Shakespeare cleverly masks the true meaning of Romeo and Juliet behind the idea of a pair of 'star crossed lovers' controlled by fate and destiny. Close study of the play reveals a very different meaning.

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Joseph Baker 10p centre no. 20605 candidate no. 1008 February 2004

Romeo and Juliet: Essay 2

Shakespeare cleverly masks the true meaning of Romeo and Juliet behind the idea of a pair of ‘star crossed lovers’ controlled by fate and destiny. Close study of the play reveals a very different meaning.

Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is all about the human condition. It is based around two star crossed lovers, who’s affections are torn apart by their family’s feuds. The play is structured so that the ending is inevitable, and all outcomes are due to the characters human conditions and the effect that others apply to the situation.

  Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is far more about the nature of hatred rather than love, even though people see the play as a romantic tragedy. Hatred determines Romeo and Juliet’s outcome as well as Mercutio and Tybalt’s, hatred is also the main influence on the path in which the play takes.

Four of the five major characters, Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio and Tybalt, all have the same ending, death. Each character has a small part in influencing Romeo and Juliet’s fate, each character share a same characteristic that is shown in many different forms, the characteristic they all share is the same as the emotion Shakespeare masks, hatred. All of the characters feel a form of hatred towards a never during the play, this hatred is a great impact throughout the play on Romeo and Juliet’s outcome.

 Shakespeare was a strong believer in the notion that their flaws and not their strengths govern people; the play shows us this in the form of the characters and their flaws. Romeo’s flaw is that he fall in love quickly and easily, this is clear to see and is spotted near the beginning of the play when Rosaline is forgotten and Juliet is the new love.

“This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand”

 

Mercutio’s flaw is that he’s very impulsive and feels he is invincible, this is seen when he is stabbed and his response is as if the wound is a joke and not very serious. Tybalt on the other hand is full of hatred, and is a strong believer in respect and revenge. When Tybalt sees Romeo at his family’s ball, he feels his respect has been breached and revenge is needed to claim back his honour. Juliet’s flaw is not an emotion, but a person, Romeo. Juliet is love struck by Romeo, even though Paris is a better choice, Juliet still follows after Romeo and his love even through banishment. Juliet’s choice of Romeo is the cause of her death, and her could have been avoided if she chose Paris instead.

Only one major character survives, and that is Benvolio. The reason why Benvolio is the only character not to die is because he is the only character that doesn’t resemble the same features as the other characters. Benvolio is calm and doesn’t behave rashly, he always thinks about the present and the future. Shakespeare’s message is concealed within this character; Benvolio presents his idea that people’s behaviours affect the way they live and die and not fate and destiny.

 Shakespeare wanted the audience to believe that the characters flaws determined there endings, but Shakespeare had to mask his opinion to satisfy the views of the time, and people were led to believe that the play was structured on fate and destiny but the real back bone of the play was of hate and character flaws, and how we control our own fate.

The play is set in Italy, Verona and this impacts Romeo’s character a great deal. Most Italian men are romantic and strong believers in love, but Italian men are also known for there over the top romance, this influences Romeos character. Shakespeare creates Romeo’s character so his emotions are easily changed from high to low, Shakespeare also shows Romeo being driven by his emotions. Romeo’s emotions give a clear picture that his death will be inevitable, Romeo’s rash actions and explosion of emotions will determine his outcome:

“And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now” (Act3 scene1 ll120)

Romeo’s approach to Juliet is rash and foolhardy; this is because Shakespeare has to get Romeo and Juliet together quickly to move the play along. Romeo and Juliet fall in love immediately, this effects Romeo’s approach because he is driven by his emotions making him behave rashly and foolhardy:

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“Then move not while my prayers effect I take

This from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged” (Act1 scene5 ll108-104)

Romeo is first introduced in act1 scene1 after a brawl between the two families, we first hear of Romeo from his father worrying about him and the way he is behaving. Romeo is moping around and unhappy for a reason his father doesn’t know, it is Benvolio who confronts Romeo about his problem and find’s out Romeo’s in love. Romeo’s feelings towards love are very strong and exaggerated; the language he uses is really romantic and exaggerated. ...

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