Many people think of a tragic love story when they hear, Romeo and Juliet, but it is often misinterpreted as being just that. While remaining timeless, this important literary work changed society’s ideas about the perfect love story. The play, Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, gives readers several perspectives on love and how it influences relationships. Shakespeare uses this cast of characters to show young love and its unpredictability, loyal friendships, and most importantly, romantic love.
At the beginning of the story, Romeo Montague is a great example of an indecisive young man, whose thoughts of love change from one day to the next. He believes he is in love with Rosaline, the beautiful niece of Lord Capulet. In Act
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In Act III, Scene I, Tybalt tries to insult Romeo into fighting him. As Romeo keeps refusing to fight him, because he realizes that he is now related to him by marriage, Mercutio steps in his place and accepts the challenge and says, “What a calm, dishonorable, disgusting submission to an insult! Tybalt is getting away with this insult” (Act III, Scene I, Line 65). The two begin to fight, and Mercutio is killed trying to defend Romeo. Love and respect is demonstrated by Mercutio’s heroic deed. With his death, Romeo feels guilty and knows he must avenge his friend. “Mercutio, the prince’s cousin and my true friend, has been mortally wounded defending me-my reputation being slandered by Tybalt’s insults-from Tybalt who’s been my cousin for only an hour” (Act III, Scene I, Line 100). When Tybalt returns, Romeo decides he must kill him, for killing Mercutio. After Tybalt’s death, Benvolio tries to protect Romeo by telling him to run. “Romeo, run! Get away! People are starting to gather and Tybalt is dead! Don’t stand there in shock! The prince will sentence you to death if you’re captured. Go on, run” (Act III, Scene I, Line 125)! This string of events proves the connection of love between these