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ROMEO AND JULIET IS A PLAY ABOUT LOVE/HATRED.
TOPIC SENTENCE. The contrasting darker forces of hatred inject a sense of urgency into the lovers’ relationship and lead to risk-taking sacrifices as an expression of their love. Tybalt and Mercutio represent the dark forces of each family that threaten the peace and undermine the profound love of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare suggests that these malign/evil forces are disruptive and divisive and only lead to death. As a fiery Capulet, Tybalt plays a prominent role in perpetuating the feud through his provocative and misguided attempts to protect their family pride. (playwright/s views and values) The playwright deliberately sets up a contrast between Tybalt’s indignant and fiery stance, and Romeo’s desire for peace to reinforce his point that the hatred only leads to death and division. (close passage) This is particularly evident during his fatal encounter with his mirror image, Mercutio. Mercutio cynically suggests that Tybalt (“Good King of Cats”) is a coward and urges him to draw his sword, “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk” (3.1) Indignant after Prince Capulet’s defence of Romeo during the masked ball, Tybalt has been spoiling for this opportunity. The audience is aware that he hates “peace” as he hates “hell, all Montagues, and thee.” Tybalt deliberately seeks to wound Romeo’s pride as Mercutio wounded his. His claim to Romeo that, “thou art a villain”, could be referring to a man of inferior birth, such as a peasant, which is deliberately offensive and seems to offer Romeo no option but to respond. (link to Shakespeare’s views and values) The ensuring fight and subsequent deaths undermine Romeo’s conciliatory actions and accordingly, Shakespeare suggests that the belligerent (bellicose) actions of both become the catalyst for Romeo’s exile and the hasty marriage. (Link) As a result, Tybalt can be blamed for the chain of events that lead to tragedy, resulting in the lovers’ date with destiny.
Shakespeare presents Romeo’s and Juliet’s spontaneous love for each other as a solution to the constant hatred that swirls between the family. Although forbidden, their love is also inspirational and exalted, particularly because of the maturity of both the young stars as evident in their deft language choices and sensible tone. Ominously, Romeo attends the ball with a feeling of trepidation which Shakespeare suggests is integral to the manner in which their destiny is determined by the feud” “I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars” . That Shakespeare gives Juliet equal right of reply in their first sonnets sets the scene for a relationship forged on mutual attraction. Shakespeare deliberately challenges the subordinate role of the female in conventional sonnets of the time to depict Juliet as an equal partner who is not typically silent. (reflects the desire to give her a substantial voice and a presence.. .) He also uses religious imagery to depict the exalted nature of their love and to set up a comparison with other types of love in the play. The oxymoronic contrasts that pervade the death-love nature of their relationship inject a sense of urgency and poignancy into their relationship. (sh suggests that love has the capacity to provide a solution, but is doomed whilst the feuders focus on their petty grievances…) but only with death)
Juliet’s love appears heartfelt and wise as she urges Romeo to express his feelings as faithfully and candidly as possible. Set against a context of lewd and physical love, Romeo and Juliet’s love appears to be profound and more spiritual (religious imagery) Juliet is distrustful of fancy phrases and implores/asks/beseeches Romeo to speak as plainly as possible. (“if thou doth love/pronounce it faithfully”) she implores Romeo to be himself and believes that the name is just a meaningless label that does not convey one’s true feelings. (“tis but thy name that is my enemy” ). She later states that words cannot convey the depth of her feelings, “but my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth”. She echoes Friar Lawrence’s advice to Romeo. He advises him to be clear and forthrightly because fancy words have a tendency to camouflage or hide one’s true feelings. He begs Romeo, “be plain good son and homely in thy drift”. Contrastingly, Rosaline and Romeo have a tendency to be pretentious and fancy.
WHO IS TO BLAME – FATE IS TO BLAME/ F LA IS TO BLAME…
(Topic sentence: link to topic)
As a fiery Capulet, Tybalt plays a prominent role in perpetuating the feud through his provocative and misguided attempts to protect their family pride. (Remember to include references to Shakespeare’s views and values) The playwright deliberately sets up a contrast between Tybalt’s indignant and fiery stance, and Romeo’s desire for peace to reinforce his point that the hatred only leads to death and division. (close passage) This is particularly evident during Tybalt’s fatal encounter with his mirror image, Mercutio. Mercutio cynically suggests that Tybalt (“Good King of Cats”) is a coward and urges him to draw his sword, “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk” (3.1) Indignant after Prince Capulet’s defence of Romeo during the masked ball, Tybalt has been spoiling for this fight. The audience is aware that he hates “peace” as he hates “hell, all Montagues, and thee.” Tybalt deliberately seeks to wound Romeo’s pride as Mercutio wounded his. His claim to Romeo that, “thou art a villain”, could be referring to a man of inferior birth, such as a peasant, which is deliberately offensive and seems to offer Romeo no option but to respond. (link to Shakespeare’s views and values) The ensuring fight and subsequent deaths undermine Romeo’s conciliatory actions and accordingly, Shakespeare suggests that the belligerent (bellicose) actions of both become the catalyst for Romeo’s exile and the hasty marriage. (Link) As a result, Tybalt can be blamed for the chain of events that lead to tragedy, resulting in the lovers’ date with destiny.
To blame
Friar Lawrence must shoulder a great deal of the blame despite his good intentions to settle feud as amicably as possible. Ironically, his ill-fated plan undermines his desire for unity and peace. … inadvertent actions contradict his he preaches moderation: wise… stumble… (reflects the Elizabethan view that the world is a divinely ordered medium where harmony can be achieved if good and bad are tempered and kept in harmony… He believes that passions must be kept in check. Strong and wilful passion can have disastrous consequences (Tybalt) he also hopes that the union of lovers will overcome the “rancour” between the families… opts for love – tries to facilitate the conciliation of families.. .(showing Shakespeare view that love will triumph if the will is sufficiently strong) He is depicted in the spice garden – natural wealth, medicines, healing. However, Shakespeare sets up a contrast between his advice and his misguided deeds as he lays the foundations for a foolish plan.
Inadvertently, both the lovers contribute to their downfall in ways that undermine (or contradict) their best intentions. Firstly, Juliet’s passionate defiance of her authoritarian father as well as the ardour of her love for Romeo lead to the secret marriage. (quotes) ETC.
In his own way, Romeo unwittingly contributes to his demise because of his inability to constrain the two warring foes during the fatal encounter that precipitates his exile. Tybalt and Mercutio are both spoiling for a fight and ironically, the more Romeo seeks to reconcile the two enemies, the more he aggravates/exacerbates/provokes the duel. In this regard, Romeo becomes a victim of their confidential love affair and his confession to Tybalt that he “love(s) thee better than thou canst devise” enrages Mercutio. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to show the differences between Mercutio and Tybalt who seek to provoke each other, and Romeo who prioritises peace and cooperation. Romeo’s tragedy seems to arise because he struggles with his sensitive persona that conflicts with the furious undertones of gang warfare. He struggles to articulate the consequences of his profound love that have an impact upon his conduct. He professes to Tybalt, “villain am I none”, “I see thou know’st me not”. However, his offer of peace is misinterpreted by Tybalt as a reason to fight. He intercepts the fight and pleadingly, reminds them of the Prince’s decrees. To no avail. The stage directions announce that Tybalt “under Romeo’s arm stabs Mercutio, then flies with his followers.”
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