Discuss the theme of love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."

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Nabeel Nawaz        G.C.S.E. English Coursework        

10A4        “Romeo and Juliet”        08/05/2007

Mr. Wright

“Discuss the theme of love in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.”

When you think of love stories the first story that comes into your head is Romeo and Juliet.  One of William Shakespeare’s most outstanding productions, Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story set in the 16th century in the fair town of Verona.  The story is about two young teenagers who are madly in love but their families prevent them from being together.  Such is the quality of this story is that it has been adapted for the modern day.

  • “Romeo and Juliet”- the blockbuster movie with Leonardo Di Caprio as Romeo and Clare Danes as Juliet.
  • “Romeo must Die”- the blockbuster movie with Jet Li and Aaliyah.
  • “West Side Story”- the west end theatre adaptation of gang warfare.

The story begins with a typical Shakespeare style battle scene.  Shakespeare introduces the play with a chorus.  The chorus is employed to give the audience an insight into what is happening in the play.  In the chorus, the first couple of lines are used to set the mood of the play, “two households both alike in dignity, in fair Verona”.  Shakespeare uses this to great effect as this makes the audience want to know more about the play.  From the opening chorus an Elizabethan audience imagined that Shakespeare has made another play about conflict and war but they are mistaken.  

In the second part of Act 1 Scene 1 lady Montague asks Benvolio about Romeo’s strange behaviour.  Benvolio questions Romeo, “ What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?”  From Romeo’s response Benvolio realises that Romeo is in love but he does not know whom with.  Romeo is troubled by his love and he seems confused and bewildered.  Romeo’s lover Rosaline does not know that Romeo loves her.  Romeo has just experienced what he believes to be true love but it is just a passion.    

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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 ...

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