Love is also an imperative sector in Romeo and Juliet. A servant to Capulet, who is unable to read the list of guests, asks for Romeo’s assistance, Act 1 Scene 2 Line 56,” God gi’ god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?”. Romeo notices that Rosaline has been invited to the ball. Benvolio challenges Romeo to compare her with other "beauties." Benvolio predicts, "Compare her face with some that I shall show And I will make thee think thy swan a crow." (Act 1 Scene 2 line 86-87). To show his gratitude, the servant asks for Romeo’s presence at the ball. Once at the ball, Romeo is searching for a maiden to substitute the unrequited love of Rosaline. Romeo happens to gaze upon Juliet. Romeo proclaims, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight for ne’er saw true beauty till this night." (Act 1 Scene 5 Line 52-53)
In Act 3 Scene 2 we see a dramatic change towards Juliet’s behaviour towards Romeo. Juliet is bewildered whether she likes Romeo or not. We see this in her soliloquy, “beautiful tyrant”, “damned saint”. Love in the play is represented as something taking over something.
Conflict is also what led to the death of the two young lovers. It first started in Act 1 Scene1 the street brawl between the Capulet and the Montagues then the death of Tybalt followed on. The Prince then banished Romeo from Verona. When Juliet hears Romeo is going to be banished from Verona she seeks the help of Friar Lawrence. The Friar then concocts a potion for Juliet. He sent a letter through Friar John telling him to pass it to Romeo in Mantua. By fate the letter was not received. When Romeo arrived at Juliet’s tomb hearing the news that she died, Romeo slays himself. When Juliet awakes and sees Romeo’s dead she takes the dagger and stabs herself. The Capulet and the Montagues realize their wrong and make up. The two young, lovers wouldn’t have died if there had been peace between the two families.
Although conflict plays a very active and substantial role in the play, religion is seen as the opposite to the feud. The only character who portrays religion is Friar Lawrence. In the historical context. Religious people symbolize mortality. In Act 1 Scene 5 Line 93-106 Romeo contrasts Juliet to religious imagery; “holy shrine” “prayer” “pilgrim”. From these lines we see that religion is immensely important in Romeo and Juliet.
In those times we know that the freedom of women was restricted, “Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, are made already mothers”. When Juliet was forced to marry Paris but she has to remember her status. We see this in Act 3 Scene 5;
“But fertile you fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next
To go with Paris to saint Peter’s Church
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle hither”
Status is important throughout the play. Authority in the play is based on a person’s status.
Fate is provoked by images of death by Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence. The momentum of the play speeds up as we reach the climax. “Black funeral”, “melancholy bells”, “buried course”, these images of death are seen in Act 4 Scene 5, where they find Juliet dead. With the images of death the characters were led to their destiny. “Death that hath sucked to the honey of thy breath” and “To Juliet’s grave, for there must I use thee”.
From the play we can distinguish all the themes are visible; fate, love, religion, revenge, fate and destiny. But fate is the most important theme. Shakespeare has shown destiny by showing each theme and stating that “two star-crossed lovers” have no free will. From the prologue we can see that images of death by fate have been shown. The society is separated because of the “ancient grudge” between the Capulets and the Montagues.
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