Honour In Romeo And Juliet

Honour, the blight of Verona

The shocking death of the Prince’s kin, Mercutio, and the revenge killing of Tybalt of the House Capulet, have shaken our city this week. The reason for these senseless deaths was one of ‘honour’. The modern notion of honour is proving to be detrimental to the safety and way of life in our city. Young men who could help build and contribute to our city are being killed in the name of this sickness, boys are learning that violence is good, and traders and travellers are passing by our city in fear, bringing economic decay. If this disease is not cured, then it will mean certain doom for our city.

The cause of this latest affray is rumoured to be Romeo and Benvolio’s gate crashing of the Capulet’s party last night, inciting Tybalt’s rage. When Tybalt was told to leave him alone sources have reported that he said, “Why, Uncle, ‘tis a shame.” (Act 1, scene 5, line 81). The very next day Tybalt challenged Romeo to a fight, presumably to dispel the ‘shame’. Honour used to be about fighting for your country or protecting the weak, not killing someone because of a petty insult.

The young men of this city are strong, able citizens and they are being taken from us because of a mistaken societal idea. Many of our young men bravely put

Many travellers come to see its beauty and enjoy its pleasures; but this may be threatened if this gross violence continues. The market is always bustling with foreign traders and our city has many bountiful treasures to share. But local people are already beginning to shun our city. Fearful women are sending their servants to market to buy only essentials, instead of going themselves and perusing at length the many wares. And foreign traders are beginning to go elsewhere. If we continue to kill for the sake of misguided notions about reputation then our city will become a miserable, lonely and run-down place; bereft of the joys and wonders of the outside