Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in the late 16th century. There are profound themes in the play that continue to be explored, including love, fate and family conflict. Understanding these important themes is required for the GCSE English Literature syllabus, which helps us to appreciate the many layers of Shakespeare's work and its relevance to the modern day.
This blog post looks at the key themes in Romeo and Juliet, explaining their significance and how they add to the enduring appeal of this much-loved play. The themes also give insight into the motivations of the main characters and the moral messages of the play. Key quotes are included for each theme.
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Love
It goes without saying that love is a prominent theme. Shakespeare stresses the complexity and varied manifestations of this emotion. At the heart of the play is the passionate and impulsive romance between Romeo and Juliet - this reflects the intensity and fervour of young love. Shakespeare often describes their love as pure and all-consuming, driving them to defy their families and societal expectations:
"My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown and known too late!" (Act 1, Scene 5)
Here, Juliet recognises the paradox of her love for Romeo, as it comes despite her family's hatred for his family. From the beginning of their relationship, there are intense and conflicting emotions.
At the same time, Paris represents a practical view of love. He seeks to marry Juliet out of a sense of duty and social propriety. This juxtaposition shows how love can be experienced and perceived in different ways.
"These violent delights have violent ends." (Act 2, Scene 6)
The quote above is a warning from Friar Laurence to Romeo about the dangers of intense emotions. It foreshadows the tragic outcome of their passionate love and is a reminder of the consequences of unrestrained passion.
Rosaline represents unrequited love. She is Romeo's love interest before he meets Juliet, and she does not return his affection. In the quote below, Romeo reflects on how love can be harsh and painful when discussing his feelings for Rosaline. This contrasts sharply with his euphoric love for Juliet and shows the multifaceted nature of love.
"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous and it pricks like thorn." (Act 1, Scene 4)
Fate and fortune
Fate is introduced as a theme from the very beginning when we are told the lovers are "star-crossed" in the prologue. This reveals that they are doomed from the start, creating a sense of inevitability that is present throughout the narrative:
"A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." (Prologue)
There are numerous references to fortune and destiny with the actions of characters seeming to be influenced by a higher power. This in turn, raises questions about free will and whether our paths are predetermined.
There are several premonitions by the star-crossed lovers that foreshadow their end. This awareness of their fate adds poignancy to their actions and decisions. In the quote below, Romeo feels a sense of foreboding before attending the Capulet party. He continues despite this feeling, as if driven by a force beyond his control:
"I fear too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars." (Act 1, Scene 4)
This awareness of the role of fate in their lives is acknowledged throughout the play by the characters, adding a tragic inevitability to their story. For example, Romeo's exclamation when he kills Tybalt shows he believes his actions are at the mercy of fate, which is beyond his control in shaping his future:
"O, I am fortune's fool!" (Act 3, Scene 1)
The inevitability of fate in Romeo and Juliet makes us question the extent of free will. Romeo and Juliet both make their own choices. However, these choices lead them directly to their fated end which was predetermined in the prologue.
Follow the link to learn more about the role of fate in literature.
Family conflict
The family feud between the Montagues and the Capulets is a significant theme. It provides a context for the lovers' secret romance and drives much of the action in the play. There is a distinct lack of communication and rivalry that drives the hatret and conflict between the two families. The prologue introduces the feud and this animosity sets the stage for the foretold tragedy and further highlights the senseless nature of this conflict:
"From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." (Prologue)
This feud affects everyone in Verona, creating an environment of tension and violence. It is the reason why Romeo and Juliet pursue their relationship in secret, leading to misunderstandings and their deaths.
"What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee." (Act 1, Scene 1)
Tybalt makes this declaration during the early street brawl as a way to express the intense hatred between the families. He will not consider peace and is entrenched in his hostility.
The younger generation is affected by the animosity of their parents and older siblings, which dooms the love of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet desperately begs Romeo to renounce his family name to escape their families' feud. This underscores the theme of individual identity versus familial loyalty. Ultimately, this theme is a cautionary tale about the consequence of letting hatred dictate your actions:
"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." (Act 2, Scene 2)
Violence
Violence is a theme that helps to show the consequences of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. Friar Laurence warns Romeo about the danger of intense emotion, suggesting that passionate love and hate can both lead to destructive outcomes:
"These violent delights have violent ends." (Act 2, Scene 6)
The play opens with a street confrontation between the two families, which establishes the hostility seen throughout the play. The provocation below sparks a full-scale brawl that shows how quickly violence erupts in Verona:
"Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?" (Act 1, Scene 1)
The violence becomes more tragic and personal as the story continues. Mercutio and Romeo have a deadly confrontation due to Tybalt's aggression and his hatred of the Montagues. In his death scene, Mercutio curses both families to stress how senseless the feud is and the devastation it creates. His death is a turning point, driving Romeo to seek vengeance and continue the cycle of violence:
"A plague o' both your houses!" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona, which leads to the final tragedy. Ultimately, the violence from the family feud leads to the deaths of the star-crossed lovers. The Prince's final words are a moral condemnation of the families: he stresses how their hatred has resulted in the deaths of their youngest, beloved children:
"See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love." (Act 5, Scene 3)
Final thoughts on themes in Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet is a timeless play with themes that remain relevant in the modern day. Shakespeare weaves these themes together to create a narrative that continues to resonate.
The theme of love looks at the variations of this emotion, from the passionate love between Rome and Juliet to the pragmatic views of marriage shown by Paris. The play also explores the consequences of this emotion, such as the unrequited love Romeo feels at the beginning of the play, leading him rashly to enter the house of the Capulets.
The theme of fate emphasises that the destiny of the main characters is preordained. There is a sense of inevitability throughout the play, raising profound questions about free will.
Family conflict and violence highlight the destructive nature of long-standing feuds and the potential danger of cyclic violence. The Montague-Capulet feud drives the plot and leads to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It stresses the consequences of inherited animosities and violence more widely.
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