Sacrifice In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Mark Overby says, “Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense.” Love, a magnificent and wonderful emotion, not only includes admiration, but requires sacrifice. William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, revolves around the children of two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets. This feud even has the citizens of the town, Verona, involved in this ancient rivalry. The children, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, fall deeply into a love that is forbidden. The young lovers are willing to do anything to be with one another; even if that means they have to sacrifice their lives for each other. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare challenges the stereotypical teenage romance, proving that young

After Juliet’s party, Romeo sneaks into the Capulets’ garden to be with Juliet. She says that because they are of rival families, they cannot openly love one another. In response to Juliet, Romeo declares, “Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized. / Henceforth I never will be Romeo” (2.2.54-55). Romeo vows he loves Juliet with so much devotion that he would deny his name for her. Juliet hears Romeo’s voice and wonders who is speaking and why he is in her garden. Juliet tells Romeo that if any of their kinsmen see them together their kinsmen will murder Romeo. He then replies, “My life were better ended by their hate / Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love” (2.2.82-82). Romeo would rather have the kinsmen kill him than live without Juliet and her love. The two carry on in their discussion about their love for each other. Juliet suggests to Romeo, “If that thy bent of love be honorable, / Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow” (2.2.150-151). Juliet has much love for Romeo and wants Romeo to have the same for her. Juliet tells Romeo that if he truly loves her, they should marry tomorrow. Even though Romeo and Juliet have just met, their love for each other contains much strength that compels them to