There are many tragedies in today’s media. Some of which are very popular in this generation, such as Titanic and Love Story. However, the current tragedies are very different from the Elizabethan era tragedies. Those tragedies are constantly studied today. One play, in particular, is debated on whether or not it is a tragedy by many Shakespearean scholars. The play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, constantly shows hints of being a tragedy due to the tragic hero having a tragic flaw and having external pressures.
According to the Elizabethan era, every tragedy must have a tragic hero who displays a tragic flaw. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is deeply in love with Rosaline, but he finds out she doesn’t love him the same way. When he meets up with Benvolio, he explains he is sad because he is “out of her favor in where I am in love” (1.1.172). Then, he attends the Capulet party where he meets with Juliet and instantly falls in love with her. Although it can be debated that all teenagers fall in love at first sight, there are no other characters besides Romeo and Juliet who fall in love easily. Romeo is the only one who falls in love quickly after being rejected. The tragic flaw of falling in love easily leads to Romeo and Juliet’s downfall because Juliet’s plan to run away with her lover does not work due to miscommunication and unthought
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Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet have to keep their marriage a secret because the feud between their families may grow if anyone knew about it. Since nobody knows about the marriage, it is no surprise when Lady Capulet tells Juliet, “Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn. The gallant, young, and noble gentlemen, the County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church shall happily make thee there a joyful bride” (3.5.117-120). The external pressures from the parents and families are what drove the two lovers to death in the