In the play Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespeare there are many key relationships that are driven by conflict. The main one being that of Romeo and Juliet. Their relationship had to be kept a secret because of the conflict that was between their two families; the Capulets and the Montague. Their families would not allow them to be together because of their feud. Many examples of this can be found throughout the text, some of them being when Romeo decided to visit juliet in the capulets garden, and again when they decided to get married in secret behind their families backs, and ultimately when they both commited suicide.
Because of the conflict between the two families, Romeo and Juliet had to conduct their relationship behind their families backs. If Romeo had been caught at Juliet’s home he would have been killed by Juliet’s family, the Montagues. Romeo was risking his life, just so he could be with Juliet, it just goes to show how much he loved her. He shows this when asked how he got to her by saying, ‘ With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls’. Therefore showing how much he was dedicated to her, even when Juliet says “If they do see thee, they will murder thee” he remains unfazed, even when faced with death. I think Romeo was thinking very naively to go and risk his life too see Juliet when he had only met her once. I think they both could have met up away from their families and there would be no risk of them getting caught.
Because of the feud that was between the capulets and the montagues Romeo and Juliet had to get married quickly, and with as little public interference. They were very naive to rush into marriage so quickly, after all they had only known each other for a few days. Juliet was already destined to marry Paris so even if her family was okay with Romeo, they would never in a million years allow her to marry someone else. Back when Romeo and Juliet was written, women had little to no power over who it was that they married, the father would usually arrange a marriage with the richest and most respected man he could find. Romeo was not that, he was just a teenager. Because of this they both rush unprepared into marriage, this is shown when Juliet says ‘If thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, by one that I’ll procure to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite.’ I think Romeo and Juliet became very obnoxious to the risks involved in their relationship and how much it would affect their lives.
With all the conflict that was between their families Romeo and Juliet were lost and confused. Because of the fact that Juliet was marrying Paris in a few weeks, she agreed with Friar Lawrence and his plan. She would drink the sleeping potion and fake her death. This all would have gone to plan had Romeo received the letter regarding what was happening. However he didn’t and was informed later by Balthasar about her supposed death. When Romeo heard the news he was absolutely devastated, he didn’t know what to do with himself he was in so much agony. He then made a bad decision to kill himself as he saw no reason to live, and wanted to join Juliet. He spent all of his money on some poison and drank it at Juliet’s grave. “Arms take your last embrace, and lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss…’ He gave her one last kiss and drank the poison. When Juliet awoke only minutes later she saw Romeo and tried to get the poison off his lips so she could die but there wasn’t enough, she proceeded to get Romeo’s dagger and stab herself with it and lay dead with Romeo. I think they were both foolish and never thought things through, they both were very quick to act and without thinking of what consequences their actions may create.
In conclusion Romeo and Juliet written by Shakespeare, was a tragic love story of two young and easily manipulated teenagers whose relationship was hugely driven by conflict. That conflict being the feud between their two families, the Montagues and the Capulets.
Recent Comments