Pain and Suffering
Romeo and Juliet
Emotional pain and suffering is unavoidable, especially when connected to love. Many examples can be noted through Romeo and Juliet’s relationship and experiences in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is deprived of relationships, loses his closest friend, and is grief-stricken by the news of Juliet’s death. Meanwhile, Juliet has no support or freedom from her family and is responsible for her true love’s real death. She seems to be in more distress throughout the play.
To begin with, Romeo experiences a harsh, one-sided romance with Rosaline. Unfortunately, his love toward her is rejected and Romeo spends a majority of his time moping and complaining about his non-existent relationship with Rosaline and how harsh and unforgiving love can be. [Quote: p. 41, Line 185 or p. 43, Line 218]. Furthermore, Mercutio, Romeo’s closest friend and confidant, dies from a fatal stab by rival Tybalt that was unseen due to Romeo’s interference. Romeo has to deal with the agony of losing someone close, in addition to the guilt of being partially responsible for it. [Quote: Act 3, Scene 1]. Thirdly, he is banished from Verona and becomes unable to be with his true love, Juliet. Later on he receives information that she passed away and grieves for her and wishes to be with her wherever it may be. [Quote: p. 253, Line 17 or p. 255, Line 37].
Although Romeo undergoes some suffering, Juliet endures her own afflictions as well and arguably even more. The first example is that Juliet is forced to marry Paris even after she publicizes her real love for Romeo. Not only that, her family strongly disapproves including Nurse, who was the only one in the Capulet house to be in favour of Juliet’s romance with Romeo. [Quote: p. 200, Line 157]. Moreover, she is guarded at home and does not have enough freedom to visit Romeo as she
Emotional pain and suffering is unavoidable, especially when connected to love. Many examples can be noted through Romeo and Juliet’s relationship and experiences in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is deprived of relationships, loses his closest friend, and is grief-stricken by the news of Juliet’s death. Meanwhile, Juliet has no support or freedom from her family and is responsible for her true love’s real death. She seems to be in more distress throughout the play.
To begin with, Romeo experiences a harsh, one-sided romance with Rosaline. Unfortunately, his love toward her is rejected and Romeo spends a majority of his time moping and complaining about his non-existent relationship with Rosaline and how harsh and unforgiving love can be. [Quote: p. 41, Line 185 or p. 43, Line 218]. Furthermore, Mercutio, Romeo’s closest friend and confidant, dies from a fatal stab by rival Tybalt that was unseen due to Romeo’s interference. Romeo has to deal with the agony of losing someone close, in addition to the guilt of being partially responsible for it. [Quote: Act 3, Scene 1]. Thirdly, he is banished from Verona and becomes unable to be with his true love, Juliet. Later on he receives information that she passed away and grieves for her and wishes to be with her wherever it may be. [Quote: p. 253, Line 17 or p. 255, Line 37].
Although Romeo undergoes some suffering, Juliet endures her own afflictions as well and arguably even more. The first example is that Juliet is forced to marry Paris even after she publicizes her real love for Romeo. Not only that, her family strongly disapproves including Nurse, who was the only one in the Capulet house to be in favour of Juliet’s romance with Romeo. [Quote: p. 200, Line 157]. Moreover, she is guarded at home and does not have enough freedom to visit Romeo as she