Romeo And Juliet By Stuart Greenwood Hollie Taylor Rachel Beatie Karis Obrien Morgan Nicol Meredith Thomson

Choose a play whose theme is made clear early in the action Choose a play whose theme is made clear early in the action. Show how the dramatist introduces the theme and discuss how successfully he or she goes on to develop it.

Introduction William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is a play centred on the forbidden love of a foolish, young couple. The play focuses on the feud of their families, and shows them battling to love one another despite their differences. Ultimately their love settles the family feud, but costs the title characters their lives. Clearly love is a prominent theme in Romeo and Juliet, with Shakespeare showing us the many different character’s aspects of love and providing us with the message that love will inevitably conquer all.

PCQE 1 Sampson and Gregory Point : Primarily Shakespeare portrays the theme of love as a crude, lewd physical act rather than an emotion. In the first scene, Sampson and Gregory discuss in a vulgar manner about love.

“ Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads in what sense thou wilt” “ Me they shall feel while I am able to stand and known. I am a pretty piece of flesh”

PCQE 2 Romeo’s Love for Rosaline Point In contrast Romeo’s attitude towards love is far more elaborate and dramatic. An impulsive and immature character at the beginning of the play. He wallows in self pity, highlighting his overly romanticised view of love and its links to pain and suffering.

“ Bound more than a madman is; Shut up in prison, kept without my food, whipped and tormented. “ Romeo exaggerates his feelings of despair and anguish over Rosaline and her rejection of him

“ Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first create.” - Romeo is over reacting and exaggerating he isn't experiencing real love, he just thinks he is. He is confused

PCQE 3 The Nurse Shakespeare portrays the nurse as a very down to earth character. It is clear that her experiences with love in the past have been happy, however she still can make comical references about the physical side of love to Juliet; whom she treats like a daughter. This view on love is similar to Mercutio’s, who has no known experience and expresses his cruder thoughts on love. This relationship is stronger than the one Juliet has with her own mother.

“ Thou wilt fall backward, when thou hast more wit” - This is a coarse reference to being ready for a physical relationship

“ Women grow by men” -She sometimes regards marriage as physical, almost a burden women must bear. She is possibly making references to men getting woman pregnant.

“ Seek happy nights to happy days” - She wants Juliet to fall in love and she doesn’t feel love is completely physical. This shows she had a happy marriage and wants the same for Juliet.

PCQE 4 Lady Capulet Juliet's mother is introduced as having a very basic understanding of love. She views it as a symbol of status and security for the future. This is obvious as Shakespeare implies she was married very young to Capulet who is thought to be a lot older, their relationship is noticeably unhappy.

“so shall you share all that he doth possess, by having him making yourself no less” - This shows her pragmatic view towards love. Lady Capulet is informing Juliet of Paris's proposal. She questions her on her capability to be a good wife. She tells her to be proud and joyful to marry Paris, because marriage is such a beautiful thing. Paris is also extremely handsome and tells her that there are certain ways that a bride must act for her husband.

“Think of marriage now, younger than you” - She tells Juliet of how young she was when she married. She views it as a chore rather than love and also for status and wealth. Which suggests her marriage was unhappy.

“ A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?” - This shows she is unhappy, and that she is much younger than Capulet as she makes fun of his old age. This shows she thinks little of him. Their young marriage has resulted in Lady Capulet being resentful towards her husband.

Capulet “ And too soon marr’d are those so early made” - Capulet is talking to Paris about him Paris wanting to marry Juliet. This shows he understands that this spoiled his wife's marriage making her bitter. He does not want this for Juliet.

PCQE 5 Mercutio Shakespeare portrays many characters in the play as very crude about love. Mercutio, one of Romeos closest friends has a very narrow mind of love. There is no emotional feeling, he doesn’t find it very important and has no intentions of falling in love, finding it a waste of time .

“By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh” - Mercutio makes physical references about Rosaline.

“ If love be rough with you be rough with love” He suggests Romeo cure himself of love by having sex.

PCQE 6 Romeo And Juliet The meeting between the two main characters sparks their immediate connection, it is love at first sight. When Romeo falls for Juliet he is overcome by passion and Juliet, who is shielded from the world is captivated by the thought of Romeo.

“ Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer” - There love is above others in the play. The only true love , this shows it is spiritual. This refers to religious worship.

“ O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright “ O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night” This is what Romeo says when he first sees Juliet. He describes her beauty as brighter than any torch. This shows Julliet is a symbol of light goodness.

“but soft. What light through yonder window breaks “but soft! What light through yonder window breaks! It is the east and Julliet is the sun.” -Julliet has become the centre of Romeo’s universe. She is compared to light this showing she brightens Romeo’s life.

“My life were better ended by their hate than death prorogued wanting of thy love.” Romeo would rather have a long painful death than to live without Julliet.

“Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars.” -Romeo wants to alter his fate by killing himself in order to be with Julliet as he believes the stars are stopping him from being with Julliet.

Conclusion William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is a play based on the violent love of a young couple. The play focuses on the dispute between their families, and shows them struggle to be together. Ultimately, their love settles the family feud, but costs the title characters their lives. evidently love is a important theme in Romeo and Juliet, with Shakespeare showing us various character’s aspects of love and providing us with the message that love will inevitably overcome all obstacles.