Romeo And Juliet Research Paper

Romeo and Juliet Essay
Love can result in either end: happiness or despair. In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare sets the story in Verona, Italy, where a love blossoms between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. They unknowingly meet from two feuding households and fall for each other at first sight. Though thanks to the Nurse, they discover their rivaled backgrounds but continue meeting and eventually marry each other. Friar Laurence and the Nurse serve as their trusted supporters and are privy to their relationship. However, Juliet’s arranged marriage with Paris, her suitor, forces the four characters to make haste for Romeo and Juliet’s escape. As a result, Romeo, Juliet, the Nurse, and Friar Laurence succumb to a

Blinded by love, they believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Despite meeting Juliet only once, Romeo confidently declares, “My life were better ended by their hate/ Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love” (2.2.77-78). In other words, he would rather die than live without Juliet’s love. Romeo unfortunately bounds himself to his words and immediately commits suicide upon the news of Juliet’s “death.” Contrary to his belief, Romeo’s death does not reunite him with Juliet; it separates him from her. Romeo does not stay long enough to discover that Juliet is actually alive. As a result, he leads himself to death through his rash thoughts and actions. However, Juliet is also responsible by proposing too quickly: “If thy bent of love be honorable,/ thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow” (2.2.143-144). She seals her future with Romeo and disregards the fact that she has just met him. As they are making their vows of love and marriage, Juliet does not consider the biggest factor that could overthrow her plans: her arranged marriage with Paris. It results in her miscommunication with Romeo and ultimately leads to his and her demise. However, they are not the only individuals to blame for their

Acting as a catalyst for their marriage, Friar Laurence insists, “For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone/ Till holy church incorporate two into one” (2.6.36-37). Despite his good intentions, Friar Laurence hurriedly weds Romeo and Juliet, and as a result, set them on their ill-fated path. He finally discovers Juliet’s arranged marriage with Paris and hurriedly devises a flawed plan for Juliet. Inevitably, timing is not on their side and Friar Laurence does not get his message of their scheme to Romeo fast enough. Friar Laurence fails as Romeo and Juliet’s guide and separates the two. As disaster unfolds, the Nurse also fails as a guide: “Romeo is banishèd . . . / I think it best you married with the county” (3.5.214-218). The Nurse unwisely approves Romeo and Juliet’s relationship at first, only to back out in the end. She does not consider Juliet’s anger and carelessly leaves Juliet for herself. Juliet ends up losing her most trusted supporter, which triggers her recklessness even further. The small, careless acts from each of these four characters eventually step forward to Romeo and Juliet’s