Stereotypes In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

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For many years schools taught about the play, Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare. Some say that we should continue to allow our teens to read this tragic love story, while others may argue that we shouldn't read this play in schools. The issues concerning this tragic love story are the inappropriate jokes, the unrealistic view of love, and the promotion of suicide. These issues will indeed prove why Romeo and Juliet is ill-suited for a freshmen class. Ninth graders should no longer read Romeo and Juliet because of its inappropriate jokes. At the beginning of the play, two of Lord Capulet's servants Gregory and Sampson are in the streets of Verona. The two see the rival family the Montagues when Sampson proceeds to say "Tis true, …show more content…

Romeo snuck into the Capulet's party where he saw Juliet. He devised a plan to touch her hand to create a conversation. Upon their meeting, they spoke in perfect sonnets, like they say" If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." (Shakespeare 1.5.93-110). This can give freshmen an unrealistic view of love because they may believe that young love can really happen in this perfect way. This can lead to false hope for the teens or high expectations that will never be fulfilled. Another unrealistic view of love is how fast Romeo and Juliet got married. They had only known each other for a few hours and decided to get married right away."Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath This neighbor air, and let rich music's tongue Unfold the imagined happiness that both Receive in either by this dear encounter."(Shakespeare 2.6.24-34). This part of the story can show the unrealistic love because no one falls in love that fast and get married to someone they barely know. This can give the idea that love is supposed to happen super quickly. An adolescent may get the wrong idea of love and try to rush into things like Romeo and Juliet did. This can present the unrealistic views on love because of how perfect of a relationship Romeo and Juliet had upon meeting and the rushing of their