A Sense of Tragedy in the Final Scene of Romeo and Juliet

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A Sense of Tragedy in the Final Scene of Romeo and Juliet

The Oxford English dictionary defines tragedy as

1) A play in which the main protagonist falls to disaster through the

combination of a personal failing and circumstances which they cannot

deal.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy because both characters kill themselves

to show how much they love each other, even though that love is

forbidden. Romeo and Juliet is different from other plays of

Elizabethan times as Shakespeare made the play about a type of love

that is positive as opposed to the type of love shown in the revenge

tragedy plays of the era. Revenge tragedies include 'The Duchess of

Malfi' by Webster, 'The Spanish Tragedy' by Kyd and 'Tamberlaine' by

Marlowe.

The genre revenge tragedy is based on murder and revenge. The murders

are normally depicted in excruciating detail. Themes of this genre

include social, political and religious interests of the Elizabethan

people.

In addition to this, the theme of parental control and the rebellion

of their children to an extent can and did determine the ending as

both Romeo and Juliet betrayed their parents which was, in the

Elizabethan era, a major crime which was comparable to treason.

If Shakespeare had written the play in such a way that the main

characters lived "happily ever after", it would have been censored as

it goes against the natural order of time. At the start of the play,

there is stability as both the children obey their parents. When they

meet, the equilibrium is disrupted and they start to disobey their

parents and their beliefs by breaking the "ancient grudge" set by the

two families Montague ...

... middle of paper ...

...ier through the hurt caused by Romeo being

banished "Grief of my son's exile hath stopped her breath" This adds

sorrow to the final scene.

The Friar then proceeds to tell the families the entire story in a

direct way; there are no puns, just direct information and the truth

of the tragedy.

The prince speaks about the situation and initially calls it a

"misadventure" but changes his words to "foul murder" creating a sense

of fear towards the two families. He is quite unsympathetic at first,

considering both families had lost their only children. This increases

the sense of tragedy between the families. The tragedy is heightened

still as the families are still feuding at this point even though

their children have just committed suicide. The enraged prince

confirms this "see what a scourge is laid upon your hate!"

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