that love, at first sight, isn’t always true love. “Rosenberg writes that it is “ full of, deeply childish ideas about love,”  that she doesn’t want to see “ depressing”  material,  that the plotting is sloppy, the world-building vague, and that the play lacks rich rolls.” (Butler 3) Many of the ideas of love present in Romeo and Juliet are not mature enough to call true love. Butler also states that Romeo and Juliet ignore the bad in their relationship and they ignore the depressing parts. Some may argue that the plot is immature and childish but in reality, Romeo and Juliet show their love for each other and are both willing to go against their families to prove it. Romeo and Juliet are both full of love and teach the world today how to love. Through their love, they both have to face hate in their families. Romeo’s hate against Tybalt shows that love overrides hate. Romeo’s built-up hate shows the amount he is willing to sacrifice for Juliet and their future relationship together. Romeo and Juliet come across hate and violence throughout their relationship but the power of love they have for each other has the power to conquer any hate in their lives.

Many might say Romeo and Juliet’s love is childish and immature but in reality, it is the meaning of love at first sight and they both prove to society that love overrides hate. Shakespeare’s characters show the world how to love by emphasizing the sacrifices that take place in the story. Shakespeare teaches the world how to hate by emphasizing the hate between the two families and the hate Romeo has kept inside his body throughout the story. While Romeo and Juliet may be full of childish love and immature hate, it is definitely the prime example of how true love conquers hate.

Works Cited

Butler, Isaac. “In Defense of Shakespeare”. Slate, 11 April 2013. Retrieved from  https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/04/why-shakespeare-s-romeo-and-juliet-deserves-its-classic-status.html

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. 1597.

Tumiel, Cindy. “Why Do We Still Care About Shakespeare?” Ovations. (n.d.)  from https://www.utsa.edu/ovations/vol8/story/shakespeare.html