Examples Of Persistence In Romeo And Juliet

Persistence is the unwavering commitment to overcoming the challenges that you are faced with. Obstacles can be both big or small, it does not matter the size, to persist you must only continue to show up, to try, and to never give up. Persistence helps humans stive to be their best, enabling them to make the impossible possible. Persistence is defined as the “firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” (??????) By the oxford dictionary but as I have learned from this course this year it is so much deeper than that. What I once thought was a word that just meant to keep trying again and again is actually a word that changes lives. It’s a single word that explains the fight within humans that enables

forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.” (Shakespeare, 1999, p.65) This is where Romeo and Juliet’s story of love and persistence begins. After the initial meeting even knowing of here Capulet heritage Romeo’s love is so strong, he does not give up on her, he instead finds a way to reach her at her ancestral home. The visit poses many dangers as Juliet mentions “If they do see thee, they will murder thee,” (Shakespeare, 1999, p.91) but Romeo does not care, he wants to be with Juliet. What Romeo wants more than anything is Juliet’s love, and nothing can stop him from attempting to attain it, he says as much to Juliet during their conversation of the dangers his presence presents. “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out.” (Shakespeare, 1999, 91) For the next 200 pages Romeo and Juliet continue to persist in their efforts to be together, they sneak around, and plan secret rendezvous driven by their love. There end is not a happy one but one involving the ultimate act of persistence. In the face of death, they persist meaning they make one last ditch attempt to be together and end their lives

One example of persistence I have born witness to during my life is my grandmothers battle with breast cancer. At 50 my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. As with any cancer diagnoses, she was given odds of survival, treatment options, and was presented with a variety of ways to move forward. Certain paths involved heavy medication doses and other painful procedures, while others involved doing nothing at all, but at the time my nannie had three young girls at home as well as loving husband, and so she decided she wanted to fight. Through tests and treatments, she persisted. When she got tired from the treatment she continued fighting, when it made her sick, she continued, when she lost her hair, she continues. Even with people to her left and right telling her it wasn’t worth it, and that the odds were against her, she continued. Because of this amazing persistence she survived and got 15 more years on this earth, with her family, friends, and creating memories that will last those still on earth for a lifetime. In contrast to this example there are acts of persistence that may be less obvious but no less and acts of perseverance, for example my father purchasing cable TV. When he was younger my father’s family didn’t have cable TV as they didn’t see a need for it or have the money. As a kid he saw his friends’ families with it and yearned to have it as well,