ROMEO & JULIET ADUMB, Haris, Ross & Tayyib

Question 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. Considering the points of all the main characters views of love.

Introduction “Romeo and Juliet” is a play written by William Shakespeare. The play considers many different people’s views of love, and how they put across these views to other characters. The play focuses on the love affair between Romeo and Juliet, and how they are from two families who are in the middle of an intense feud. Their love is destined for a disastrous end, as they both choose to end their lives through suicide. However, they all love each other very much, and these views from different characters contrast as much as the characters themselves.

Sampson & Gregory The play begins with two servants, Sampson & Gregory, discussing what they are going to do to the rival families women: “ ’Tis true, and therefore women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall” This implies they are going to mutilate the men and make love with the women. Their attitude towards love contrasts with the common perception of love.

Romeo’s Love for Rosaline Romeo believes he loves Rosaline, but his love for her is unrequited. “She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow Do I live dead, that love to tell it now” This illustrates that she was sworn to not love anyone, and this means that Romeo would rather be dead than live without her in his life.

The Nurse The nurse’s attitude to love is rather similar to Sampson and Gregory's, although she has experienced love. “No less! Nay, bigger women grow by men.” Here it is conveyed by the nurse that she only focuses on the physical aspects of marriage, rather than the aspect of love. Her view of love is clearly rather crude, and she only looks ofr the physical act of lovem rahter than the emotional aspect of love

Romeo’s Love for Juliet After the meeting at the party, Romeo falls deeply in love for Juliet. He then sneaks back in to her house and hides in her garden, waiting for her to profess her love for him. He then surprises her and agrees to marry her, only hours after meeting her: “The exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine” Romeo is professing his love for Juliet, and expects her to feel the same way towards him. She agrees to his proposal, and they agree to marry. This shows that their love is entirely different form the vies expressed by Sampson and Gregory, and this may be true love blossoming in the heart of Verona.

Mercutio Mercutio also appears to have a rather crude view of love, unlike his cousin Romeo’s attitude “And to sink in it should you burden love, too great oppression for a tender thing.” Mercutio suggests that if a man can not complete the simple task of pleasuring his woman, then they are no sort of man at all, as sex appears to be the only thing on Mercutio’s rather sexually orientated mind.

Lady Capulet Lady Capulet has a view on love to be less about love and more about the ‘social class’ aspects. “By having him, making yourself no less” Lady Capulet clearly believes that it does not matter if you love, or even care about the person you are married to, or in a relationship, just so long as you have money, and social stature. Lady Capulet isn’t very meticulous with her searches for a suitor for her daughter, they just have to be good looking and rich.

Conclusion The romantic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” written by Will.i.am Shakespeare which centres around the brief romance between the two main characters, Romeo and Juliet. The beginning of the play concentrates on various character’s differing views of love. There are some very different opinions, as characters such as Sampson and Gregory are very crude in their attitudes towards love, and often objectify women. Juliet’s carer, Nurse, also is rather crude, but is slightly more subtle in her references. Juliet’s mother struggles with love towards her daughter, and doesn’t understand that she wants a relationship where she can lead a life of love, and not just marry a man for his money. Romeo and Juliet believe they have the most pure view of love, however this opinion may be misplaced, as they barley know each other.