Motifs and Themes
Fate
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vs.
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Free Will
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Are consequences and situations built strictly by the decisions made by and individual or does the universe work wonders of its own? While coincidentally blaming his problems on "the stars," Romeo indirectly quotes that fate is a strong force that plays a massive role in their love story. During the first Act, when Capulet sends a servant to invite people to the masque, he unknowingly runs into Romeo. Despite having an infinite number of others on the busy streets of Verona, he went to Romeo to ask him to read to him the invite. Blessing him in doing so, he invites him. It is fate that Romeo sees Juliet and feels something more for her immediately. Out of everyone at the masque, Romeo chose Juliet. The scrap between Mercutio and Tybalt leading to the dismay of them both and Romeo, even caused him to say, "I am fortune's fool." It was fate when word never reached Romeo. Villages overtook with Plague were nothing but information not known earlier. Yet, Balthazar made it to Romeo in good health. The awakening of Juliet from her slumber only to find that Romeo has poisoned himself leads to her own death. With a final kiss she decides to part ways only to realize it had only been minutes. With lips so warm she was distraught. If only she had risen minutes, maybe seconds earlier she would still have her Romeo. Is it fate that they belong to rivalry families? Or was it fate that their love, tragedy, and death brought peace?
By: Avneet Sidhu |
Freewill plays a role in Romeo and Juliet just as it does in any other story. It is freewill in the end that leads to actions and reactions. Although fate pushes things, it is the reaction of the characters that ultimately defines the story. The Friar choosing to marry them, the nurse choosing to keep their affair private, and Romeo and Juliet choosing to love despite knowing their background are all examples of free will. Not only that, the fights in broad daylight were all choices made. Romeo could have chosen to disregard his thirst for vengeance of Mercutio's soul and be satisfied with the law handling the matter. Instead, he killed Tybalt. This, inevitably caused his banishment and the dismay of Juliet and Romeo. The plot line and tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is not the work of the gods, it is the consequence of their actions. The entire play, just like reality, is based on cause and effect. The feelings of most characters are relevant to their actions. Most, such as Romeo and Juliet, act out of passion. It is freewill and passion that ultimately ruined Romeo and Juliet. Even though, Juliet's parents tried to reign her back under their command, she fights it and takes the vial in acceptance to the Friar's plans.
By: Ravdeep Thind |
Haste
Another major theme throughout the play is haste. The tragedy that befalls on Romeo and Juliet is due to the hasty actions and risks taken by both protagonists. Although the phrase, "love at first sight," is often thrown around, it is solely based on physical attraction. The subject of love and marriage all pop up within twelve hours of meeting each other. Contributors to this haste include Friar Lawrence and Lord Capulet who insists on marrying his daughter to Paris. Though Lord Capulet advises Paris to win his daughter and sole-heir's heart, the wedding is rushed after Juliet defiantly refuses. It is rushed even further when Juliet agrees. The Friar had agreed to marry the two, thinking that in unifying them he would bring peace to Verona. "(Their) alliance may so happy prove" the ending of the centuries long family feud. Without hesitation, the Friar hands Juliet the "vial." Assuming for the best, he sends out word to Romeo about the plan. Tragically, the words of the Friar never reach him. The master of hasty reactions is Romeo, who quickly loses hope after he sees his bride laying "dead" in the Capulet tomb. If it was not for Romeo taking the poison, Juliet would not inflict death upon herself. (K.H., Tamara)
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"O, Let us hence; I stand on haste." - Romeo |
Posion
Despite simply being the medium used to bring death to Romeo and Juliet, it cycles back and forth in the play. There is mention earlier about poisons and vials. Romeo intakes poison in order to leave the world to be with Juliet, and it is because of that same poison he consumed that Juliet takes her own life. The time that they spend together slowly poisoning the situation further. The poison symbolizes death. Not to mention society's tendency to poison those most innocent. Thus turning them into fatal creatures. The unnecessary rivalry between the Capulet and Montague had turned Romeo and Juliet's love into the very poison hat would be the end of them.
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"Here's to my love! O true apothecary. Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die." - Romeo |
Greenworld
Nature often follows very few rules that society prioritizes. In nature, there is no law. There is only balance. The love of Romeo and Juliet was not seen as a wrong in the eyes of nature. It was a boy that fell in love with a girl. It was love. The green world that occurs in Romeo in Juliet is the solemn meetings that take place just above Juliet's garden. While pushed away from the norms of society, Romeo and Juliet are free to profess their love. This is something they could never do while in the real world. The green world becomes a place of both isolation and refuge. The natural environment of the garden is literally and metaphorically more loosely structured in comparison to that of the world. Issues surrounding social order, and in this case romantic relationships become resolved.
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By: Avneet Sidhu
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Masque
The masque allowed Romeo and Juliet to not only meet but love without knowledge of one's background. Their masks didn't hide their physical appearance as much as it masked their identity - the name that "defined" them. If Romeo were not Montague - just a boy - and Juliet were not Capulet - just a girl -, their love would have flourished with blessings all round. It was this masque and meeting as they did, that made them realize that it doesn't matter where they come from. Even though they should hate those that their family hates, they do not. Instead, they fall in love. The masque is a symbol of just how blind love can be.
"How long is't now since last yourself and I were in a mask?" - Capulet
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Pride
Pride often clogs and clears thoughts of the men in Romeo and Juliet. The male characters demonstrate both positive and negative pride. Lord Capulet and his respect for himself and others is an example of positive pride. Other than respect for himself and his rank, his actions are taken due to his pride. Capulet takes pride in his noble family and believes that they should behave better. He refers to his and Montague's age, which should be enough for them to behave better. While chatting with Paris he speaks, "Tis not hard, I think, for men so old as we to keep the peace" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 2-3). Even though he knew about Romeo entering his household on the night of the Masque, he defies Tybalt from acting as a child thinking that they should respect the Ancient law that condemns them to treat their guests fairly under their roof. An aspect of negative pride overshadows the good. Boys such as Tybalt and Mercutio take pride in acting macho and puffing our their chests. They take pride in never backing out of a fight. Tybalt's pride would not allow him to sit idle when knowing that Romeo had entered his domain. Keeping this in mind, he ventures out into the city in search of a duel with Romeo. Even though Romeo refuses, Mercutio and his pride would not give it a rest - he accepts in place of Romeo. Mercutio's result for such negative pride was death by sword. Knowing what had happened to Mercutio and who had done so, Romeo's pride leads him to seek revenge for his friend. (K.H., Tamara)
"The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride." - Lady Capulet |
By: Avneet Sidhu
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