Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is considered one of the greatest love stories of all time. The tale of two young star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who were born into two families that were bitter rivals has been remade and retold countless times. Although the characters and plot are timeless, the themes and messages that emerge from this story are still relevant to this day. This essay will explore the themes of love, fate and family and provide a critical analysis of how these themes are expressed in the play.
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet with the intention of exploring the power of love. Romeo and Juliets love for one another is so strong that it transcends their class, family and even their own lives. This unconditional love is symbolic of something much greater - a power that surpasses our differences in race, religion, gender or social class. In the face of tragedy and danger, Romeo and Juliets love prevails and ultimately redeems their families.
The concept of fate also plays an important role in Romeo and Juliet. The play begins by introducing the audience to a prologue that foreshadows the unlucky destiny that Romeo and Juliet's future holds. The pair seem helpless against the forces of destiny, unable to prevent their ill-fated end. Despite Romeo and Juliets best efforts to escape their fate, in the end fate controls their destiny.
The play additionally explores the power of family. Throughout the play, both Romeo and Juliet's families have a profound influence on their actions. They are both subject to their families control and expectationseven in matters of love. The Montague's and Capulet's long-standing feud further complicates matters, making it impossible for Romeo and Juliet to be together without risking their familys safety.
In summary, Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet contains many themes that remain relevant today, such as love, fate, and family. Through this play, Shakespeare successfully conveys the importance of understanding how to navigate between these themes, as well as how to free ourselves from the control of others to achieve our goals.
