Discuss and Analyse the role of love and marriage in Romeo and Juliet

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Discuss and Analyse the role of love and marriage in Romeo and Juliet

The play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, was written at a time when views on the role of marriage in society were being questioned and the rules that surrounded the idea of courtly love were changing.

At the beginning of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ we find out that Romeo has been acting rather strangely, unlike his usual self. He is seen ‘an hour before the worshipped sun’ in ‘the covert of the woods’. Romeo’s strange behaviour is also shown by the language he uses, ‘Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate.’ A modern day audience may see his behaviour and speech as being melodramatic and different from the behaviour that would be expected today. However, the audience at the time that the play was written probably felt that his behaviour was acceptable because they would be aware of the chivalric code that had been in place throughout the Middle Ages. The code was being gradually abolished at the time the play was written and so attitudes would be changing. Romeo’s behaviour is different from that shown by the other characters in his family as he does not seem interested in the Montague’s feud with the Capulets. The audience have seen his father call to Lord Capulet, ‘Thou villain Capulet!’ Romeo’s apparent lack of interest in the feud means that the rest of the plot can take place.

Benvolio and Mercutio both show different attitudes to Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline. When Benvolio talks to Romeo he is trying to persuade Romeo to ‘forget to think of her’ and to meet other girls instead. Mercutio’s tone is very insistent when they are talking about the Capulet ball and Mercutio is trying to convince Romeo to enjoy the ball instead of thinking of his adored Rosaline, ‘we must have you dance.’ At the ball Romeo meets Juliet and is astounded by her beauty, ‘For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.’ Afterwards, Mercutio teases Romeo calling him ‘Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!’ Shakespeare is showing different attitudes to love from each of these young men so that the audience can see more than one viewpoint on Romeo’s situation. Benvolio and Mercutio’s advice show attitudes that may also seem familiar to a modern audience as their advice is similar to that which friends might give to each other even today.

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At the time the play was written, marriage would be seen mainly as an economic contract between two families. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that she is to be married to Paris as ‘thou hast a careful father’ and he ‘hath sorted out a sudden day of joy’. Juliet replies ‘I will not marry yet.’ Lady Capulet describes Juliet as ‘a fool’ and Lord Capulet is surprised ‘doth she not give us thanks?’ Lord Capulet is pleased that Paris is ‘so worthy a gentleman’ and describes Juliet as ‘unworthy’ of Paris. Lord and Lady Capulet clearly believe that they are doing ...

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