Sympathy in Romeo and Juliet By: Emerson Gabber, Liam Nicoll, and Matt Wiebe

Intro/Thesis Hook: Romeo and Juliet endure many tragic events before their inevitable deaths. Thesis: Romeo and Juliet is much more of a tragedy because Shakespeare creates sympathy for the star-cross’d lovers. This is most prominent in acts 3.1, 3.5, and 5.3. Supporting Ideas: Romeo’s friend Mercutio dies, Romeo is banished Juliet forced to marry Paris Romeo and Juliet kill themselves

Shakespeare creates sympathy for Romeo when Romeo kills Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio, and Romeo is banished for avenging his dead friend.

Point 1: Romeo kindly refuses to fight Tybalt. “I do protest I never injured thee, / But love thee better than thou canst devise, / Till thou shalt know the reason of my love; / And so, good Capulet, which name I tender / as dearly as mine own, be satisfied” (3.1.65-69). Romeo is respectful and kind Not looking for a fight Does not gain respect in return

Point 2: Tybalt kills Romeo’s friend Mercutio, and Romeo goes and confronts Tybalt to kill him. “Again, in triumph, and Mercutio slain? / Away to heaven, respective lenity, / And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now! / Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again / That late lou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul” (3.1.118-122). Romeo loses a friend Romeo outbursts due to Mercutio’s death Kills Tybalt because of Mercutio’s death

Point 3: Romeo is banished from Verona for the killing of Tybalt. “And for that offense / Immediately we do exile him hence… I will be deaf to pleading and excuses” (3.1.183) Romeo is banished Not justified and unfair Audience is aware of injustice

Shakespeare builds sympathy for Juliet when she is forced to marry Paris

Point 1: Shakespeare creates sympathy for Juliet by having her choice being taken away “Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! / I tell thee what: get thee to church a’Thursday, / Or never after look me in the face.”(3.5.160-162)

Point 2: Sympathy is created for Juliet when the Nurse stops supporting her “And from my soul too, else beshrew them both.”(3.5.227)

Point 3: The audience feels sympathy for Juliet because she has to marry someone she does not love “O bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, / From off the battlements of any tower…To live an unstain’d wife to my sweet love”(4.1.77-88)

Shakespeare creates sympathy for Romeo and Juliet by showing them at their emotionally worst (Act 5.3) Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet are both shown to have increasing hardships. However, in the final scene of the play, Shakespeare creates sympathy for Romeo and Juliet by showing them at their emotionally worst.

Point 1: Paris stops a desperate Romeo “By heaven, I love thee better than myself…Stay not, be gone; live and hereafter say / A madman’s mercy bid thee run away”(5.3.64-67). -Romeo tries to reason with Paris -He just wants to see Juliet one last time

Point 2: Romeo is too early “Thou art not conquer’d, beauty’s ensign yet / Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks”(5.3.94-95). -Dramatic irony causes audience to sympathize with Romeo - Audience will also sympathize with Juliet when she finds Romeo dead

Point 3: The families learn their lesson “This letter doth make good the Friar's words...Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague? / See what a scourge is laid upon your hate”(5.3.289-292). -The prince scolds the two families - Gives the audience someone to blame

Conclusion Shakespeare creates sympathy for the two lovers Romeo and Juliet with tragic events. Supporting ideas: Mercutio dies, and Romeo kills Tybalt When Juliet is forced to marry Romeo and Juliet commit suicide due to misunderstandings