How are the themes represented in the text??

It is important to remember that Shakespeare was not interested in the soap-opera style love stories we are used to seeing but the intense feeling of the emotion. How love can overwhelm and consume a person whole heartedly. This is what we see with Romeo and Juliet, that intense and instant feeling- Both are willing to risk everything even death for the sake of their love. In the end both decide they would rather be dead than live a life without one another. PASSIONATE LOVE

Prologue – we are told from the beginning the power of their love and of their deaths. Act 2 Scene 3- The infamous ‘Balcony Scene’ this is where we hear Juliet profess her love for Romeo despite his name (35). Romeo compares Juliet to the sun (referring to her as light) and offers himself up to her family preferring death to waiting a lifetime for Juliet (80) Act 2 Scene 6- The wedding, Friar Lawrence describes the overwhelming feeling of love to the happy couple. He gives them a warning and instructs them to love moderately for that is the only way to survive such love (10) EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT

Act 3 scene 2- Juliet is anxious for her wedding night, describing to us how much she loves her now husband (5-35). Even after learning he killed her cousin Juliet cannot deny that she still loves him (100). Act 4 scene 1- Juliet seeks counsel from Friar Lawrence about her impending marriage to Paris and states she would rather die than betray Romeo’s love for he is all she wants (50-) CONTIN’D

It seems this couple have so much ton fight against, Their parents hate and the feud that has been plaguing their families for as long as anyone can remember in the end leads to their demise. Juliet had no choice but to abide by her fathers wishes as societies rules of the day dictate,she as a female, is honour bound to obey. Romeo too must abide by his father and continue with this hateful feud, and as much as Romeo hates to fight his duty as a man is to defend his honour when it is threatened by Tybalt and avenge Mercutio’s Death! It is societies expectations and rules that contribute to their deaths! ROMEO AND JULIET VS THE WORLD (FIGHTING AND VIOLENCE WILL ONLY LEAD TO MYSERY AND DEATH)

Act 1 Scene 1- The fight that erupts between the Montague's and Capulet’s illustrates the unnecessary hate and the duty they feel toward at defending their families honour. Act 2 Scene 2/ Act 3 Scene 5- Juliets father on both counts is deciding her fate by giving Paris her hand, she is forced to follow his will. Act 3 Scene 1- Romeo is forced to fight Tybalt to defend his family honour and Mercutio’s. Act 5 Scene 3- The Prince proclaims that the feud and their hate is the cause of their child's deaths, thus ending the feud forever. ( ) EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT

From the outset of the play the audience is told that Romeo and Juliet are ‘Start- Crossed’ that is to say fate controls. This theme of helplessness is continued throughout the play, as the characters struggle to maintain control over their own lives. Even Romeo’s defiance plays straight into the hands of fate, nothing in this play is a coincidence- everything is a product of fate. FATE- THE STORY IS INEVITABLE

Prologue- we are told from the onset of the play that Romeo and Juliet will die and that their love is doomed regardless of what they do. Act 5 Scene 1- upon hearing of Juliet’s death Romeo cries out “I defy you stars..” solidifying that their love is in opposition to the fates. Act 3 Scene 5- After Romeo leaves on the morning after their wedding, Juliet is begging with the fates to return Romeo to her quickly, the audience knows that this will not happen! Act 1 Scene 4- Before entering the Capulet ball Romeo describes to the audience that something destined to happen will begin that night, his manner implies it is inevitable (113) EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT

CONTIN’D