Discuss the theme of love in Shakespeare‘s Romeo & Juliet.

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Discuss the theme of love in Shakespeare‘s Romeo & Juliet.

Introduction:

In the introduction of my essay I am to explain why Romeo and Juliet is seen as the most famous love story ever told, I shall include some of the adaptations that I know of.

Romeo and Juliet is the story of two lovers, who were secretly married and tragically separated; and it involves a deadly potion whose effects when taken by a broken hearted Juliet simulate her death. It is the most famous love story ever told because, the power of this love story says something to each and every generation, a story that will never date or die a timeless piece.  It's brilliantly theatrical and features some of the most beautiful poetry ever written.  The story also contains many different themes, the bitter family rivalries which creates the theme of war, theirs unsympathetic elders who’s authority and advice is neglected by the unfortunate lovers. Many of us can reflect some old enough to see the events in perspectives and some of us young enough to understand the conflict that can arise from others trying to live our lives.

The chorus is not a significant character of the play, his job is to basically to introduce the restless audience to the manner and mood of the play, The chorus to Shakespeare would of acted as a modern day programme, it helps to give a brief insight into the play and it also leads us into the civil war between the two noble families.  The Elizabethan audience would most probably see the chorus as a type of narrator and once he starts to speak it would grab there attention and bring the restless crowd to silence they would then settle into the appropriate mood for the first scene.  After the fight scene we are lead to the second part of “Act 1 Sc1” here we learn that Romeo is miserable due to his love-sickness.  Romeo is a were of some kind of disturbance in the streets, but he is so infatuated with the emotion called love that he is far from concerned his thoughts are preoccupied with Rosaline.  Thinking about love makes him happy and at the same time it makes him sad.  He tries to express these two very different states in a number of contradicting phrases which seem illogical for instants;

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"Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health".

Juliet and her Nurse share a very strong relationship, one that surpasses that of a rich girl and her servant. The nurse acts as Juliet's closes companion (friend) and mother.  Juliet is comfortable and at ease speaking to the Nurse, This allows Juliet to take her into her confidence when she decides to defy the family feud and marry Romeo.  The Nurse holds Juliet's happiness so high that she betrays her employer and arranges Juliet's marriage and last night with Romeo. The Nurse is immersed in Juliet's affairs ...

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