Objectives Romeo and Juliet themes 1 Date: Take notes on the Romeo and Juliet themes. Understand the representation of love in the play. Warm-up – take down the quote and question. “She hath forsworn to love; and in that vow Do I live dead that live to tell it now”(Act1.1) (Romeo about Rosaline) Do you think Romeo is attracted to people because they are forbidden, restricted or taboo? There are arguments for and against.
Introduction - love Love is the central theme of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. For both characters, it is love at first sight and involves total commitment. The relationship is sudden, overwhelming and incredibly intense, as we see from Juliet’s words; “Go ask his name. If he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding bed” (Act 1.5) Before she even knows his name, she commits herself, her life and existence to Romeo. (Write your understanding of the term ‘unconditional love’?)
Love On their second meeting, Juliet declares her unconditional love for Romeo. She tries to describe the quality of her love; “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep. The more I give thee, The more I have, for both are infinite” (Act 2.2) This describes her love as strong but also dangerous. The sea, while beautiful at times, can rage, torment and kill men just as easily. It is an apt metaphor for their love. (The sea also gives life or helps us to keep living – how?)
Love Romeo’s love is just as intense. He cannot bear the thought of separation from her. After his banishment from Verona, and from Juliet, he says; “Tis torture, and not mercy. Heaven is here, Where Juliet lives.” (Act 3.2). Both their thoughts sway into suicide; Juliet at the idea of marrying Paris and Romeo at the idea of leaving Verona. (What is your opinion of Paris? Has he done anything to suggest he is so bad, she has to do this?)
(Their death is a warning to stop people fighting – do you agree) Love Had Romeo not acted to hastily or quickly, he would have seen Juliet awaken. Instead she wakes up to find Romeo dead and stabs herself. Their love is so intense that life without each other seems empty and meaningless. Their death was foretold at the beginning however and was given purpose; “Doth with their death bury their parents strife.... Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove” (Their death is a warning to stop people fighting – do you agree)
Paris Paris also has real feelings for Juliet, only they are gentle and less extreme. When Juliet fakes her death, this becomes evident. First he vows to come to honour her tomb every night; “These obsequies (ceremonies) that I for thee will keep Nightly shall be strew thy grave and weep” (Act 5.3) Secondly he seeks to defend with his life her tomb from Romeo, who he believes is there to vandalise it. Finally, his dying words are a request to be placed near her “O, I am slain! If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet” (Act 5.3) (Shakespeare could have written him as a bad guy – why didn’t he?)
Parents The love of parents should also be considered. For example, the Montagues show concern for their son who is in a miserable mood; “Could we but learn from whence his sorrow grow, We would as willingly give cure as know” (Act 1.1) The main parent-child relationships is between the Capulets however. Lord Capulet wants what is best for his daughter. His anger comes from ignorance, not greed, as he believes Paris is a suitable match for Juliet. (Do you think the feud ended then – between what was left of the two families?)
Cooldown I think I know I wonder