Romeo and Juliet Key themes

Love Romeo and Juliet has become forever associated with love. The play has become an iconic story of love and passion, and the name “Romeo” is still used to describe young lovers. Shakespeare’s treatment of love in the play is complex. He uses love in its many guises to thread together the key relationships in the play.

Fickle Love Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play, which is presented as an immature infatuation. Today, we might use the term “puppy love” to describe this. Romeo’s love for Rosaline is shallow and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence Romeo: “Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline.” Friar Laurence: “For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.”

Traditional Love Similarly, Paris’ love for Juliet is borne out of tradition, not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage. Although this was the tradition at the time, it also says something about Paris’ attitude towards love. He admits to Friar Laurence that in his haste to rush the wedding through he hasn’t discussed it with his bride-to-be.

Romantic Love Our classic idea of romantic love is embodied in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature, so strong that it transcends societal conventions. This idea is established in the play’s prologue with the line: “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.” Perhaps Romeo and Juliet's love is fate - there love is given cosmic significance which can therefore overturn social boundaries. Their love is disallowed by the Capulet and Montague households, yet, they inevitably find themselves drawn together.

Friendship Many of the friendships in the play are as sincere as Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another. The close relationships between Juliet and her Nurse, and between Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are meaningful and heartfelt. They care deeply for another and protect each others honour – this ultimately costs Mercutio his life.

Hate The Capulet’s hate the Montagues and vice versa. We don’t know the reason for the “ancient grudge” though the Prince says their grudge was the result of an “airy word” (an insult). The younger generation of both families continue this feud. It is this hatred that leads to tension and conflict in the play.

Love vs. Hate Does love or hate conquer in the play? Romeo’s love for Juliet and hopes for happiness are destroyed by Tybalt’s hatred of Romeo, Mercutio’s hatred of Tybalt and Romeo’s failure to make amends through love (Act 3 Scene 1) The families’ hatred forces the two to end their lives. The love that prompted their rash actions however brings an end to the families hatred. Once again Shakespeare shows us that Love and Hate are intertwined.

Fate vs. freewill Shakespeare explores the theme of fate by allowing the audience to know his characters’ destinies. In the opening lines of the play the audience is told what is going to happen to the lovers: “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.” Throughout the story, the audience is put in an omnipotent, god-like position from the start encouraging them to think about fate and to what extent our actions are free. Because we know Romeo and Juliet’s fate from the outset we are constantly hoping that they will take a different course. However, their fate is sealed and we are forced to question our own destiny and ability to make free choices.

Fate continued Act 3, Scene 1: this bloody scene in which characters are killed gives us a glimpse of what fate has in store, marking the beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic downfall. Is it fate that Friar Lawrence’s plan to inform Romeo of Juliet’s faked death is not realised due to unforeseen circumstances? Is it fate that Romeo kills himself when he does? Romeo and Juliet see omens throughout the play, continually reminding the audience of their fate. Their death is a catalyst for change in Verona: the duelling families are united in their grief creating a political shift in the city. Perhaps Romeo and Juliet were fated to love and die for the greater good of Verona.

Life vs. Death Death is never far away in the divided world of Verona Shakespeare constantly evokes images of death: ‘death-marked’, ‘untimely death’, ‘death-bed’, ‘canker death’, ‘Cold death’, ‘death- darting eye’, ‘cruel Death’, ‘present death’ Death is personified throughout as a powerful connection between hate and violence and ultimately, passion. Capulet evokes a vivid metaphor of Death as Juliet’s bridegroom: ‘Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir’

Individual vs. Society Lord Capulet represents the familial power held by the father with importance placed on family honour. Romeo and Juliet struggle against public and social institutions that oppose their love e.g. families, law and order, religion, masculine honour. They renounce their names and resort to the cover of night (darkness and privacy) in order to escape the public world.

Your turn Choose a theme you feel you have understood well and complete a practice text response paragraph with the topic sentence: Shakespeare presents the idea of ________ (chosen theme) throughout his play, Romeo and Juliet. In addition to the topic sentence, you must include specific examples, quotes, explanation of quote’s significance. You should also make some reference to social context, symbols, imagery and narrative structure if you want to add sophistication to your work.