Juliet Capulet is the only child of the Capulet family. Juliet aged 14 is of little importance in the Capulet household. Juliet’s parents do not take an interest in Juliet’s life, this is why they hire a nurse to look after her. The nurse is the only motherly figure to Juliet. Juliet’s parents only think of the family’s name and wealth. Lord Capulet arranges Juliet’s marriage to count Paris without Juliet’s knowledge and acceptance. He arranges this marriage so to receive wealth and fame across Verona. The Friar Lawrence and the nurse arrange the couple’s secret wedding. The nurse also as a link between the two lovers.
The nurse wants to see Juliet live a happy life. In Act 3 scene 5, the nurse warns the “two star crossed lovers” of the approaching danger, “Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.” But when the secret marriage goes wrong the nurse then tells Juliet to marry Count Paris, because of her loyalty to the Capulet family.
Lord Capulet and Juliet do not get along very well but Lord Capulet is still Juliet’s father so she has a lot respect for him. In the beginning of the play Juliet is happy to obey her parents, however when she falls in love with Romeo she is reluctant to obey her parents and their wishes.
The Capulet’s have parental love deep inside them for their daughter, Juliet’s parents are crestfallen when they learn of Juliet’s death. Lady Capulet, “o me,
o me, my child my only life!” Lord Capulet cannot believe that she is dead, “hah, let me see her, out alas, she’s cold”.
Throughout Romeo and Juliet the theme of friendship is a vital factor in the events of the play. Romeo’s dear friend Benvolio knows of Romeo’s love sickness. So Benvolio suggests that they go to the Capulet ball to take things of Romeo’s mind. This is a great example of friendship in the play. Another instance that shows friendship is when Friar Lawrence agrees to help Romeo, “but come young waverer, come go with me. In one respect I’ll thy assistant be.” Friar Lawrence is a good friend to Romeo and Juliet. He wants to end the bitter rivalry between the two families. Another instance of friendship in the play is when Mercutio fights for Romeo’s honour and dies. This scene is a pivotal part in the play as the fight between Romeo and Tybalt leads to Romeo’s banishment from Verona.
Romeo believed that he had found the love of his life in Rosaline but he was wrong. When Romeo meets Juliet he realises what true love is and how it feels to be loved. At this point Romeo becomes a man and his thoughts and his language has changed dramatically. Romeo seems to be confused when he is speaking about rosaline, “tut, I have lost myself I am not here.” Whilst the language that he uses for Juliet is passionate and affectionate, “she speaks. O speak again, bright angel”. This is because Romeo is speaking from his heart and he means it.
Romeo uses personification to describe Juliet, “Juliet is the sun! arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.” His love for Juliet is stronger and much affectionate. Romeo and Juliet are united together as one through marriage. The inseparable pair realise that life without each other is impossible and they would rather die then not being without each other.
The famous balcony scene shows the true extent of love between the couple. Juliet claims that she will reject her family name to be with Romeo, “Deny thy father and refuse thy name: Of if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet”.
Romeo and Juliet die in a tragic and terrible way. Romeo arrives at the tomb where Juliet lay, believing that his dear wife is dead but really she is only in a deep sleep. The shocked Romeo then swallows poison and he dies beside his beloved wife. When Juliet wakes up from her deep sleep she finds Romeo’s body beside her. The traumatized Juliet uses Romeo’s dagger to stab herself and so the two lovers die side by side each other as they said they would. Through death the lovers are united for all eternity, their love has made them immortal.
The death of these two ill-fated lovers ends the rivalry between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s, but at a great price to pay. Friar Lawrence had achieved his objective but at the expense of his 2 friends. The play is centred around the theme of love and in a way the events in the play are affected by the theme of love. William Shakespeare has not just included one type of love but a whole variety of types.
The most important type of love shown in the story is Passionate love. This love is depicted between Romeo and Juliet. The love is strong and it is from the heart and the soul. This love changes people’s characteristics and their behaviour, Romeo becomes mature and much more passionate towards love and Juliet becomes independent and more thoughtful.
There is evidence of Parental love in the tale, between Lord Montague/Lady Montague and Romeo. The Capulet’s disregard their daughter and it is the nurse who acts as the only motherly figure to Juliet. However at the end of the story when Juliet has died, the Montague’s become conscious of their concealed love for their daughter.
An additional love revealed in the play is Unrequited Love. Unlike Passionate love this love is not real and it is really just an obsession with love. Romeo thinks that he is in love with Rosaline but it is only in his head. This is his teenage attitude to love and his lust for love. Paris is in love with Juliet’s beauty and not for who she is.
Friendship is a further type of love furthermore it is stronger than Passionate love. The influence that friendship has on the play is strong and powerful.
The story of Romeo and Juliet has been remembered for centuries and it will be remembered for centuries to come. Through the teenagers deaths both families have realised the consequence that has been caused because of their long-standing conflict. Through death Romeo and Juliet have shown how truelove can conquer over anything.