Transcript Document
Critical Essay How does Shakespeare treat the theme of love in the play “Romeo and Juliet”? INTRO – Paragraph 1 • The introduction can be one or two paragraphs: – Introduce play (“big picture”) – Give brief outline of what happens in play – Refer to question BODY OF ESSAY: Para 2 • Although a play about young love, it opens with infatuation: – Romeo downhearted/dispirited over unrequited love for the incomparable Rosaline – Leads to much banter and teasing, and sexual allusions, overall a light-hearted mood – (Give examples – quote) Paragraph 4 “Love at first sight” • Suddenly Romeo and Juliet meet – “love at first sight” – At first we are unsure if it is genuine, as Romeo changed the object of his affections so rapidly – Even the Friar is not immediately convinced (Act 2) Paragraph 5 (Loving one’s enemy) • Explore the confusion in the mind of Juliet, knowing she has fallen in love with her enemy • Examine Juliet’s language in her soliloquy about Romeo – – antithesis (= use of contrast) – oxymoron (= contradictory phrases) Paragraph 6 – True love • When they next meet (orchard scene, Act 2 sc 2), genuine romantic love is evident – Examine the language, imagery used – The swift move to thoughts of marriage add to intensity – Juliet’s nurse too is caught up in the excitement – Admittedly, there are ominous undertones… – But we tend to ignore these with the prospect of romance Paragraph 7 – caring love The Nurse adores her young charge, Juliet: • Has brought her up since infancy >>> a strong bond • Show how Juliet has close relationship with the Nurse … speaks much more naturally with her than with her own mother (give examples) • Juliet shares secrets with the nurse / relies on her for advice (e.g. about Romeo and acting as a go-between for arranging their meeting and marriage) • Nurse warns Romeo not to deceive Juliet in any way (quote) Paragraph 8 – paternal love The Friar shows a paternal love for Romeo: • Fatherly advice • Does not want harm to come to Romeo or Juliet • Agrees to marry them in secret hoping it will end the feud • Tries to help Juliet in her hour of desperation, … works out plan with potion to help her avoid a bigamous marriage to Paris, • Agrees to send the letter warning Romeo of true situation Paragraph 9 – love within families • Juliet …generally polite but distant relationship with her parents (unlike that with the Nurse to whom she is much closer) • Juliet’s father appears at first to be more caring toward Juliet – seems willing to wait for Juliet’s wishes about the request of Paris for her hand in marriage • However, later Capulet becomes furious over his daughter’s disobedience (Why?) He threatens to disown her (Quote) • By contrast, Lord and Lady Montague are genuinely very fond of Romeo (the mother dies of a broken heart after he is banished) Paragraph 10 – the love of friendship Friendship between Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio (closely related to the outcome of the play): • The two young men both keep Romeo company when he seems downhearted at the beginning, though Mercutio tends to tease him, being quick-witted, the eternal joker • Benvolio acts as a foil for Mercutio, being more sensible and mature – trying to keep the peace (as Romeo does later) • Ironically, it is the friendship (Romeo and Mercutio) starts chain of events that leads to the final tragedy • Mercutio (ignorant of Romeo’s secret wedding and incensed at Romeo’s “cowardice”) responds to the challenge in place of Romeo • In trying to halt the fighting, Romeo unintentionally enables Tybalt to stab Mercutio fatally under Romeo’s arm. • M’s death unleashes Romeo’s passionate anger - vows to avenge his friend’s death • But this is what leads to his banishment and the eventual tragedy of his own death and that of Juliet CONCLUSION – Paragraph 11 • Show how you have answered the question about the different types of love and how Shakespeare has skilfully woven these together in the final tragic outcome. • Love forms the themes and directs the plot of the play • The love we most remember is the passionate romantic love of Romeo and Juliet, partly due to the intensity of Shakespeare’s imagery Conclusion – Paragraph 12 (Personal Response) • How did you respond to this tragedy; how did it affect you? • What part does love play in our lives today? Are romance and friendship still important? • Is the play still relevant today? Could we still see such a genuine and innocent love being torn apart today and ending in tragedy, because of different family backgrounds? • (Noticeable that this is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, still widely produced today, and the theme still holds our interest in modern versions such as West Side Story)