Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a text that exaggerates love, while implying that death and other morbid themes are connected to this love. Throughout the play, several characters die, and for the majority, it is out of love.

Romeo is the central figure focused on love. When he ‘loves,’ he takes it to the highest possible level, rejecting all rational thought. It is an example of blind love, and his sudden switch from Rosalind to Juliet, though seemingly false, is possible when Romeo’s outlook on life and love are examined. Romeo takes a philosophic view on life, e.g., “She hath foresworn love, and in that vow// Do I live dead that live to tell you now.” Romeo’s language is generally an explanation of how much he loves someone, as though it must always be proven.

When Mercutio dies, Romeo is compelled to kill Tybalt out of revenge and his love of Mercutio. The death of Romeo’s friend seems to be the only instance where a person was killed out of hate, as Tybalt is a character constructed out of hate, representing the hate between the two conflicting families. The death of Paris is even more disregarded. Both Paris and Romeo fight over Juliet, with Romeo emerging as the victor, leaves no mention to the thoughts and emotions associated with death, but cuts almost immediately to Romeo discovering a dead Juliet. The traumatizing effects of murder are not thoroughly explored. Instead, the text focuses on the reason behind the intent of murder. Which leads back to love.

Love is the higher theme over death in this play. The play is about two feuding families who have been at odds for a long time, with no sign of stopping. Two young teenagers from each house, who should hate each other, fall into love as strong as hate. It is unimportant that the two killed themselves. The