why is romeo and juliet a bad love story essay

‘Romeo and Juliet’ Is NOT a Love Story: CHANGE MY MIND!

With that scandalous title out of the way, I assume, dear reader, that you are not unacquainted with Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Quite honestly, it’s difficult to avoid — there’s the original play, the stage musical, an adaptation with feuding caterers, the anime in which Romeo and Juliet work to take down a tyrannical government, a retelling with gnomes… basically, “Romeo and Juliet” is everywhere. This story is as interwoven in our cultural grasp of romance as “Sherlock Holmes” is with our understanding of mystery, or the “Ice Age” series is with our understanding of in-flight entertainment. Yet, labeling “Romeo and Juliet” as a “love story” always felt odd.

To some, this statement may sound drab and obvious… next, they just might say, I will write about how Gatsby was not so great, or how “Animal Farm” was never REALLY about animals. To others, this may be a strange point to make — does it not check all the boxes? Love at first sight, steamy confessions, covert weddings… it’s practically a fairy tale. Taylor Swift would certainly disagree with me, as she wrote a song about Romeo and Juliet literally titled “Love Story.”

Romance is indeed present — yet, it’s the way in which romance is implemented in the play that’s often overlooked. In particular, the romantic and tragic aspects initially work in this play as distinct separate parts. The love story, in other words, is not the main point of focus… it’s the bait.

For the sake of anecdotes, let’s go back to the mediocre, sweaty days of eighth grade, in which I — a true intellectual — finally stopped playing hacky sack with my assigned reading to experience “Romeo and Juliet” for the first time. From the get-go, I was ready to hate the play. Not only were the words (er, how would you say this…) “unique” compared to what I was used to, but I had this pre-imposed assumption that I was about to experience yet another shallow, cliched love story.

“Give me something deep!” I would say, hair greased, zits popped. “Something with sustenance!” And initially I was proven right. I expected “Romeo and Juliet” to be a love story, and middle-school me did not think it was a very good one.

However, with time, I was exposed to more Shakespeare, and I got a better hang of his style, his narratives and his importance; eventually, I even grew to LIKE his plays. And last year, when I saw a very solid production right here on campus, “Romeo and Juliet” became one of my favorites. So, what happened? Was middle-school me really just that wrong about storytelling?

Yes. Yes he was. Though, aside from that, my opinions haven’t changed all so drastically — “Romeo and Juliet” is not a good love story. I still believe that.

Of course, criticisms of this play’s romantic structure are certainly not new. Any young, scrappy writer looking for their wings tends to take a potshot at this easy target. However, some of these criticisms are still worth echoing. The two fall in love at a single glance, they hardly understand anything about their likes and dislikes… these kids barely even manage to hold a conversation before deciding they need to get married. If you ask me, Mercutio and Benvolio have more chemistry — they talk more at least. If you look at it like a fable, sure, it’s perfectly fine, but there’s not much meat to these bones. And if there’s one thing Shakespeare was NOT known for, it’s his simplicity.

This is the man who gave us the multi-layered tragedy “Hamlet,” the fascinating character study that is “Macbeth,” the stage direction “Exit, pursued by a bear” (this phrase is not very relevant to the topic at hand, I admit, but is worth bringing up in any civilized conversation). Shakespeare hardly takes the linear approach. Thus, the overt simplicity in “R&J” must have some other purpose. There must be something here that makes this play worth the three and a half hours.

At this moment, I would like to draw attention to the “tragedy” part of this romantic tragedy. Shakespeare approaches these darker elements in a different way than he does in “Hamlet” or “Othello.” Instead of a gradual, seamless ease or the immediate establishment of a darker tone, the audience is slapped square in the gut and left to reel in the whiplash of a sudden tone shift.

What makes “Romeo and Juliet” especially interesting, I say, is contrast.

The bulk of the romance we have discussed earlier is present in Act One; a comparatively lighter, more comedic part compared to the more famous, grittier aspects in Act Two. Whenever the characters aren’t spewing sex jokes (though believe me, there are a lot), the audience is exposed to exaggerated personalities, wordplay and often a bit of slapstick here and there. This is a side of “Romeo and Juliet” that the mainstream world seems to have forgotten. The stakes start off relatively low, and the tone is relatively jovial. This is practically the equivalent of a 16th century rom-com.

Imagine an Elizabethan “Love Actually” that suddenly turns into an old-timey “Marley and Me” in the blink of an eye (or, perhaps a thrust of the sword is more accurate). It almost feels like a completely different play; the darkness was, of course, always there, but now the audience has to confront it.

What I’m trying to get at is that the fairy tale-esque, simplistic romance is a front — a staging device to illuminate tragic truths of its very opposite. The simple love story, the confessions and the sugary sweet laments serves to lull you into a false sense of security. The tragedy was, I believe, a twist in itself!

It’s a twist, like Star Wars’ “I am your father” and Harry Potter’s “Yer a wizard Harry,” which has been spoiled with time. We all know how “Romeo and Juliet” ends; so much that the ending comes immediately to mind whenever we hear it mentioned. Yet, so does the more mindless, and intentionally misleading romance of Act One. Two completely different, and distinct, aspects meld together as one and mould our modern day mainstream perception of the play.

With this modern context, “Romeo and Juliet” becomes a rom-com with a mournful coat, a tragedy built onto the bones of a fairy-tale: one whole as opposed to two contrasting elements as it originally was.

Of course, such changes in perception are inevitable. Stories are bound to change over time — this is part of what makes storytelling so interesting to begin with. Yet, it is worth noting that the “Romeo and Juliet” of Hollywood and the “Romeo and Juliet” of old are two distinct stories. And perhaps if we strip our minds of such previous assumptions of what this play is or what it should be, we may find new, fascinating elements about a tale told perhaps a few too many times.

Still, it could’ve been improved with a bear or two —  just a thought.

Contact Mark York at mdyorkjr ‘at’ stanford.edu.

Login or create an account

Apply to the daily’s high school summer program, priority deadline is april 14.

• JOURNALISM WORKSHOP
• MULTIMEDIA & TECH BOOTCAMPS
• GUEST SPEAKERS
• FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Romeo and Juliet

William shakespeare, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

“These violent delights have violent ends,” says Friar Laurence in an attempt to warn Romeo , early on in the play, of the dangers of falling in love too hard or too fast. In the world of Romeo and Juliet , love is not pretty or idealized—it is chaotic and dangerous. Throughout the play, love is connected through word and action with violence, and Romeo and Juliet ’s deepest mutual expression of love occurs when the “star-crossed lovers take their life.” By connecting love with pain and ultimately with suicide, Shakespeare suggests that there is an inherent sense of violence in many of the physical and emotional facets of expressing love—a chaotic and complex emotion very different from the serene, idealized sweetness it’s so often portrayed as being.

There are countless instances throughout Romeo and Juliet in which love and violence are connected. After their marriage, Juliet imagines in detail the passion she and Romeo will share on their wedding night, and invokes the Elizabethan characterization of orgasm as a small death or “petite mort”—she looks forward to the moment she will “die” and see Romeo’s face reflected in the stars above her. When Romeo overhears Juliet say that she wishes he were not a Montague so that they could be together, he declares that his name is “hateful” and offers to write it down on a piece of paper just so he can rip it up and obliterate it—and, along with it, his very identity, and sense of self as part of the Montague family. When Juliet finds out that her parents, ignorant of her secret marriage to Romeo, have arranged for her to marry Paris , she goes to Friar Laurence’s chambers with a knife, threatening to kill herself if he is unable to come up with a plan that will allow her to escape her second marriage. All of these examples represent just a fraction of the instances in which language and action conspire to render love as a “violent delight” whose “violent ends” result in danger, injury, and even death. Feeling oneself in the throes of love, Shakespeare suggests, is tumultuous and destabilizing enough—but the real violence of love, he argues, emerges in the many ways of expressing love.

Emotional and verbal expressions of love are the ones most frequently deployed throughout the play. Romeo and Juliet wax poetic about their great love for each other—and the misery they feel as a result of that love—over and over again, and at great lengths. Often, one of their friends or servants must cut them off mid-speech—otherwise, Shakespeare seems to suggest, Romeo and Juliet would spend hours trying to wrestle their feelings into words. Though Romeo and Juliet say lovely things about one another, to be sure, their speeches about each other, or about love more broadly, are almost always tinged with violence, which illustrates their chaotic passion for each other and their desire to mow down anything that stands in its way. When Romeo, for instance, spots Juliet at her window in the famous “balcony scene” in Act 2, Scene 2, he wills her to come closer by whispering, “Arise, fair sun ”—a beautiful metaphor of his love and desire for Juliet—and quickly follows his entreaty with the dangerous language “and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief.” Juliet’s “sun”-like radiance makes Romeo want her to “kill” the moon (or Rosaline ,) his former love and her rival in beauty and glory, so that Juliet can reign supreme over his heart. Later on in the play, when the arrival of dawn brings an end to Romeo and Juliet’s first night together as man and wife, Juliet invokes the symbol of a lark’s song—traditionally a symbol of love and sweetness—as a violent, ill-meaning presence which seeks to pull Romeo and Juliet apart, “arm from arm,” and “hunt” Romeo out of Juliet’s chambers. Romeo calls love a “rough” thing which “pricks” him like a thorn; Juliet says that if she could love and possess Romeo in the way she wants to, as if he were her pet bird, she would “kill [him] with much cherishing.” The way the two young lovers at the heart of the play speak about love shows an enormously violent undercurrent to their emotions—as they attempt to name their feelings and express themselves, they resort to violence-tinged speech to convey the enormity of their emotions.

Physical expressions of love throughout the play also carry violent connotations. From Romeo and Juliet’s first kiss, described by each of them as a “sin” and a “trespass,” to their last, in which Juliet seeks to kill herself by sucking remnants of poison from the dead Romeo’s lips, the way Romeo and Juliet conceive of the physical and sexual aspects of love are inextricable from how they conceive of violence. Juliet looks forward to “dying” in Romeo’s arms—again, one Elizabethan meaning of the phrase “to die” is to orgasm—while Romeo, just after drinking a vial of poison so lethal a few drops could kill 20 men, chooses to kiss Juliet as his dying act. The violence associated with these acts of sensuality and physical touch furthers Shakespeare’s argument that attempts to adequately express the chaotic, overwhelming, and confusing feelings of intense passion often lead to a commingling with violence.

Violent expressions of love are at the heart of Romeo and Juliet . In presenting and interrogating them, Shakespeare shows his audiences—in the Elizabethan area, the present day, and the centuries in-between—that love is not pleasant, reserved, cordial, or sweet. Rather, it is a violent and all-consuming force. As lovers especially those facing obstacles and uncertainties like the ones Romeo and Juliet encounter, struggle to express their love, there may be eruptions of violence both between the lovers themselves and within the communities of which they’re a part.

Love and Violence ThemeTracker

Love and Violence Quotes in Romeo and Juliet

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. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, Doth with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing first created; O heavy lightness! serious vanity! Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!

Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear, Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

You kiss by th’ book.

My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; — Thou art thyself though, not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other word would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title: — Romeo, doff thy name; And for thy name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself.

I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptis'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Good-night, good-night! Parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good-night till it be morrow.

Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this: thou art a villain.

Romeo: Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. Mercutio: No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

O, I am fortune's fool!

Come, gentle night, — come, loving black brow'd night, Give me my Romeo; and when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of Heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night, And pay no worship to the garish sun.

Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day. It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierc'd the fearful hollow of thine ear; Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree. Believe me love, it was the nightingale.

Is there no pity sitting in the clouds That sees into the bottom of my grief? O sweet my mother, cast me not away! Delay this marriage for a month, a week, Or if you do not, make the bridal bed In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.

Or bid me go into a new-made grave, And hide me with a dead man in his shroud - Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble - And I will do it without fear or doubt, To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love.

Then I defy you, stars!

O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. — Thus with a kiss I die.

Yea, noise, then I'll be brief; O, happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rest, and let me die.

For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

PROGRESSIVE ENGLISH

• English Learning Tips
• Punctuation
• Expressions

Analysis of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: Tragic Love

Tragic Love: An In-Depth Analysis of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

A tragic tale of love and fate: essay on romeo and juliet, brief overview of the play and its significance, background information on shakespeare’s writing style and the elizabethan era, the tragic story of romeo and juliet, character analysis, examination of romeo’s personality and motivations, discussion of juliet’s character development throughout the play, historical context, exploration of societal norms during the elizabethan era, comparison to modern-day relationships, literary devices, the power of metaphors, foreshadowing hints tragedy, overall impact, critical reception, review of critical responses to romeo and juliet over time, discussion on why this play has remained relevant for centuries, summarization of key points, final thoughts on romeo and juliet’s enduring legacy, leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

• Science & Math
• Sociology & Philosophy
• Law & Politics

Essay: Why Romeo Doesn’t Truly Love Juliet

• Essay: Why Romeo Doesn’t Truly…

Romeo’s love for Juliet is a significant turning point in the play Romeo and Juliet . The romantic tragedy was written by William Shakespeare, about two admirers who love each other undyingly but come from families who have been feuding for years. Both youngsters, Romeo and Juliet, long for a relationship that will fulfill their desires.

Unaware of his family’s feud with Juliet’s, Romeo still decides to marry her. However, on the other hand, Romeo’s passion for Juliet is untrue because he is an infatuated teenager, moreover, his attraction for Juliet was lustful, and he rushes their marriage after only knowing her for several days.

Rosaline’s beauty is a sight for sore eyes, as Romeo defines it: “The all-seeing sun / ne’er saw her match since first the world begun” (Shakespeare 33). Romeo’s first lines on the play are melancholic, describing his distress at Rosaline’s rejection.

This suggests that Romeo is disappointed that his soulmate does not reciprocate his feelings, and that his attraction to Rosaline was his first love, indicating to the audience that Romeo seems to have no experience with love.

Romeo still loves his old lover Rosaline minutes before the Capulet party, showing that when he finds himself attracted to Juliet, he still had feelings for someone else, resulting in him being in love with two girls at the very same time. There’s a point in the play, before Romeo knew about Juliet, were he states that he will never find someone more beautiful than the one he loves, which in this case was Rosaline. Seemingly, Romeo is not genuinely in love with Juliet, but rather is using her as a stand-in for Rosaline.

There are those who believe Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was based on lust. Due to their youth, their short-lived passion consisted of fleeting emotions that were difficult to detect. Romeo loves frequently, according to Mercutio (Romeo’s close friend), and he will, as he has in the past, offer his love to a new girl. From Romeo’s lines in the play, it can be deduced that he only speaks about beauty and all the satisfaction derived from it. As Friar Lawrence expresses “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes” (Shakespeare 89), Romeo is loving by what he sees (with his eyes) rather than with his heart.

When Romeo catches a glimpse of Juliet for the first time, he instantly forgets that his feelings for Rosaline ever happened, implying that Romeo is more attracted by physical appearance. Nichole Urena argues in her work about Romeo and Juliet’s Fake Love, that Romeo’s suicide act was prompted by his intentions of escaping the world, Rosaline’s heartbreak, and Juliet’s death, not by his inability to be with Juliet. It’s understandable that Romeo mistook attraction for love and that he used this relationship as an escape from his reality by getting over someone who did not love him back. Nowadays love is interpreted as a selfless act performed from the heart, but this is not the case for Romeo.

Romeo’s haste to inform Friar Lawrence that he would marry a girl he had only met the night before demonstrates his urge to have things done his way without considering the consequences. The play’s marriage reveals Romeo’s fascination with being in love, and because his first admirer did not return his feelings, he does not want to waste a single moment with his new partner. When Romeo learns of Juliet’s family’s rivalry with his, he realizes that if their families find out about their secret relationship, they will never be able to be together.

Besides that, for a couple of adolescents who have no understanding of what love actually is, the chances of Romeo making foolish and unreasonable decisions are higher. Furthermore, it is well known that Romeo has difficulty managing his feelings for others. Viewing it from a modern point of view, the choice of getting married after only knowing each other for one day seems particularly rushed.

Nonetheless, some characters in the play did express their displeasure with Romeo and Juliet’s hasty marriage, meaning that some of the characters shared a modern perspective. For instance, Friar Lawrence reveals that Romeo’s enthusiasm for something constantly changes, as he was dying for Rosaline’s love one day and now is swooning over Juliet the next.

Romeo’s love for Juliet shows that he doesn’t clearly understand the situation he has put himself in and wants to rush the idea of love. As a smitten teenager who loves with his eyes rather than his heart, Romeo’s actions are guided purely by desire, leading to negative consequences. His way of being displays a boy who is driven by a delusion that eventually takes him to his tragic destiny.

Related Posts

• ROMEO AND JULIET ACT 2, SCENE 2 IMAGERY
• Romeo and Juliet: Character Analysis of Romeo Montague
• Romeo and Juliet: Love & Evil

Author:  William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post comment

Theme Of Love In Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is set on a theme of love. Love is a central theme in the play, as Romeo and Juliet fall in love despite the ongoing feud between their families. This tragic story was written by William Shakespeare, and has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, and television.

In William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” the theme of love is used as a major element to propel the plot forward. He portrays many different types of love and changes his depiction of this topic throughout the play in order to demonstrate the various aspects of affection.

Love is said to be a wonderful thing, and can have many different meanings, not just a feeling but an action. Love is something that can make you do crazy things, and in Romeo and Juliet’s case, it gets them both killed. Love is such a big theme in this story because Romeo and Juliet are two young lovers who are forced to keep their relationship a secret due to their feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues.

Love makes Romeo and Juliet take risks and do things they normally wouldn’t do, like sneaking around and disobeying their parents. Even though they know the risks, they continue to see each other and eventually get married in secret. Love also leads to tragedy when Romeo kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt in revenge for him killing Romeo’s friend Mercutio.

This leads to Romeo getting banished from Verona. Juliet fakes her own death in a plan to be reunited, but Romeo believes she is truly dead and kills himself. When Juliet finds Romeo’s corpse beside her, she kills herself as well. In the end, love causes the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, but it is also what brought them together in the first place. Love is a complex emotion that Shakespeare explores in depth through the characters of Romeo and Juliet.

In the first act of “Romeo and Juliet,” Shakespeare depicts the concept of love in a scene between Romeo and Benvolio, when he discusses his unrequited affection for Rosaline. Here, as Romeo employs oxymorons such as ‘o brawling love, o loving hate,’ it is clear how perplexed he is by his connection with Rosaline since she does not reciprocate his affection.

This oxymoron also foreshadows Romeo’s relationship with Juliet as it is full of conflict. This conflict is a result of the ongoing feud between the Montagues and Capulets, to which Romeo and Juliet belong. In Shakespeare’s day, there would have been great concern about young men and women being able to marry for love, rather than having their parents choose their husband or wife for them.

Love was not seen as something that could last forever, but more as a passing fancy. This is why Romeo and Juliet’s love is so special, because it does manage to conquer all odds and last forever, even though they both die.

The theme of love is also explored through the character of Mercutio. Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend and he does not believe in love, calling it a ‘sickness’ and a ‘notion.’ He thinks that Romeo is just infatuated with Rosaline and will soon get over her.

This is in stark contrast to Romeo, who is completely besotted with Juliet. Mercutio’s views on love are challenged when he meets Tybalt and they fight, leading to Mercutio’s death. Romeo is so distraught by his friend’s death that he kills Tybalt in revenge. This sets off a chain of events which leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

The theme of love is central to “Romeo and Juliet” and Shakespeare explores it in many different ways. He shows that love can be confused and troublesome, as well as being powerful enough to conquer all. Love is a huge part of our lives today and was just as important in Shakespeare’s time. This is what makes “Romeo and Juliet” such an enduring play, because it speaks to us all about one of the most universal themes there is.

Romeo explains what love is and how he feels powerless in the grip of his emotions, “a sea fed with lovers’ tears,” as he repeats again and again. This shows how Romeo feels tormented by his passion, as well as all the other lovers who have shed tears over their love, and how this is contributing to the sea levels high by nourishing the sea with their tears.

Love is a torment to Romeo as he can no longer be with Juliet and so compares it to a prison in which he is stuck. Love has made Romeo upset and crazy, something which is repeated later on in the play when Romeo meets Tybalt and fights him, against his better judgment, leading to Mercutio’s death. Love has the ability to make people behave irrationally and do things they wouldn’t normally do.

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as both the greatest writer in the English language, and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon”. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare’s most popular plays during his lifetime and along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity.

Its plot is based on an Italian tale translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but expanded the plot by developing a number of supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597.

The text of the first quarto version was of poor quality, however, and later editions corrected it. Shakespeare’s use of his poetic dramatic structure (especially effects such as switching between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his exploitation of off-stage action, and his use of sub-plot to embellish the story) has been praised as an early sign of his dramatic skill.

The play ascribes different poetic forms to different characters, sometimes changing the form as the character develops. Romeo, for example, grows more adept at the sonnet over the course of the play.

Romeo and Juliet is set on a theme of love. Love is a powerful emotion that can sometimes lead to tragedy. In Romeo and Juliet, love is the cause of much conflict between the two families and leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Love is a central theme in Romeo and Juliet and is portrayed in many different ways. Shakespeare uses language techniques to help convey this theme to the audience.

Some examples include oxymorons, metaphors and similes. Oxymorons are used to show the contrast between love and hate. Shakespeare uses metaphors to show how love can be both good and bad. Similes are used to show how love can be like a drug. Love is a complex emotion and Shakespeare uses these language techniques to help explored this theme in Romeo and Juliet.

More Essays

• Romeo And Juliet Summary Essay
• Romeo And Juliet Death Essay
• Romeo And Juliet Critique Paper
• Fate Is To Blame For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet Essay
• Romeo Is To Blame For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet Essay
• Romeo And Juliet Imagery
• Theme Of Love In Romeo And Juliet Essay
• Why Is Romeo To Blame For The Deaths
• Romeo & Juliet

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo and Juliet

This essay ventures beyond the surface of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to unravel the enigmatic character of Paris. Going beyond traditional character analysis, it explores his role in the context of societal expectations in Renaissance Verona. Paris becomes a canvas embodying the clash between love and duty, symbolizing order and tradition in stark contrast to the central love story. His unwavering commitment adds dramatic tension, contributing to the inevitable tragedy. In essence, Paris serves as a prism through which the complexities of love, societal norms, and human destinies are refracted, highlighting his crucial role in the rich tapestry of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece.

You can also find more related free essay samples at PapersOwl about Romeo And Juliet.

How it works

In the immortal saga of Romeo and Juliet, Paris emerges as a character whose presence, though not stealing the limelight like the titular lovers, adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. To truly fathom Paris is to embark on an odyssey beyond conventional character scrutiny, peeling back the intricate layers that define his role in the tragedy. This essay aims to unravel the enigmatic character of Paris, casting a spotlight on his historical nuances, his symbolic resonance, and the delicate dynamics that render him a captivating figure in Shakespeare’s masterwork.

Grounded in the societal tapestry of Verona, Paris personifies the expectations and norms of his time. As a nobleman vying for Juliet’s hand in marriage, he becomes a living embodiment of the customs governing Renaissance-era lives. His character serves as a canvas upon which Shakespeare paints the societal pressures and expectations that weave their way into the lives of individuals navigating the delicate dance between love and duty.

At the core of Paris’s character lies a symbolic dance with order and tradition. His courtship of Juliet extends beyond a mere personal pursuit, morphing into a reflection of the broader societal framework that yearns to maintain equilibrium and uphold prevailing norms. Set against the fiery and impassioned love between Romeo and Juliet, Paris stands as a measured and conventional emblem, acting as a foil to the central love story while accentuating the clash between individual desires and societal constraints.

Moreover, Paris injects a dose of dramatic tension into the narrative. His unwavering commitment to marrying Juliet, oblivious to her clandestine love for Romeo, becomes the catalyst for the inevitable tragedy that unfolds. The audience is not merely spectators to two love stories colliding but witnesses a clash of two divergent worldviews – one propelled by fervor and defiance, the other tethered to duty and allegiance to societal norms.

In essence, Paris in Romeo and Juliet transcends the confines of a secondary character; he is a cryptic puzzle through which Shakespeare refracts the intricacies of love, societal expectations, and the inexorable forces that shape human destinies. His character serves as a tantalizing reminder that, in the grand tapestry of tragedy, every figure, regardless of their apparent peripheral status, contributes a unique hue to the richness and depth of the narrative. To decipher Paris necessitates a nuanced exploration of his historical context, symbolic significance, and the pivotal role he assumes in the overarching themes of love and societal order within this timeless literary masterpiece.

Cite this page

Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo And Juliet. (2024, Mar 01). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/deciphering-paris-unveiling-the-enigma-of-a-subtle-player-romeo-and-juliet/

"Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo And Juliet." PapersOwl.com , 1 Mar 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/deciphering-paris-unveiling-the-enigma-of-a-subtle-player-romeo-and-juliet/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo And Juliet . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/deciphering-paris-unveiling-the-enigma-of-a-subtle-player-romeo-and-juliet/ [Accessed: 14 Apr. 2024]

"Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo And Juliet." PapersOwl.com, Mar 01, 2024. Accessed April 14, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/deciphering-paris-unveiling-the-enigma-of-a-subtle-player-romeo-and-juliet/

"Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo And Juliet," PapersOwl.com , 01-Mar-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/deciphering-paris-unveiling-the-enigma-of-a-subtle-player-romeo-and-juliet/. [Accessed: 14-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Deciphering Paris: Unveiling the Enigma of a Subtle Player Romeo And Juliet . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/deciphering-paris-unveiling-the-enigma-of-a-subtle-player-romeo-and-juliet/ [Accessed: 14-Apr-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Breaking Down the Controversy Surrounding Tom Holland's ‘Romeo and Juliet'

T he Internet hasn't been quiet since Francesca Amewudah-Rivers was cast alongside Tom Holland in an upcoming London production of Romeo & Juliet.

Amewudah-Rivers was announced as the show's Juliet in March, one month after it was revealed Holland, 27, was going to be starring in the William Shakespeare play. Since adding Amewudah-Rivers to the cast, countless vitriolic comments about the actress' appearance and race have been made online.

Trolls took to Amewudah-Rivers' Instagram page to antagonize her. The bullying toward the Black actress was so bad that the official Romeo & Juliet Instagram page has turned off comments. On Friday, April 5, director Jamie Lloyd 's production company released a statement seemingly calling out the social media trolls for their harsh words against Amewudah-Rivers.

"Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop," the Instagram statement read. "We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment."

Nicole Scherzinger Will Make Broadway Debut in 'Sunset Boulevard' Revival

The production company vowed that they were going to "continue to support and protect" the entire cast and crew while noting they had a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

"Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion, and kindness," the message continued. "We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators. The Romeo & Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production."

Holland, who is in a long term relationship with Zendaya , has yet to speak out publicly about the controversy surrounding the actress portraying his love interest. This production is Holland's first return return to the West End since he starred in Billy Elliot as a child. Following his West End debut, Holland went on to portray Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cue the Love Songs! Broadway's Most Iconic Offstage Couples

Before Romeo & Juliet , Amewudah-Rivers starred in professional productions of William Shakespeare's Macbeth and Othello . Her role as Juliet will be her West End debut. She also had a recurring role on the British TV series Bad Education and works as a composer for various screen projects.

In addition to Holland and Amewudah-Rivers, the play also stars Freema Agyeman , Michael Balogun , Tomiwa Edun , Mia Jerome , Daniel Quinn-Toye and Ray Sesay . Romeo & Juliet is currently in rehearsals and is set to run at the Duke of York's Theatre from May 11 through August 3. Tickets for its 12-week run are already sold out.

Despite the online backlash, rumors swirled that following its run in London the play will transfer to Broadway.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Romeo & Juliet producers condemn 'deplorable' racist backlash aimed at Tom Holland’s costar: 'This must stop'

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers will star as Juliet, opposite Holland's Romeo in the upcoming West End production.

The theater company behind an upcoming West End production of Romeo & Juliet is speaking out against the “deplorable racial abuse” directed towards one of its titular stars.

In an Instagram statement shared on April 5,  the Jamie Lloyd Company noted the “barrage” of hateful comments being directed at Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who will headline the production alongside Spider-Man actor Tom Holland . Since the cast was announced one week ago, some claiming to be fans of the Marvel alum have directed vitriol at the young actress online.

“This must stop,” said a statement from the play’s producers. “We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment."

Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

The company affirmed that it would "continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs," adding that any further abuse would be reported.

The statement continued, “Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion, and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators. The Romeo & Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”

It was announced in February that Holland would star as Romeo in the production of Shakespeare’s famous romantic tragedy, marking his first return to the stage since starring in Billy Elliot: The Musical as a child. Since then, his career reached new heights thanks to his role as Peter Parker in the MCU. Amewudah-Rivers is known for starring in two seasons of Jack Whitehall's Bad Education, along with theatre credits that include School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play at the Lyric Hammersmith theater and Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. With her role as Juliet, Amewudah-Rivers will make her West End debut. 

The cast also includes Freema Agyeman , Michael Balogun, Tomiwa Edun, Mia Jerome, Daniel Quinn-Toye and Ray Sesay. The play is directed by Jamie Lloyd, who previously helmed Sunset Boulevard , The Effect , and A Doll’s House .

Romeo & Juliet is set to run at the Duke of York's Theatre in London from May 11 through August 3 with rumors already circulating that the show will transfer to Broadway.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• A Doll's House review: Jessica Chastain works hard to bring a minimalist re-up to life
• Tom Holland clarifies his future as Spider-Man, says there's just been 'conversations'
• 12 Romeo and Juliet movies, ranked

Related Articles

‘Romeo & Juliet’ Play Starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewaduh-Rivers Faces ‘Barrage of Racial Abuse,’ Producer Says ‘This Must Stop’

By Naman Ramachandran

Naman Ramachandran

• ‘K.G.F.’ Star Yash’s Monster Mind, Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Team on ‘Dangal’ Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s Epic ‘Ramayana’ (EXCLUSIVE) 2 days ago
• Ajay Devgn on Bollywood Period Soccer Drama ‘Maidaan’: ‘One of the Best Films I Have Done’ (EXCLUSIVE) 3 days ago
• Un Certain Regard Film ‘Viet and Nam’ Boarded by Pyramide for Sales (EXCLUSIVE) 3 days ago

The Jamie Lloyd Company has hit back after its production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” has been the subject of what they call a “barrage of deplorable racial abuse” aimed at an unnamed cast member.

The play, directed by Jamie Lloyd (“Sunset Boulevard”), stars “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star Tom Holland as Romeo and Francesca Amewaduh-Rivers (“Bad Education”) as Juliet.

On Friday, the Jamie Lloyd Company issued a statement , saying: “Following the announcement of our ‘Romeo & Juliet’ cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop.”

Popular on Variety

“Romeo & Juliet” is due to play at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre May 23 through Aug. 3. The run is already sold out.

In 2021, a landmark survey titled “Race Between the Lines: Actors’ Experience of Race and Racism in Britain’s Audition and Casting Process and on Set” found that 64% of respondents experienced racist stereotyping in an audition and 55% experienced racist behavior in the workplace.

In March this year, two proposed “Black Out” London West End performances of Jeremy O. Harris‘ “Slave Play” came under fire from U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak‘s office.

More From Our Brands

No doubt ramps up the ska in their high-powered coachella reunion, meet the bentley flying spur speed, robb report’s 2024 car of the year runner up, coyotes’ name, logo to remain in phoenix while team relocates, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, snl video: kate mckinnon returns to manhandle ryan gosling during another steamy alien abduction, verify it's you, please log in.

Black ‘Romeo & Juliet’ star backed by 800+ actors condemning ‘racist and misogynistic abuse’

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

“We see you.” That’s one message more than 800 Black artists amplified in an open letter supporting “Romeo & Juliet” star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.

Another message? “The racist and misogynistic abuse directed at such a sweet soul has been too much to bear.”

On Tuesday, British actor Susan Wokoma and writer Somalia Nonyé Seaton published their public response to the online abuse surrounding Amewudah-Rivers and her being cast in an upcoming production of “Romeo & Juliet.” The open letter touts signatures from hundreds of Black actors including Marvel’s Lashana Lynch, “Lovecraft Country” star Wunmi Mosaku and Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste .

In late March, Amewudah-Rivers announced on Instagram that she will share the stage opposite “Spider-Man” star Tom Holland in the Jamie Lloyd Company’s production of the William Shakespeare classic. The “Bad Education” actor’s casting was swiftly met with a split reaction in her Instagram comments.

Halle Bailey opens up about racist ‘Little Mermaid’ backlash: ‘You just expect it’

Halle Bailey’s groundbreaking casting as Princess Ariel in Disney’s ‘Little Mermaid’ remake was met with a racist backlash on social media.

Feb. 23, 2023

While some followers voiced excitement for Amewudah-Rivers’ turn as Juliet Capulet (“This is incredible Fran! So so proud of you”), others weren’t as thrilled.

In the comments section, some trolls wrote that Amewudah-Rivers “is the worst casting ever for Juliet,” while another retorted, “but the character is white.” While a couple of critics opted to use vomiting emojis to express their opinions, another used a racial slur in their twist on the play’s title.

More than a week after Amewudah-Rivers’s social media announcement, the Jamie Lloyd Company released a statement condemning the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse online.” The missive did not name Amewudah-Rivers, but confirmed the comments were toward a “member of our company.”

“This must stop,” the missive said.

The company praised its “remarkable” cast, said it would provide support and protection to its company “at all costs,” and wrote that it had no tolerance for abuse. The production of “Romeo & Juliet” will continue to move forward, the statement said.

Lashana Lynch redefines what it means to be 007 in ‘No Time to Die’

Lashana Lynch is just the fifth Black actress to occupy major screen time opposite James Bond. The British-Jamaican actress talks representation and her “WandaVision” “daughter.”

Aug. 26, 2021

Tuesday’s open letter slams the “twisted, ugly abuse,” noting that Black actors — specifically Black women — are often subjected to racial abuse online after securing a “job on their own.” In recent years, Lynch , Halle Bailey and Yara Shahidi are among the Black actors who have been subjected to racist trolls when they were cast in high-profile roles.

Wokoma, Seaton and hundreds of signatories also called on the Jamie Lloyd Company to extend further support for Amewudah-Rivers, adding that “reporting is too often left on the shoulders of the abused who are also then expected to promote said show.”

The open letter ends by directly addressing Amewudah-Rivers and other Black women actors who have experienced the “traumatic hurdle of misogynoir” while pursuing their craft. The letter also encouraged Amewudah-Rivers to take in the “joy” of her “Romeo & Juliet” role.

“Every tongue that rises up against you will fall,” the statement said, before sending a parting note to Amewudah-Rivers’s critics. “And to the keyboard warriors who feel discomfort in Our visibility, cry on the internet all you want, but We are here to stay.”

Entertainment & Arts

Yara Shahidi says Black and brown people ‘can see themselves’ in new ‘Peter Pan’

Yara Shahidi, who plays Tinker Bell in ‘Peter Pan & Wendy,’ is excited about the film’s diverse casting. ‘We’ve been left out for so long,’ she says.

March 21, 2023

“Romeo & Juliet,” directed by Lloyd, begins its 12-week run in May at Duke of York’s Theatre in London.

A representative for Amewudah-Rivers did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment on Tuesday.

More to Read

Billy Dee Williams approves actors using blackface for work: ‘Why not? You should do it’

April 9, 2024

Review: Matthew Bourne shifts ‘Romeo and Juliet’ into an asylum for maximum menace

Feb. 1, 2024

A Black actor was denied a wig for a major Broadway tour. She’s now suing for racial discrimination

Jan. 18, 2024

The biggest entertainment stories

Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Alexandra Del Rosario is an entertainment reporter on the Los Angeles Times Fast Break Desk. Before The Times, she was a television reporter at Deadline Hollywood, where she first served as an associate editor. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.

More From the Los Angeles Times

How ‘Bluey’ special ‘The Sign’ was created: ‘It’s one of the most beautiful episodes we’ve made’

On ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Ryan Gosling can’t stop cracking up as guest host

Coachella 2024: Photos of festival fashion

April 13, 2024

Coachella 2024 updates: No Doubt reunion tops the ‘90s nostalgia fest on Day 2

By clicking Sign In, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Sign In Up with your social account

We won't post to any of your accounts

Your password must include:

• Min 8 characters
• Min 1 lowercase character
• Min 1 uppercase character
• Min 1 number

Why the Internet Is at Odds Over Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers’ ‘Romeo and Juliet’

The Internet hasn’t been quiet since Francesca Amewudah-Rivers was cast alongside Tom Holland in an upcoming London production of Romeo & Juliet.

Amewudah-Rivers was announced as the show’s Juliet in March, one month after it was revealed Holland, 27, was going to be starring in the William Shakespeare play. Since adding Amewudah-Rivers to the cast, countless vitriolic comments about the actress’ appearance and race have been made online.

Trolls took to Amewudah-Rivers’ Instagram page to antagonize her. The bullying toward the Black actress was so bad that the official Romeo & Juliet Instagram page has turned off comments. On Friday, April 5, director Jamie Lloyd ’s production company released a statement seemingly calling out the social media trolls for their harsh words against Amewudah-Rivers.

“Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop,” the Instagram statement read. “We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.”

Related: Stars on Broadway! Celebrities Who’ve Taken the Stage

The production company vowed that they were going to “continue to support and protect” the entire cast and crew while noting they had a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

“Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion, and kindness,” the message continued. “We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators. The Romeo & Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”

Holland, who is in a long term relationship with Zendaya , has yet to speak out publicly about the controversy surrounding the actress portraying his love interest. This production is Holland’s first return return to the West End since he starred in Billy Elliot as a child. Following his West End debut, Holland went on to portray Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

You have successfully subscribed.

Subscribe to newsletters

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly

Deal of the Day

Check our latest news in Google News

Check our latest news in Apple News

Related: Cue the Love Songs! Broadway’s Most Iconic Offstage Couples

Before Romeo & Juliet , Amewudah-Rivers starred in professional productions of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Othello . Her role as Juliet will be her West End debut. She also had a recurring role on the British TV series Bad Education and works as a composer for various screen projects.

In addition to Holland and Amewudah-Rivers, the play also stars Freema Agyeman , Michael Balogun , Tomiwa Edun , Mia Jerome , Daniel Quinn-Toye and Ray Sesay . Romeo & Juliet is currently in rehearsals and is set to run at the Duke of York’s Theatre from May 11 through August 3. Tickets for its 12-week run are already sold out.

Despite the online backlash, rumors swirled that following its run in London the play will transfer to Broadway.

In this article

Tom Holland

More stories.

Romeo and Juliet star suffers 'barrage of deplorable racial abuse' after being cast alongside Tom Holland

Spider-Man star Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers will play Romeo and Juliet in a new West End stage show.

Friday 5 April 2024 17:11, UK

Producers of a new Romeo and Juliet show starring Hollywood actor Tom Holland have condemned racist abuse posted online following the announcement of its cast.

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, best known for appearing in the comedy series Bad Education, will star alongside the Spider-Man actor in the West End production of the Shakespeare play, it was announced at the end of March.

Since then, racist comments have been posted on social media sites for production company Jamie Lloyd.

On Friday, the theatre company issued a statement condemning the "barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company".

'This must stop'

The statement continued: "This must stop. We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.

"We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs. Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported. Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities.

"Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators.

"The Romeo and Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production."

Amewudah-Rivers is a stage actress who has appeared in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, as well as other productions of Shakespeare plays including Othello and Macbeth.

But playing Juliet alongside Holland's Romeo will mark her West End debut.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

When her casting was announced, she said: "I'm excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom, and to welcome new audiences to the theatre."

The production marks Holland's return to the stage, having previously starred in Billy Elliot The Musical when he was young.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Freema Agyeman, Joshua-Alexander Williams, Michael Balogun, Tomiwa Edu, Mia Jerome, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Ray Sesay and Nima Taleghani also star.

Romeo and Juliet opens at the Duke of York's Theatre on 11 May and runs until 3 August.

Related Topics

• Tom Holland