William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

945 Words2 Pages

What comes to mind when you hear the names Romeo and Juliet? I think of love, hate, and most of all tragedy. It is a tragedy because their love led to their deaths and because Romeo and Juliet were responsible for their own destiny. From the start to the end of their love affair they knew they were going against their parents’ wishes. Romeo and Juliet also made selfish and immature decisions. And as we all know, it was Romeo and Juliet who chose to kill themselves. All of these things contributed to their premature deaths.

From their first meeting, Romeo (a Montague) and Juliet (a Capulet), knew that they were both from feuding families. Shortly after they first met Juliet said, “My only love sprung from my only hate.” [Act I sc.5 ll 145]. Juliet is saying that her love (Romeo) has come from her hate (the Montague family). Seeing as how she had just met Romeo it is very premature to call him her ‘only love’. Shortly after meeting Juliet and learning that she was a Capulet, Romeo said, “My life is my foe’s debt” [Act I sc5 ll125]. Despite knowing that they were from feuding families, Romeo and Juliet decided to pursue their love. They were conscious that they were going against their parents wished. The fact that they chose to keep their relationship a secret proves that. How did Romeo and Juliet expect to live ‘happily ever after’ if their parents did not know about their relationship? Surely Romeo and Juliet knew their parents would find out eventually. Romeo and Juliet seemed to have paid no attention to their families. They ignored their families and did not think about the consequences of their relationship. This was just one of the selfish decisions Romeo and Juliet made.

Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was plagued wi...

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...ind a way to be with Romeo then she would kill herself. This is immature of Juliet. She had reason to live even if Romeo was banished. She told the Friar, “With this knife I’ll help it presently” [Act IV sc1 ll 55]. Juliet was again talking about killing if she could not be with Romeo. By killing themselves, Romeo and Juliet ended their chances of future happiness. They did not know what the future held for themselves. Because of their decision to end their own lives, they had no future.

From the beginning to the end of their relationship, Romeo and Juliet made many selfish, irrational decisions. From deciding to go against their families, to choosing to kill themselves; Romeo and Juliet made fateful decisions. They were responsible for their own destiny. The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of great tragedy, but a tragedy that Romeo and Juliet created themselves.

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