Romeo and Juliet Theme Paper

        Romeo and Juliet’s love also is similar to Romeo’s love for Mercutio in many ways.  Romeo shares a strong connection with both Juliet and Mercutio.  But a different type of connection.  They are friends who always support each other and would do anything for the other.  When Mercutio says “Nay, gentle Romeo we must have you dance.”  (I. iv. 13) he is being a supportive friend.  Mercutio is telling Romeo that he has to dance and have fun at the party.  Mercutio and Benvolio want him to enjoy himself and have a good time.  Then there is the similarity for what Romeo would do for his love Juliet and his friend Mercutio.  For example after Tybalt killed Mercutio Romeo says to Tybalt “for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company.  Either thou, or I, or both must go with him.”  (III. i. 117-120) This quote is showing that Romeo would die for Mercutio, the same as he would do for Juliet.  This is the main similarity between Romeo’s love for Juliet and his love for his friend Mercutio.  He would support and do anything for the people he loves.  

        Next Juliet’s love for Romeo is very different from the love between her parents.  Romeo and Juliet share a sort of unconditional love where they love each other for who they are.  But on the other hand Juliet’s parents have an authentic love where they love each other because it is the proper thing to do.  You can see that this is true because Capulet and Lady Capulet exchange very few lines in the play.  They also only have a couple of scenes when they are together.  This may mean that Shakespeare wanted to convey that they were not very close and weren’t married to each other because they love each other like Romeo and Juliet do.  They don’t listen to each other either.  When they are both trying to persuade Juliet to marry Paris Capulet gets really mad because Juliet refuses.  That’s when Lady Capulet says to Capulet “You are too hot.” (III. V. 84) She is trying to say he is too mad; needs to calm down and that they should talk about it later.  But he is too angry to listen to her so he gets mad at her and ignores her.  The Capulets may not have as good of a relationship as Romeo and Juliet but that is partially because their beliefs in love are different from Romeo and Juliet’s.  Which bring me to my next topic.  

        Finally, there is the difference between Juliet’s beliefs in love compared to her parent’s beliefs in love.  Juliet’s parents believe you marry someone because it is right for the family.  But Juliet is already married to Romeo simply because she loves him.  Lady Capulet talks to Juliet about marrying Paris right before their party.  She asks “Speak briefly, can you like of Paris’ love?”  (I. iii. 100) Lady Capulet has already planned on Juliet marrying Paris because he is a wealthy and handsome gentleman.  All she wants to know is if Juliet can accept to love him.  Her parents turn very disappointed in her when she disagrees to marry Paris.  They are mad because as their daughter they expect her to marry him to make them happy.  “Soft! Take me with you, take me with you, wife.  How! will she none?  Doth she not give us thanks?  Is she not proud?  Doth she not count her blest, Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?”  (III. Iii. 100) Capulet says this line not understanding why Juliet won’t marry Paris.  He is saying why isn’t she proud or happy that we arranged such a nice gentleman for her to marry.  But Juliet won’t marry Paris because she doesn’t truly love him and her parents won’t understand that.  

        Almost all of the characters have some sort of connection.  From true love and devotion to marriage out of necessity there are varying degrees of relationships all through the story line.  Many of them face hardships.  But of course no one can forget the main point of the story, the relationship between the star ‘crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet.