Romeo and Juliet: Victims of Circumstance
Submitted by: Sophia Obaidul
Submitted to: Mr. Fraser
Course: ENG2D
Date Submitted: 6/13/2014
Victims of Circumstance
The tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, is a story of two families, the Montagues and Capulets, who have an ancient grudge against each other but their children Romeo and Juliet fall in love with each other. Bad blood between Romeo and Juliet’s families gets in the way of their love so, Romeo and Juliet reach out to Friar Lawrence for help with their relationship. All of this demonstrates how Romeo and Juliet are victims of love and circumstance. Romeo and Juliet begins with Romeo speaking of Rosaline, she has rejected his love for her and this disheartens him because he is “Out of her favor where I am in love” (1.1.162). In an attempt to cheer up Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio take Romeo to the Capulet party. At the party Romeo and Juliet meet each other and fall madly in love with each other. The audience can see that Romeo has a deep and sincere love for Juliet by the way he describes her: “O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art/As glorious to this night…”(Shakespeare, 2.2.26-27). As well, the audience is able to understand Juliet’s love for Romeo when she states she will refuse her name as a Capulet in order to be with him: “… Or if thou wilt not… I’ll no longer be a Capulet”(2.2.35-36). Given these circumstances, Romeo and Juliet act irrationally in order to preserve their love for each other. Actions of the Capulet house hold plays part in the tragic end of Juliet and Romeo. To begin with, Tybalt tries to fight Romeo but Romeo will not fight Tybalt because he is Juliet’s cousin; Mercutio then steps in Romeo’s defense however, Tybalt kills Mercutio. These events lead to Romeo’s banishment from Verona. Lord Capulet believes Juliet is upset over the death of Tybalt because “… she lov’d her kinsman Tybalt dearly” (3.4.3). In order to keep his daughter happy Lord Capulet moves Juliet’s wedding to
Submitted to: Mr. Fraser
Course: ENG2D
Date Submitted: 6/13/2014
Victims of Circumstance
The tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, is a story of two families, the Montagues and Capulets, who have an ancient grudge against each other but their children Romeo and Juliet fall in love with each other. Bad blood between Romeo and Juliet’s families gets in the way of their love so, Romeo and Juliet reach out to Friar Lawrence for help with their relationship. All of this demonstrates how Romeo and Juliet are victims of love and circumstance. Romeo and Juliet begins with Romeo speaking of Rosaline, she has rejected his love for her and this disheartens him because he is “Out of her favor where I am in love” (1.1.162). In an attempt to cheer up Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio take Romeo to the Capulet party. At the party Romeo and Juliet meet each other and fall madly in love with each other. The audience can see that Romeo has a deep and sincere love for Juliet by the way he describes her: “O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art/As glorious to this night…”(Shakespeare, 2.2.26-27). As well, the audience is able to understand Juliet’s love for Romeo when she states she will refuse her name as a Capulet in order to be with him: “… Or if thou wilt not… I’ll no longer be a Capulet”(2.2.35-36). Given these circumstances, Romeo and Juliet act irrationally in order to preserve their love for each other. Actions of the Capulet house hold plays part in the tragic end of Juliet and Romeo. To begin with, Tybalt tries to fight Romeo but Romeo will not fight Tybalt because he is Juliet’s cousin; Mercutio then steps in Romeo’s defense however, Tybalt kills Mercutio. These events lead to Romeo’s banishment from Verona. Lord Capulet believes Juliet is upset over the death of Tybalt because “… she lov’d her kinsman Tybalt dearly” (3.4.3). In order to keep his daughter happy Lord Capulet moves Juliet’s wedding to
Cited: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.