How does Shakespeare portray hatred in Romeo and Juliet?
How does Shakespeare portray hatred in Romeo and Juliet?
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy full of hatred. It portrays the hatred between the two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. At the end it brings the two families closer together, due to the deaths of the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet. People have watched these revenge tragedies in Elizabethan times as well as today for hundreds of years.
The two families have an "ancient grudge" for many years and the two lovers have brought up to hate each other. This has been a common feature in life in Italy.
The play begins with a fight with the servants of both houses, as both are very loyal to their masters. Benvolio (Montague) attempts to stop the fighting but tybalt (Capulet) wants to continue.
"What! Drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee."
This just tells us how much they both hate each other.
The heads of the houses both try to join in the fight but lady Capulet and lady Montague hold their husbands back.
Thou Villain Capulet! Hold me not; let me go."
There is the arrival of the prince who stops the fight.
Romeo was not at the fight, he has been alone and depressed. When Benvolio catches up with him Romeo talks about love.
"Here's much to do with hate, but more with love".
He is referring to the hate as being the hate he has for the Capulets and the love he has for the Capulet girl he likes, who as we find out later that her Rosaline is her name.
Mercutio Romeo's best friend has managed to get tickets for Capulets party at his mansion. Tybalt sees Romeo at the party and Capulet is forced to restrain him.
"Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe. A villain that is hither come in spite to scorn at our solemnity this night."
In Baz Luhrmanns version of Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is dressed in black, which indicates evil and hatred.
Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, and they fall in love. Once Romeo has found out that Juliet is a Capulet and vice versa, the atmosphere changes. The party ends and the Montague party leave together. On their departure Romeo is growing anxious and he is desperate to see his love again. He jumps over the orchard wall back into the Capulet grounds. He can still hear Mercutio's jokes, mocking him, but he ignores them.
"Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!"
Romeo speaks of his love for Juliet, believing that he is alone.
...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, and they fall in love. Once Romeo has found out that Juliet is a Capulet and vice versa, the atmosphere changes. The party ends and the Montague party leave together. On their departure Romeo is growing anxious and he is desperate to see his love again. He jumps over the orchard wall back into the Capulet grounds. He can still hear Mercutio's jokes, mocking him, but he ignores them.
"Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!"
Romeo speaks of his love for Juliet, believing that he is alone.
"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon"
This type of language was used a lot in those days but quickly Romeo learns to express genuine feelings.
"It is my lady. O, it is my love! O that she knew she were!"
Juliet comes out onto her balcony and also begins to speak of her love for Romeo.
"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art though Romeo?
Deny thy father, and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet."
This first line is one of the most famous quotes in the world. It means why are you called Romeo, why are you a Montague. "Deny thy father" is meaning to refuse you family and no longer be a member of the Capulet family which would be a huge insult to Lord Montague and the Montague family.
Juliet has found her true love for the first time, but she knows well that Romeo is a Montague, her enemy. Juliet gets a huge shock when she finally realises that Romeo has overheard her thoughts. The nurse is calling and so Juliet makes a proposal that comes as a surprise to Romeo.
"If that thy bent of love be honourable, they purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow by one that I'll procure to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite.
Moments before, Juliet had been unsure about the situation.
"It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden."
Juliet returns to her bedroom and Romeo is alone on stage for a short time.
The scene is completely different as Romeo now makes haste to Friar Laurence's cell in the morning. Romeo tells the Friar everything. At first the Friar is unsure when Romeo asks him to marry him to Juliet. He then sees how good can come out of this. It could make peace between the two families. The Friar agrees to marry them.
"To turn your households rancour to pure love."
This means to change your two households hatred and turn it into pure love.
Back inside the walls of Verona, Benvolio and Mercutio have been looking endlessly for Romeo. They are discussing Tybalt and are making fun of him.
Romeo appears and joins up with his two friends. Juliet's nurse appears and is eager to have words with Romeo. Romeo tells her of the plans to marry Juliet.
Back at the Capulet mansion, Juliet is waiting anxiously for the nurse's return and when she gets in she is desperate to know what Romeo said. After leaving her in suspense for a while she tells Romeo of his plans for marriage. Juliet then goes to the wedding.
At Friar Laurence's cell Romeo eagerly awaits his bride. Juliet arrives and the Friar marries the two.
It is a hot summer day and Benvolio recommends to Mercutio that they should leave as Members of the Capulet family are about.
"I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad, and, if we meet, we shall not scrape a brawl, for now these hot days, is the mad blood stirring."
Mercutio respond with joke full humour and refuses to go anywhere.
Shortly after Tybalt, accompanied by other members of the Capulet family, approach Mercutio and Benvolio, looking for Romeo. Mercutio is outraged by what Tybalt is saying and draws his sword on Tybalt. Romeo arrives and tries to stop the fight. Romeo being in the way is confusing Mercutio and Tybalt sees his chance to stab Mercutio. At first Mercutio is humorous, but is also cursing both family's.
A plague o both your house! I am sped.
We have to remember that Mercutio is cursing both families, not just his own, as he has just realized that his death was all because of two families hatred.
Romeo, in his anger for tybalt with only a short period of time being his cousin attacks Tybalt and kills him. The Prince of Verona is forced to Banish Romeo from Verona where Juliet lives.
When the nurse tells Juliet of these happenings she is torn between two emotions. Her love for Romeo and his love for her cousin Tybalt.
Romeo, who has done what Friar Laurence has asked, has gone to Juliet's house to comfort her at night.
In the morning Romeo is forced to leave in a hurry with lady Capulet calling for her daughter. Lady Capulet has told Juliet the news about the arranged marriage of her and county Paris. Juliet is outraged and refuses to go ahead with the marriage.
Lord Capulet is furious; he threatens her and in anger leaves the stage accompanied by his wife., as both have disowned their child.
"How? Will she none? Doth she not give us thanks? Is she not proud?"
Lord Capulet is so ashamed of her daughter and it is a big insult to him that she will not marry the man that he thinks is worthy of his daughter.
Not even the Nurse will give her comfort.
County Paris has gone to discuss the arrangements for the wedding while Juliet walks in. He Talks to her passionately and she replies courteously. We all know that this was just an act. Once he has gone she becomes angry once more.
"Be not so long to speak; I long to die, if what though speak'st not of remedy"
This means that if he does not think of a remedy she will want to kill herself.
The Friar has a plan. He gives Juliet a small bottle containing some liquid and tells her to take it and drink it in bed on Wednesday night.
"No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou liv'st;
This liquid will make Juliet appear dead and when the bridegroom comes "to rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead.
The Friar will send word of this to Romeo, who will come hither and watch her wake and both will be free.
Back in Juliet's bedroom she waits till she is alone before drinking all the mixture.
She has her doubts before but drinks it, as she has no other options.
"What if this mixture do not work at all"
The nurse enters Juliet's bedroom in the morning only to find her dead. Lord and Lady Capulet, Paris and Friar Laurence are called to the scene. The Friar orders the removal of Juliet's body.
Romeo has already heard the bad news of Juliet's death and he has no purpose of living without his wife. He goes to an apothecary's shop and bribes the poor man for poison. He then leaves for Verona.
Romeo is not given the vital news about Juliet as the messenger was held back.
Romeo has arrived at Juliet's tomb, which has a visitor already, Paris. Romeo kills Paris. He looks longingly at Juliet.
"Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks"
This is because she really is alive.
Romeo drinks the poison after a last kiss. Seconds later Juliet wakes from her sleep only to see Romeo dead from the poison. She kisses his lips to see if there are any drops of poison left on his lips but they are dry. She takes Romeos dagger and plunges it into herself, falling on top of Romeo.
It took the deaths of their children, but Lord Montague and Capulet shake hands and make peace for once.
William Falzon
P1
