Audience will feel they are able to relate to the two lovers as them there selves have falling in love at first sight or maybe the audience might feel Romeo just taking advantage of her so he can sleep with her and think of her as a quick thing, or it could be a crush and not love.
In Shakespeare time their were arrange marriage’s in well establish families, this has lead me to believe that Shakespeare has taken that situation and related to his play, this issue was raised, where Lady Capulet says to Juliet “how stands your dispositions to be married” this quote is saying how do you feel about having an arranged marriage and the response that Juliet gives “It is an honour that I dream not of” in other words it is not her desire to be married.
This can still happen to families or societies that are in conflict. This can also be said to some parents in certain cultures for example Muslim or Asian, they decide on who would be suited for their son or daughter.
Today’s audience may feel strongly with Juliet’s decision because people feel it’s wrong of the parents to do that against her and that no one can choose who they fall in love with. On the other hand people may agree with the parent’s choice and they will see that their decision is to protect their daughter security and future happiness.
I‘ve noticed that there are more than just one relevant reason in the story that Shakespeare created, such as feuding families, gang warfare, loyalty, parent/child relationship, love elopement, astrology and death/suicide.
All this issue still are around us today especially the feuding. In Northern Ireland were evidence shows both religion’s-catholic and protestant-are constantly feuding. This issue can also affect their children for example a catholic girl could fall in love with a protestant boy, this can create an even worse situation where lies and betrayal can impose both parties against each other. This dilemma is shown in the story where Romeo and Juliet elope to get married. This has made them lie and betray their parent’s which creates even more tension.
Friar Lawrence believes that it will bring the two different households together which he trusts will make the feuding stop. “For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your household rancour to pure love”, words of Friar Lawrence. Audience will look at this and feel awakened by Friar Lawrence’s ambition to marry the two lovers that could bring the households together; this is another issue that that audience may feel unsure about, which could turn out for the worst instead of becoming better.
Children who are brought up in upper class families don’t always interact emotionally with their own parents as they employ nannies to look after their own children while they are at work for long periods, or it’s just traditional for them to have a nanny as them their selves been brought up will one . The child will most likely have grown a strong bond with the nanny, which can lead the child to feel that they can trust and feel wanted. This is the same for Juliet; her parents have little or no emotion to their own daughter because they spend less time with her, while the nurse is there to comfort her. This has made Juliet lose her loyalty to her parents which lead her to lie. Lady Capulet quotes “Talk not to me for I’ll not speak a word; do as thy wilt for I have done with thee”. This quote shows no warmth to wards Juliet after her father yelled at her violently over her refusal of the arranged marriage to Paris. Even Capulet says “and that we have a curse in having her” this lead’s Juliet to feel hurt and unloved by her parents, which leads her to go and find comfort in the arms of her trusted nurse. The viewers will look upon this situation and feel emotionally distressed towards Juliet as she has no loving bond with her parents. On the other hand, people may see that it is a good thing that her parents have provided her with such richness and that she doesn’t need such a bond with them or they may feel it could distract her decision in life by being comforted a lot.
Gangs’ warfare still happens a lot in society. For example racial attacks, when someone kills another for being different or having the same values as the other person does. In that situation someone you’ve known for years and love this could be a fried or family member, you as that person will feel hurt and make you want revenge on that person.
Romeo is in the same situation where Mercutio, his best friend, is murdered by Tybalt, Romeo’s fearful enemy. “My very friend, halth got this mortal hurt in my behalf, my reputation stained with Tybalt’s slander” this tells us that Mercutio died in defending Romeo and so, Romeo feels he needs to defend that honour by killing Tybalt. I believe the audience will feel for Romeo as they would do the same if it was them but the other side could reject Romeo’s, actions: they may feel that it was unjust and immoral for both characters to act like that.
Death and suicide can be found in people who are afraid, for instance, two couples who have been together for years and one of the partners dies unexpectedly, this can have a strong effect on that person. That person may feel scared, alone and afraid to communicate to anyone, which can lead to suicide over the person they have lost.
This is similar for Romeo and Juliet as Juliet awakens to find her Romeo lay dead beside “I will kiss thy lips haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make me die with a restorative”. Her thought turn towards suicide which leads her to be with Romeo in eternal life.
The audience will feel that the characters see no other way of being together and may understand Shakespeare views upon that scene. The others views that the audience may feel that they cannot relate to is the death, why would two young lovers turn towards death when there could be other options that would save them?
I’ve come to the conclusion that Shakespeare has taken real life situations and put together in to a tragic love story, this has been done through number of his plays such as Macbeth and Hamlet, these play’s have the same similarities situation as seen in Romeo and Juliet’s play, which consist of feuding, love, revenge and suicide.
This very old play relates human nature interaction with issues which not only interesting for the audience, but they can relate to them in today’s culture.