Student name: Ella Oliver

Student class: 10E

What can you tell us about this piece of work?

This piece of work was about exploring the various themes of Romeo and Juliet and demonstrating that it’s more than just a love story and has other key themes such as hatred, death and family honour.

What is your favourite thing about English?

I enjoy all aspects of English, but my favourite thing about English is that it gives you the ability to be creative.

What are you working on at the moment in English?

In English, we are currently analysing poems using the STEP UP process.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m reading The Betrothed by Kiera Cass at the moment.

What is your favourite book and why?

I don’t have a favourite book as I have read so many that it’s hard to choose just one, but my favourite genre would have to be historical fiction.

What are some books that you would really like to read?

I would like to read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, because I enjoyed the film adaptation.

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is more than a love story. Discuss with reference to at least three central themes.

Shakespeare’s 1596 play Romeo and Juliet is the sorrowful story of two star-crossed lovers who cannot be together due to their family’s hatred, resulting in them both committing suicide. However, contrary to popular belief, Romeo and Juliet is much more than purely a love story, and has many other central themes, such as ‘love’, ‘family honour’ and ‘death’, which give significantly more depth and meaning to the play. Through exploring these three themes, it will be established that Romeo and Juliet is more than just a love story.

Although Romeo and Juliet is much more than simply a love story, ‘love’ is a fundamental theme in the play. ‘Love’ is demonstrated in the story through the romantic relationship between Romeo and Juliet themselves and in the possibility of their love ending the feud between the Capulet and Montague families. When Romeo first lays eyes on Juliet at Lord Capulet’s party, he says “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night” which shows that Romeo has instantly fallen in love with Juliet, and that he has never experienced true love until seeing her (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 51-52). Juliet’s feelings are similar, as she too immediately falls in love. Upon learning Romeo is a Montague, she cries “My only love sprung from my only hate, too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love is it to me, that I must love a loathed enemy” (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 146-149). This exhibits that Romeo is Juliet’s only love, and that she has fallen in love with her enemy. Shortly after meeting, Juliet confesses how profound her love is for Romeo, saying “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite” (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 139-141). Friar Lawrence believes that Romeo and Juliet’s love could end the bloody conflict between their families, saying “For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households’ rancour to pure love” (Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 98-99). Through exploring these examples, it is clear that ‘love’ is a central theme in Romeo and Juliet.

‘Family honour’ is a key theme in Romeo and Juliet, making it more than just a love story. ‘Family honour’ is shown in the play through the fact that Romeo and Juliet are forced to hide their romance from their families due to the Capulets’ and Montagues’ strong hatred for one another, and by the conflicts between both families throughout the story. In the Capulet orchard, Juliet tells Romeo “Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 36-38). This quote exemplifies that Juliet feels her love for Romeo is passionate enough that she would choose love over her family, showing that she has chosen not to honour her family’s hatred of the Montagues. Romeo too chooses love over honouring his family, saying to Juliet “Thy kinsmen are no stop to me” (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 75). This displays that Romeo does not heed what his family thinks; his family’s hate will not prevent him from loving Juliet. ‘Family honour’ is also displayed through Tybalt’s hate for the Montague family. When Benvolio calls for peace, Tybalt replies “What, sword drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee!” (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 72-3). This shows that Tybalt’s hatred for the Montagues is so strong that he likens it to his hate for hell, exemplifying that ‘family honour’ is very important to Tybalt. By analysing these quotes, it is established that Romeo and Juliet is more than just a love story, with ‘family honour’ being a key theme.

At first glance Romeo and Juliet is simply a love story, but ‘death’ is a central theme in the play, giving it much more depth and emotion. ‘Death’ is demonstrated multiple times throughout the story, with the most significant deaths being that of Romeo and Juliet taking their own lives at the end of the play. Just before he consumes the poison that ends his life, Romeo says “Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 121). Juliet awakens shortly after Romeo’s death, and she is heartbroken when she sees his lifeless body. She says “I will kiss thy lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them to make me die with a restorative”, which shows that she is not afraid to die (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 170). There is not sufficient poison lingering on Romeo’s lips to kill her, so she resorts to stabbing herself. Before plunging the dagger into her own heart, she says “O happy dagger. This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die” (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 175). ‘Death’ is also displayed when Mercutio receives the fatal wound that kills him. Before he passes away, he cries “A plague on both your houses! I am sped” (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 86). ‘Death’ is then presented again when Benvolio informs Romeo that Mercutio has passed away, saying “O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead” (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 111). Romeo and Juliet is much more than just a love story, and these tragic examples of death prove that.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is more than just a love story. This is demonstrated through three of the core themes in the play: ‘love’, ‘family honour’, and ‘death’. ‘Love’ is displayed very frequently throughout the play, one example being when Romeo declares his love for Juliet as soon as he lays eyes on her. ‘Family honour’ is shown in many instances, one of the most notable being when both Romeo and Juliet decide to choose each other over honouring their family’s hatred. ‘Death’ is seen often through the play, with the most significant deaths being Romeo’s and Juliet’s. Based on these examples and those mentioned throughout the essay, it is evident that Romeo and Juliet is more than just a love story.

Reference list

Luhrmann, B., 1996, Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare, W., 1596, Romeo and Juliet

Ella Oliver - 10E