500+ Words Essay on Romeo and Juliet
For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and Romeo – A N Williams
The great love tragedy Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare in his early career. It is one of the most frequently performed and staged plays. The story revolves around the two main protagonists- Romeo who belonged to the Montague family and Juliet, the daughter of Capulet. These two influential families were sworn enemies, but their enmity was finally ended with the death of their beloved children.
This play has also been made into a movie which has won various awards. Romeo and Juliet were one of the most famous plays in Shakespeare’s lifetime and the two main leads were first of its kind lovers. This play captures every emotion, including romance, tragedy, fear and even comedy.
Synopsis of the romantic tragedy
Set in Italy in the sixteenth century, this story is one of immense love and eternal sorrow. Juliet was being forced into marriage by her parents to an older man, whereas Romeo was suffering from depression. One night, Juliet’s father hosted a ball at his house.
This is when young lovers Romeo and Juliet locked eyes and fell in Love. Romeo had worn a mask through which only his eyes were visible and not his entire face. The Capulet’s had spotted Romeo in the ball but did not want any blood spilled in the Capulet house and hence, let him go.
That very same night, Romeo climbed up to Juliet’s balcony, and they both swore that their souls belonged to each other and decided to marry the very next day. Juliet was being forced and pressurised at home to marry the older man and wanted a way out.
She drank poison before her wedding night which would send her in a coma for some hours only. She sent a messenger to let Romeo know of the plan, but unfortunately, that messenger could not reach him and failed to deliver such an important message. When the news of Juliet’s death spread, Romeo, unknown to the truth, drank poison and ascended to the skies.
As soon as Juliet woke up, she saw Romeo dead and couldn’t bear the pain of not being with him. So, she took his dagger and stabbed herself to death. She did this because without Romeo, there would be no love in her life and living life without Love is not a life to be lived.
Lessons to be interpreted
This play could not be attributed to any specific theme, but there are a few of them which scholars have been able to come up with. The first one, not surprising at all, is Love. The play tells us that Love doesn’t always have to take a long time to happen. Two people can fall in Love in the blink of an eye as well. True Love between two people is powerful, it is eternal; it is divine.
In this world, we are alone without the one we love, and his presence is what gets us through. Love may be blind, but it also is the purest form of emotion that one human being can feel for another. The next is fate and chance. Romeo and Juliet have been said to be star crossed lovers.
It means that the stars were aligned against them being together. Their fate brought them to an unhappy ending. Had their families not been arch enemies, they would have had a chance at a happy married life. Had the messenger reached Romeo with the news about Juliet’s fake death, they would be alive to run away into the sunset together. Unfortunately, fate had different plans for them from what they wanted or desired.
The third theme is duality. The comparison of the different light and dark. Romeo says that in his dark, depressing life, Juliet shines like the sun. She shines brighter than a torch and is a shining jewel in the dark night. Juliet refers to Romeo as whiter and purer than snow. It shows how both of them, after meeting each other, rose from the dark into a sea of great happiness. The darkness between their families is also lifted at the end when they realise their folly and swear to get things back in their natural order.
Criticism
Romeo and Juliet, just like many other plays, is not free from blame. Many a critic have tried to rip the pages of this play by telling people what a bad influence Romeo and Juliet is on their children and in their society. Various critics across the world have pointed out that it encourages teenagers to rebel against their parents.
Romeo and Juliet falling in love with each other despite the tensions and feuds between their families set a bad example in front of the youth which may also start disobeying or going against the decisions of their adults.
They have also pointed out that taking various tonics and poisons will promote the use of drugs among the very young. Also, the deaths of the two main characters show suicide. All of these matters are brought up and are subject to debate, but the one thing to be kept in mind is that plays are a form of art, and art is just expressing.
They are only emotions and situations that a writer wishes to display in front of his audience, and he or she has the complete freedom to showcase it; however, they like.
Romeo and Juliet – The Legacy Goes on
Romeo and Juliet are seen as true lovers, even in modern times. Lovers compare their stories with that of Romeo and Juliet’s. They are benchmarked examples of pure Love and acceptance. It continues to be a profound influence on literature.
The way the plight of the young lovers is described, makes the audience sympathise with them and the sorrow ending even leaves us in tears. Neither has a better romantic tragedy than Romeo and Juliet come into existence, nor it ever will. It is a masterpiece in itself.
Leave a Reply