Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
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Romeo and Juliet: A Tragedy of Love, Destiny, and Responsibility, Study notes of English Literature
An analysis of William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet'. the definition of a tragedy, the themes of the play, and who is responsible for the tragic ending. The themes include the power of love, destiny, violence, and the individual versus society.
What you will learn
- What are the major themes in Romeo and Juliet?
- Who are the main characters in Romeo and Juliet?
- Who is responsible for the tragic ending in Romeo and Juliet?
- How does the theme of love play out in Romeo and Juliet?
- What role does fate play in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?
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Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Tragedy
- A tragedy is a type of drama in which characters experience a catastrophe, usually because of a tragic flaw (weakness of character) or inability to cope with adverse circumstances.
What other tragedies have you seen?
Themes in Romeo and Juliet
We see some themes right away:
•the power of love
•destiny
•violence
•the individual versus society
Any others?
Theme versus Thesis
A thesis statement is a specific claim that you follow with evidence.
Are the themes you just wrote down specific claims?
•A thesis must be arguable: reasonable people can disagree about it.
•You must also be able to prove your thesis with evidence from the play.
Marriage and love in Elizabethan times
- Young women (like Juliet) were controlled by their fathers.
- They were expected to marry within their own class. This play is a reflection of the time
in which it was written.
- The women’s say so in whom they wanted to marry was only a mention. Juliet’s father
says “My will to her consent is but a part” (1.2.15).
- Many marriages were simply arranged and there was nothing that could be done about it.
Marriage and love in Elizabethan times
- Love as we know it was not really known back then, or at least it did not matter when considering a marriage partner.
- Marriages were arranged in order to promote status and wealth within families, like the Capulets.
Who is responsible? The adults?
•After all, the feud was started by the
adults (we don’t know why).
•Friar Lawrence’s interference
contributes directly to the tragic ending.
Who is responsible? Fate? Chance?
- From the outset, Romeo and Juliet are described as “star-crossed lovers” who take their lives. ( In Shakespeare’s day, it was believed that fate was a power that was vested in the movement of the stars.)
- Or, you might say that they were in the wrong place at
the wrong time, and the tragedy was a series of
unfortunate events--all due to chance.