“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.
“Why, such is love’s transgression:
Grief’s of mine own lie heavy in my breast” (ll179-180)
Romeo feels love is rough with him, he feels heartbroken that Rosaline doesn’t share his feelings. The language in which Romeo conducts gives the impression love has driven him to sadness;
“In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman”
Romeos introduction viewed by the audience is of sadness; Romeo’s character is seen as unhappy and lost in love. The audience see Romeos personality guided by his love for Rosaline, and the love is so strong that when rejected turns to sadness. Shakespeare wants the audience to see Romeos flaw, and he wants us to see that Romeos character will help determine the outcome of the play.
When Romeo first sees Juliet, his reaction is sudden and his flaw is exposed, he falls in love straight away. Romeo behaves, even though just meeting Juliet, as if she is the one for him, Rosaline’s forgotten and Juliet’s his new love.
Romeos use of language towards Juliet suggests he has known for a lot longer than he actually has, Romeo is romantic and use’s exaggerated language toward Juliet. Romeo declares his love for Juliet almost immediately, like his actions his language is the same, rash. Romeo proposes marriage to Juliet after knowing her only one night, Juliet does not decline and accepts Romeos proposal. Shakespeare indicates at no point that this is a good thing, their quarrelling families that bear hatred towards each other. Romeo and Juliet are both single children from their families; Shakespeare throughout the play sets up warnings that this love is no t a good thing. Romeo and Juliet suffer nothing but misery throughout the play and all because of an old family feud. Shakespeare dedicates little time to the marriage, this shows how little importance romance affects the play, Shakespeare wanted to emphasise;
“ Come, come with me, and we will make short work”
Crises point is reached in act3 scene1, is it fate or destiny that creates this crises point or is it just a personality flaw? Romeo’s personality is ruled by emotion so when Mercutio falls, Romeo is enraged and his emotions arise to force him to seek revenge. Tybalt’s personality is of a stubborn and angry nature, it is Tybalt who first wants revenge on Romeo but then the feelings turn mutual and Romeo soon wants revenge on Tybalt. When both the emotions of Romeo and Tybalt face each other, it is obvious that no good can come of it, and a never death will occur. Were these two characters destined to face each other or was it just their personality flaws that made these two men from opposing families seek revenge on the other and create the crisis point. When crisis point is reached and Tybalt falls, as soon as Tybalt falls Romeo realises that he has just made the biggest mistake.
“I am fortune’s fool” (act3 scene1 ll32)
Romeo’s reaction is not of remorse for Tybalt’s slain, but the death of his and Juliet’s future together. Romeo blames fate and fortune for his mistake, Shakespeare creates the atmosphere that no one is shocked or surprised by the murder, and Shakespeare also hopes that people will realise that it is Romeo’s flaw that is the creator of the crisis point and not fate and destiny. Even when Romeo is in the deathbed scene his actions are thoughtless, whilst looking at Juliet before taking the poison Romeo, even though saying it, he doesn’t realise that Juliet contains features that dead people should not;
“Thou art not conquer’d, beauty’s ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks” (act5 scene3 ll94/95)
Romeo should have realised that Juliet was not in fact dead, but this shows Romeo’s character clearly, Romeo acts without thinking and in a rash manner. Despite all evidence Romeo’s rash behaviour determines him taking his own life. Shakespeare puts his own views on Romeo’s personality, when Romeo dies. If Romeo didn’t behave the way he did, if his personal flaw wasn’t his emotions then death could have been avoided.
Tybalt is a major character, and like most the characters in Romeo and Juliet, has his own personal flaw. In the play nothing suggests that Tybalt is controlled by the stars, Tybalt behaves the way he does because that is the character Shakespeare had given him.
“I will withdrawl, but this intrusion shall” (ll57/58)
Tybalt’s character is very important in Romeo and Juliet, he is the one that brings crisis point in the play. Tybalt is the character that creates the outcome for Romeo and Juliet, and is the character that makes Romeo reach the plays climax point.
Tybalt’s introduction sums up his whole character, his tone of voice and choice of language suggests the aggression that his character is feeling. We see Tybalt’s fiery conduct and use of weapons, from the first time we see Tybalt is becomes obvious of his major importance in the play. The first scene in the play sets the whole atmosphere between the two families, the hatred that each family share for each other predicts the outcome for the future events that will change the course of the play. The first scene shares a lot of hatred, but most aggression and hatred towards the other is shown by Tybalt, his pure anger and grudge towards any Montague will effect the play further on, Tybalt is led by his anger and any Montague to lighten this flame of rage will surely result in a death:
“What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montague’s, and thee”
Tybalt’s opening sentence is aggressive, and his following words hammer home the hatred in which is character has towards hell, and the Montague’s. It is clear hatred will dominate the play from this point on, and Tybalt.
Act3 scene1 brings us to the climax point and is a major part of the play as a whole; this scene sees Romeo determine the ending of the play. Tybalt’s role in this scene is of great importance because it is his anger and hatred that causes the point to reach climax. Tybalt’s behaviour drives Romeo to avenge the death of his best friend and to end the future for both Romeo and his Juliet.
Shakespeare creates Tybalts character to make us focus on the hatred in the play, Tybalt brings about most major brawls and fights including the brawl in which crisis point is reached. Shakespeare shows us through the character of Tybalt that hatred and the families grudge will dominate the play, and not the love of the two star crossed lovers.
We see in the ball scene how serious Tybalt is towards the honour of his family and the aggression and hatred he bears inside. Romeo is brought along to the ball and instantly Tybalt acknowledges his presence and presumes it as an insult. Through knowing what Tybalts character is capable of we can see clearly that this intrusion will not be allowed to rest till Romeo has paid the punishment;
“Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greetings”
Tybalts first reaction to seeing Romeo at the ball is an explosion of rage, Capulet stops Tybalt from lashing out at the uninvited guest, but Tybalt swears revenge on Romeo. The intrusion by Romeo is misunderstood by the angered Tybalt, it is seen as mockery and a insult, Romeo is thought have to come to the ball to laugh and ridicule the Capulets name. Capulet stops Tybalt from engaging Romeo at the ball and gives him a talking to;
“You are a saucy boy. I s’t so indeed?” (act1 sc5 ll82/83)
After being spoken to by Capulet, Tybalt’s only thought is revenge, but he doesn’t just want revenge, he promises it. We can tell Tybalt will fulfil his promise because he bears too much of a grudge to any Montague to let Romeo get away with it. Hate dominates the outcome of the play, we see through every turn of event that hatred is the culprit behind the event. Hatred causes climax point, hatred determines the death of Romeo and Juliet and hatred ends anything good that happens. Hatred is the down fall of all major characters except one;
“My only love spring from my only hate” (ch1 sc5 ll137)
Act3 scene1 brings us to the climax point and is a major part of the play as a whole, this shows Romeo end the future between his self and Juliet as well as the outcome of the play. Tybalts role in this scene is of great importance, it is his character and aggression that reaches the climax point of the play. Tybalt’s behaviour drives Romeo to seek revenge, this ends Tybalts life as well as the life Romeo and Juliet may have had.
Romeo tries telling Tybalt of his marriage to Juliet but Tybalt in all his fury and stubbornness fails to listen resulting in the interference from Mercutio;
“And so, good Capulet, which name I tender
As dearly as mine own, be satisfied” ( ch3 sc1 ll68/69)
Romeo’s role in the play is ironic, this scene shows Tybalt acting without listening to what is actually being said. Act5 sc3 shows Romeo commit the same sin by not listen to himself and acting without thought. Shakespeare indicates that these characters act on raw emotion without thinking about the facts at hand:
“Thou art not conquer’d, beuty’s ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and and in thy cheeks” (ch5 sc3 ll94-95)
Tybalt kills Mercutio accidentally through pure rage, no real reason assists Tybalt’s behaviour just his hatred that he beers inside. Shakespeare shows us that the male characters act on hatred, like boys with toys, no thought for there behaviour only emotion.
Tybalt’s death is the crisis point this influences the rest of the play. When Tybalt fall by Romeo’s sword, the future of Romeo and Juliet as a couple is decided. The influence of the play is ruled by Romeo’s banishment, if he to return to Verona he will be put to death
“ And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence” (ch3 sc 1 ll82-83)
From this point on we know, the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, inevitably will end. Tybalt brought the play to this point, his grudge and anger towards Montague’s leads him to challenge Romeo. Tybalt then slays Mercutio, this angry behaviour results in Romeo avenging Mercutio’s death in rage;
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou or I, or both, must go with him” (ch3 sc1 ll124-125)
Tybalt challenges Romeo to a fight not knowing of Romeo’s marriage to Juliet, Tybalt’s knowing of the marriage may have altered the out outcome as Tybalt and Romeo are now, in law, related. Tybalt may have still attacked Romeo out of rage, with this in mind the dominating emotion for the rest of the play is hatred. All the major characters from this point on behave only on anger, the love story is nearly forgotten and hatred dominates the play.
Shakespeare throughout the play gives out his opinion on fate and destiny, each major character apart from Benvolio die because of their character flaws. Shakespeare suggests that these characters died, not due to their destinies, but due to their characters and personalities. The only major character to survive is Benvolio, Shakespeare has his central message in this one character. Benvolio survives because he never commits an action out of rage or anger, he thinks about what is the right action to take before doing so.
Shakespeare is trying to say that human natures decide what actions people take, fate and destiny do not rule people, people just choose to think that their lives are already set out for them. Shakespeare has a clear opinion on fate and destiny, and he gives his opinions hidden inside the characters. Romeo and Tybalt prove Shakespeare’s point through behaviour governed by their character flaws resulting in their deaths. Benvolio is the only major character allowed to survive; Shakespeare allows this survival through his character shows the other major characters emotions and stubbornness, as well as showing the end that these characters face, death. Tybalt and Romeo show no sense or knowledge in what they say, because all thoughts and behaviour is governed by their hearts and not their heads. On the other hand, Benvolio the only survivor, thinks of what he is doing and saying before he commits takes an action of speaks, everything that he does say makes sense. Benvolio behaves within the law, where as the rest of the characters break the law in their own way, Benvolio’s maturity and sensibility regarding the law is what keeps him from facing the other characters outcome:
“I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
Or manage to depart these men with me” (Act1 sc1 ll62-63)
Tybalts use of language always regards the emotion hatred, Romeo veers between love, depression and hatred but is never seen at what is saw as normal. Romeo is always deep in passion or in the emotion that he is feeling. When Tybalt falls it isn’t the only feature that determines the outcome of the star crossed lovers, this is the point that reaches the climax point but the build up to this point is structured by many more small features that twist their outcome. Romeo slays Tybalt through revenge of his best friends death, this choice was made by him alone, and destiny did not play Romeo to commit this sin.
Shakespeare creates a lesson from the death of Romeo and Tybalt, destiny did not determine either of their fates but each character behaved in the way that they saw fit, and this resulted in them dead with nothing that aimed to posses in the first place.
The play does not fully relate to the title, more of the play is structured around the emotion of hatred, rather than the love story itself. The title ‘Romeo and Juliet’ suggests a play based around their love, but really the true meaning of the play is the grudge between the two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Shakespeare cleverly masks the real meaning of Romeo and Juliet behind the idea of a pair of star crossed lovers controlled by fate and destiny, close study reveals a very different meaning. I agree that the true meaning the Shakespeare wanted us to interpret was that these characters controlled their own lives, not fate or destiny. Shakespeare masks his opinion behind these star crossed lovers, but in fact Shakespeare hides a hidden message behind each major character. Shakespeare was alive when Elizabeth I was on the throne, so any opinion Shakespeare may have had that was different to that of Elizabeth I, then it needed to be masked. Elizabeth I was a strong believer in fate and destiny, so when Shakespeare’s opinion was that opposite of the queen he needed to hide it behind the star crossed lovers. The opinion that is not so clear to see when you are unsure what you are looking for, is actually very easily spotted when studying closely the character of Benvolio. The title of the essay is correct in suggesting that Shakespeare hides a lot of his opinions behind ‘Romeo and Juliet’, when the structure of this play is looked at more closely and the structure are understood, then the clear message is expressed cleverly but simply when thought about. Shakespeare masks these messages so clearly that even the emotion of the play, love, is not actually the emotion intended but the emotion, hatred, is the real feeling that Shakespeare wanted to express.
I believe the title is correct because only when the play and characters have been studied closely, the real message is seen and how Shakespeare has actually cleverly masked this all behind love is acknowledged. Shakespeare’s lesson is to show us that we are not governed by fate or destiny, but by our behaviour and personal flaws, Shakespeare would like us to believe that we choose out own paths and our behaviours cause us to do what we do. Shakespeare believes that there is no fate and destiny, but only our personal flaws.
The project could easily have been argued the other way that fate and destiny do rule our lives, but clearly the plays real message our hidden behind the title, which is a hypotenuse. The title does cleverly mask the true meaning, that fate and destiny do not rule our lives but our personal flaws are the indicators to which path we choose, behind this hypothesis.