Depression In Romeo And Juliet Essay

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The greatest stories are the ones that we can relate to, regardless of what time period they’re from. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows the problems of the teenagers and how they react to these problems. Today, teens might be able to relate these problems to their own problems, or someone else's. Romeo and Juliet constantly decide to jump to multiple conclusions without thinking about what could happen next or how these decisions can affect the people around them. Teenagers do that today too. Romeo suffers from depression and has attempted to commit suicide multiple times throughout the play (it even ends with him doing it). Some teens suffer from these problems too. William Shakespeare crafts scenes which are relatable to teenagers …show more content…

About 20% of all teens experience depression before they reach adulthood. Throughout each act, Shakespeare expresses that Romeo suffers from depression. In Act I, Scene 1: Page 188, Benvolio asks, “What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?”. Romeo responds by saying “Not having that which, having, makes them short.”. His statement means that he doesn’t have the one thing that makes time fly by, love. That sounds extremely depressing. This is just the first scene though. After Romeo kills Tybalt, Paris banishes him from Verona. Romeo then goes to Friar Lawrence and tells him about his banishment (Act III, Scene 3: Page #238). “Friar Lawrence: Hence from Verona art thou banishèd. Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.” He’s telling Romeo that banishment is a consequence that he should be able endure because the world is broad and wide. Romeo then responds saying “There is no world without Verona walls but purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence ‘banishèd’ is banished from the world, and world’s exile is death. Then ‘banishèd,’ Is death mistermed. Calling death ‘banishment,’ Thou cutt’st my head off with a golden ax and smilest upon the stroke that murders me.” He then attempts to commit suicide by trying to stab himself. Luckily, Friar Lawrence stops him from doing by taking the knife and pushing Romeo away. This is relatable to teenagers because most teens don’t want to face their consequences and …show more content…

Romeo wants Paris to leave but he refuses. So, they fight and Romeo kills him.“Paris: Oh, I am slain! If thou be merciful, Open the tomb. Lay me with Juliet.” Romeo also causes Juliet to die. Juliet faked her death, but Romeo thought it was real. He kills himself to be reunited with her. “Here’s to my love! (drinks the poison) O true apothecary, Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act V: Scene 3: Page #272). Directly after Romeo kills himself, Juliet wakes up and sees his dead body. She then kills herself to be united with him. “What’s here? A cup, closed in my true love’s

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