Analysis

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play about the struggle between love and hatred. The main characters, Romeo and Juliet, are young lovers who are forced to keep their love a secret due to their families' long-standing feud. Despite their efforts to be together, their families' intense hatred for each other constantly stands in the way. At first, it seems like their love may be strong enough to bring the families together and end the feud, but it becomes clear that the hatred runs too deep. The play takes place in a flawed world where love is the only pure and untainted force, and it ultimately becomes the cause of the lovers' demise. However, their love does ultimately bring about the resolution of the feud, even if it comes at a high cost.

Summary

Romeo and Juliet is a play about the forbidden love between two young people from feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues. The story begins with a street brawl between the servants of the two families, and is further escalated when Tybalt, a Capulet, arrives on the scene. The Prince of Verona, Escalus, tries to keep the peace by issuing a death sentence for anyone who disturbs it again.

Romeo, the son of the Montagues, confides in his cousin Benvolio that he is in love with Rosaline, a woman who does not return his feelings. Benvolio advises him to find another woman, but Romeo remains heartbroken. Meanwhile, Paris, a relative of the Prince, asks for Juliet's hand in marriage. Juliet's father, Capulet, is pleased with the match, but asks Paris to wait two years, as Juliet is only fourteen. Capulet invites Paris to a masquerade and feast he is hosting, hoping it will help Paris win Juliet's affection.

Romeo and Benvolio come across a Capulet servant with a list of invitations to the feast, and decide to attend in order for Romeo to see other beautiful women and hopefully get over Rosaline. At the feast, Romeo sees Juliet and immediately falls in love with her, forgetting about Rosaline. When Tybalt sees Romeo, he is enraged that a Montague has snuck into a Capulet event and prepares to attack him, but Capulet holds him back. Romeo and Juliet speak and share a powerful attraction, unaware that they are from rival families. When they find out, they are heartbroken.

Despite their families' animosity, Romeo and Juliet decide to marry in secret with the help of Friar Lawrence, a friend and confidant of Romeo's. The following day, they are married and Romeo spends the night with Juliet. The next day, Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, challenges Romeo to a duel after being enraged by his presence at the Capulet feast. During the duel, Tybalt stabs Mercutio, a friend of Romeo's, and Romeo kills Tybalt in a fit of rage. The Prince banishes Romeo from Verona as punishment.

Juliet awaits the arrival of Romeo, her new husband, in her room. The Nurse enters and tells Juliet that Romeo has killed Tybalt, Juliet's cousin. Juliet is devastated to be married to a man who has killed her family member, but ultimately decides that her duty lies with her love for Romeo.

Romeo sneaks into Juliet's room that night and they consummate their marriage and love. The next morning, they are unsure when they will see each other again and say goodbye. Juliet learns that her father wants her to marry Paris in just three days, but she is unable to reveal to her parents that she is already married to Romeo and does not want to marry Paris. She seeks advice from the Nurse, who suggests that Juliet pretend Romeo is dead and marry Paris, who is a better match. Juliet is disgusted by the Nurse's disloyalty and goes to Friar Lawrence for help. He comes up with a plan to reunite Juliet and Romeo in Mantua. Juliet must drink a potion that will make her appear dead the night before her wedding to Paris, and after she is placed in the family crypt, the Friar and Romeo will secretly retrieve her and she can live with Romeo away from their feuding parents.

When Juliet returns home, she finds out that the wedding has been moved up a day and is to take place the following day. She drinks the potion that night and the Nurse discovers her apparently dead the next morning. The Capulets grieve and Juliet is entombed according to plan. However, Friar Lawrence's message explaining the plan to Romeo never reaches him because Friar John, the messenger, is confined to a quarantined house. Romeo only hears that Juliet is dead.

When Romeo finds out about Juliet's death, he decides to take his own life rather than live without her. He buys poison from an Apothecary and goes back to Verona to kill himself at Juliet's tomb. As he approaches the tomb, he encounters Paris, who is leaving flowers at Juliet's grave. They get into a fight, and Romeo ends up killing Paris. He enters the tomb, sees Juliet's lifeless body, and drinks the poison, dying beside her. Friar Lawrence arrives shortly after and realizes that Romeo has killed Paris and himself. At the same time, Juliet awakens. The Friar hears the approaching watch and tries to persuade Juliet to leave with him, but she refuses and he leaves on his own. Juliet sees Romeo's dead body and realizes he has poisoned himself. She kisses his poison-laced lips, but when that doesn't kill her, she takes Romeo's dagger and fatally stabs herself.

The watch arrives, followed closely by the Prince, the Capulets, and the Montagues. Montague announces that Lady Montague has died of grief over Romeo's exile. When the Capulets and Montagues see their children's bodies, they decide to end their long-standing feud and honour their children by building golden statues of them side by side in a peaceful Verona.

Character Profiles

Romeo

Romeo is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is depicted as a lovesick ‘And private in his chamber pens himself, Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, And makes himself an artificial night.’ , ‘I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe.’ and impulsive young man who is infatuated with a girl named Rosaline, whom he believes he is unable to have. ‘Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous and it pricks like thorn.’ However, as the play progresses, he falls in love with Juliet and his love matures into a deeper and more authentic feeling.

One of Romeo's defining traits is his deep capacity for love and emotion. He is capable of experiencing intense feelings of love and passion, as seen in his love for Juliet, ‘Did my heart love till now?’ , ‘O she doeth teach the torches to burn bright’ but he is also prone to extreme displays of anger, such as when he kills Tybalt in a fit of rage. ‘Either thou or I, or both, must go with [Mercutio]’ , ‘Fortune’s fool’ This lack of moderation in his emotions ultimately contributes to the tragic ending of the play.

Romeo is also depicted as being intelligent and quick-witted, as seen in his clever wordplay and banter with his friends, particularly Mercutio. He is also shown to be loyal and brave, ‘there lies more peril in thine eye / Than twenty of their swords’ as he is willing to risk his own life to be with Juliet and protect her from harm.

Overall, Romeo is a complex and multifaceted character whose deep capacity for love and emotion is both a strength and a weakness. Despite the tragic circumstances in which he finds himself, he remains determined and courageous, ultimately choosing to take control of his own destiny.

Juliet

Juliet is the young daughter of the Capulet family in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. At the beginning of the play, she is a dutiful and obedient daughter who follows the expectations placed upon her by her family and society. “I’ll look to like, if looking like move. But no more deep will i endart mine eye, Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.” However, as the play progresses and she falls in love with Romeo, she becomes more independent and assertive.

One of Juliet's most notable traits is her intelligence and quick thinking. She is able to come up with a plan to fake her own death in order to be with Romeo, and she also displays a level-headedness and practicality that contrasts with Romeo's impulsive nature. She is also shown to be compassionate and caring, as she pleads with her father to spare Romeo's life and mourns the death of her cousin Tybalt.

Despite her youth, Juliet displays a maturity and wisdom beyond her years. She is able to see the folly of the ongoing feud between the Capulets and the Montagues and pleads with the two families to put an end to it. “My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” She also shows a strong sense of self and is unafraid to challenge the expectations placed upon her, as seen when she defies her father's wishes for her to marry Paris and chooses to be with Romeo instead.

Overall, Juliet is a complex and multifaceted character who displays intelligence, compassion, and a strong sense of self. Despite the tragic circumstances in which she finds herself, she remains determined and courageous, ultimately choosing to take control of her own destiny.

Friar Lawrence

Friar Lawrence is a character in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet who plays a significant role in the events of the play. He is a Franciscan friar and is presented as a wise and compassionate figure who tries to bring peace and understanding to the conflict between the Capulet and Montague families.

One of Friar Lawrence's defining traits is his intelligence and resourcefulness. He is able to come up with a plan to reunite Romeo and Juliet, which involves Juliet faking her own death and fleeing to a convent. He is also shown to be a skilled herbalist and is able to concoct a potion that will put Juliet into a deathlike sleep.

Friar Lawrence is also depicted as being deeply religious and committed to his vows as a friar. He is shown to be a caring and compassionate person who is concerned for the well-being of others and tries to do what he can to help them. However, he is also shown to be pragmatic and willing to bend the rules in order to achieve his goals.

Overall, Friar Lawrence is a character who is driven by a desire to bring peace and understanding to the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues. Despite the tragic circumstances in which he finds himself, he remains determined and resourceful, ultimately choosing to take a risk in order to reunite Romeo and Juliet.

Nurse

The Nurse is a character in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet who serves as Juliet's confidante and advisor. She is a maternal figure for Juliet and is shown to be deeply fond of her.

One of the Nurse's defining traits is her loyalty. She has been with the Capulet family for a long time and is deeply devoted to Juliet. She is also shown to be practical and pragmatic, as seen when she advises Juliet to marry Paris in order to protect her from the dangers of the ongoing feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.

Despite her loyalty and practicality, the Nurse is also depicted as being bawdy and crass, as seen in her ribald jokes. She is also shown to be prone to gossip and is not above using her position in the Capulet household to her own advantage.

Overall, the Nurse is a character who is deeply loyal to Juliet and tries to do what is best for her. Despite her bawdy and gossipy nature, she is ultimately shown to be a caring and maternal figure who wants to protect Juliet from harm.

Mercutio

Mercutio is a character in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet who is a close friend of Romeo. He is depicted as being quick-witted, intelligent, and good-humoured, and is often shown engaging in verbal sparring and banter with Romeo and the other characters.

One of Mercutio's defining traits is his wit and intelligence. He is shown to be a skilled wordsmith and is able to come up with clever and humorous retorts on the spot. He is also shown to be well-read and knowledgeable about a variety of subjects, including literature and the arts.

Despite his wit and intelligence, Mercutio is also depicted as being hot-headed and prone to reckless behaviour. He is shown to be impulsive and quick to anger, and is not above engaging in dangerous activities, such as sword fighting, for the thrill of it. “A plague on both your houses!”

Overall, Mercutio is a character who is intelligent and quick-witted, but also prone to reckless behaviour. Despite his tragic end, he is a dynamic and entertaining presence in the play and adds depth and humour to the story.

Tybalt

Tybalt is a character in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet who is a member of the Capulet family and is depicted as being hot-headed and prone to violence. He is shown to be deeply hostile towards the Montagues and is quick to take offense at any perceived slight.

One of Tybalt's defining traits is his pride and arrogance. He is shown to be deeply proud of his family and is not afraid to defend their honour. He is also depicted as being quick to anger and prone to violence, as seen when he challenges Romeo to a duel after Romeo attends the Capulet's party.

Despite his pride and arrogance, Tybalt is also shown to be brave and skilled in combat. He is shown to be an accomplished swordsman and is not afraid to engage in dangerous activities, such as dueling, in order to defend his family's honour.

Overall, Tybalt is a character who is deeply proud of his family and quick to defend their honor, but is also prone to violence and anger. His hostility towards the Montagues ultimately contributes to the tragic ending of the play.

Themes

Tragedy

Tragedy is a major theme of the drama as it is a continuous idea conveyed throughtout. We see it in the prologue, which foreshadows Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, ‘doth with their death bury their parents strife’. This shows us that the drama will subsequently end with their deaths, and therefore turn out to be tragic. We also see tragedy with the deaths of Mercurio and Tybalt, both of whom are close to either Romeo or Juliet.

Love

Love is a major theme of the drama as it is the reason the story unfolds they way it does. It is Romeo and Juliet’s love that causes the tragic deaths of them and the people close to them. Their love for one another causes them to be reckless and act impulsively, which leads to conflict that ultimately fuels the feud until they both die.

Fate

Fate is a major theme of the drama as Romeo and Juliet’s love is written in the stars, “two starcrossed lovers”. By calling them starcrossed, Shakespeare implies that their love was pure fate and that the conflict that followed would have been unavoidable. They had no control of their destiny, their tale was already written and all they had to do was to follow along.

Key Quotations