How Does Shakespeare Present Hatred In Romeo And Juliet

“These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph, die like fire and powder,” said Friar Laurence, in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, before he married the two lovesick protagonists of the play (954). The two main families of the play share the same status of wealth and also express hatred for each other. The Capulets and Montagues are very wealthy and powerful and have sustained an ancient feud. This hatred caused much violence throughout the play, as the prologue interprets, “From ancient grudge break to new [violence]” (Shakespeare 901). The first protagonist, Romeo Montague, had been in love with a nun (Shakespeare 908). The nun, Rosaline, “forsworn to love [anyone]” (Shakespeare 909). This depressed

Romeo ignored his dream that foreshadowed his death if he attended Lord Capulet’s feast (Shakespeare 921). Romeo and Juliet met at this feast (Shakespeare 927-28). Their relationship ended with death, which the dream had suggested. A Capulet servant unknowingly invited Montagues to “crush a cup of wine” at his master’s feast (Shakespeare 912). Romeo agreed to attend the party to see Rosaline (Shakespeare 912-13). Tybalt noticed Romeo and held a grudge, stating, “this intrusion shall [ . . . ] convert to bitt’rest gall” (Shakespeare 926). Romeo secretly visited Juliet during the night (Shakespeare 935). Juliet explained that Romeo’s intrusion was “death, considering who [he is]” (Shakespeare 937). When Mercutio and Tybalt fight, Romeo intervenes. Romeo stood between them; Tybalt then stabbed Mercutio under Romeo’s arm (Shakespeare 961). Romeo risked his life; caused Mercutio to die; and then slew Tybalt (Shakespeare 962). While banished for slaying Tybalt, Romeo expects his news from a servant, instead of Friar Laurence’s self-appointed messenger, Friar John. Romeo’s servant Balthasar arrived before the Friar’s messenger and shared a piece of misinformation with Romeo describing Juliet’s death. From then on, Romeo acted out of desperation—exclaiming, “I defy you, stars!” (Shakespeare 1009). Romeo buys poison (Shakespeare 1011). Romeo killed himself beside sleeping Juliet in the Capulet’s tomb

Juliet contradicted herself after complaining about the suddenness of the marriage. Romeo asked to marry Juliet, and Juliet agreed hesitantly, describing the marriage as “too rash, too unadvised, [and] too sudden” (Shakespeare 939-40). If Juliet had been sterner, they would have delayed the marriage. Juliet and Romeo were unstable. When Juliet heard Romeo slew Tybalt, she slandered Romeo: “O serpent heart, hid with a flow’ring face!”, but ironically returned to praise him (Shakespeare 969). Juliet’s love of Romeo and her commitment to suicide interlaced. When they first met, Juliet expressed, “If [Romeo] be marriéd, My grave is like to be my wedding bed” (Shakespeare 928). This allusion to death possibly precipitated many similar threats throughout the play. If Juliet had hurried, she could have woken up with desperate Romeo in the tomb (Shakespeare 997-1018). Juliet listed her fears in a long monologue before drinking the sleeping potion, whose effect lasts forty-two hours (Shakespeare 992, 997). Juliet woke up in the tomb sometime after Romeo killed himself—about the same time as the monologue could have taken (Shakespeare