Critique of Romeo & Juliet William Shakespeare wrote the tragedy of Romeo & Juliet, a famous play in which two lovers attempt to be together despite many problems. Two rival families, the Capulets and Montagues, have hated each other longer than anyone can remember. In the play, Shakespeare demonstrates that love can be both a beautiful and horrible thing. Romeo & Juliet contains many ironic instances both dramatic and situational. A good example of the dramatic irony in the play is when the audience knew Juliet would commit suicide, yet the priest did not; the audience knew what the character did not. An example of situational irony is how it took suicide, which is a violent action, to make peace; this is not something people would expect.