Romeo And Juliet: Themes Of Love And Death

Love, violence, death, emotions, dueling, and revenge are all key themes in the wonderful love story of Romeo and Juliet. Written by William Shakespear this novel is about 2 star-crossed lovers that are shocked to discover both their families have an ongoing feud. But the main themes that I am going to talk about are love, death, and family rivalry.

To begin with, the most powerful theme in Romeo and Juliet is LOVE! In Act 2 Scene 2 love is displayed here when Romeo says “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.” This means that Juliet’s generosity to Romeo is as limitless as the sea, and her love is as deep. The more love Romeo gives her the more he has and their love is infinite. This statement is a simile as it uses the word “as”. The play values love so much that the characters would do anything for it this is shown in Act 2 Scene 2. Juliet says “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn by my love, and I’ll no longer be a capulet”. It means that she would do anything for him as she loves him that much and it implies Juliet’s fear that their love would eventually fail, as Romeo is a Montague, and she a Capulet. Giving up her family name is a big deal and if she’s willing to do that for love she would do anything.

Another key theme that we see a lot in Romeo and Juliet is death. First Tybalt killed Mercutio in Act 1 Scene 3. Then in Act 3 Scene 1, Tybalt got killed by Romeo in the streets of Verona. Then in the last scene of the play Act 5 Scene 3 Paris was killed by Romeo. Then Romeo sees Juliet fake dead and he committed suicide then she wakes up and sees him dead then she kills herself. Also, Lady Montague died at the end. A quote that expresses death and violence is in Act 2 Scene 6 This is what Friar Lawrence said: “These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder Which, as they kiss, consume”. This means the delight he feels in his heart for Juliet could be also been equally a violent end. Friar Laurence is begging Romeo not to act too impulsively in his love for Juliet.

Family rivalry and feuds make a big impact on both Romeo and Juliet’s lives. The family feud between the Montagues and Capulet made Romeos and Juliets love forbidden. The prince tried to help the situation when he threatened to sentence anyone to death who made another problem for both of these families. The “Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” is what the narrator said in Act 1 Prologue. It means how the Capulets and Montagues had a grudge long before Romeo and Juliet were born. “Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” is referring to the feud between their families.

In conclusion, Romeo and Juliet is a romantic love story that expresses love, death, and family rivalry. Thank you for listening to my speech.