Romeo And Juliet Theme Essay

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare has toyed with the emotions of its audience members for centuries. The play’s main characters, Romeo and Juliet, love one another in spite of the feud between their families and later on, in the wallows of grief, each take their own life. While the characters both meet their end tragically, it was their choices that realistically led them down that path. The cause of the two “star-crossed lovers” final end is not due to fate or destiny, but by their own foolish hands.

The play begins in the city of Verona which features a long standing rivalry between two houses: the house of the Montagues and the House of the Capulets. The most prevalent trouble of the houses is the constant fighting

O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do! / They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. Juliet. Saints do not move, though grant for prayer’s sake. Romeo. Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take. / Thus form my lips, by thine my sin is purged. [Kisses her.] (Shakespeare 394)

This impulsive decision opens a floodgate to a myriad of foolish decisions. Such as later in the play, after spending the night proclaiming his undying love for Juliet, Romeo comes to the friar looking to have him perform the ceremony to marry Romeo and Juliet. This decision was made without any regard to Juliet or her feelings as well as without the blessing of the parents of either lover. No one was told about this. But still, Romeo urges the friar who is surprised and hesitant: Romeo. ...I’ll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us today. Friar. Holy Saint Francis! What change is here! (Shakespeare 410)

The Friar only agrees to perform the ceremony due to the belief that this marriage will mend the rift between the two houses. This choice to marry so early on in their relationship is truly just plain irrational and unnecessary. They could have tried to make a mend between the two houses, could have tried to convince their parents to accept the idea, but instead decided to impulsively act on “true love” and