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Introduction to “Romeo and Juliet”

Romeo and Juliet is a play written by the English playwright William
Shakespeare. It was published for the first time in 1597.
Romeo and Juliet is probably the most famous love story of all time.   It is a tragic
tale depicting the forbidden love shared by two young lovers coming from two feuding
families. The story is, along with Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most popular and frequently
performed play. Romeo and Juliet is regarded by many experts as a great example of
Shakespeare’s early dramatic skill.
The play is set in the Italian city Verona where two noble families, the Montagues
and the Capulets, have been sworn enemies for years on end.  An unlikely turn of events
results in Romeo (the son of Montague) and Juliet (Capulet’s daughter) falling in love
and getting married in secret. 
What ensues is a typical Shakespearean tragedy in which social norms, honor and
pride irreversibly affect Romeo and Juliet’s love story.  The play’s prologue calls the
two protagonists “star-crossed lovers”, a most fitting description of their story – one in
which the Universe seems to conspire against them.
Although the play draws lots of elements from classical Greek tragedies, William
Shakespeare’s take on the theme of forbidden love is a unique, masterful piece of
literature. This fact is proven by its endurance in the public’s conscience and by its
numerous adaptations, spanning over four centuries
Throughout this lesson series, for the purpose of intelligibility,  Romeo and
Juliet will be presented in a simplified, mostly-narrative version and not in its original,
traditional play form.
Tragedy
Tragedy fits into Romeo and Juliet due to the tragic death that occurs at the end of the play
and because of this is considered to be tragedy. There are three topics to consider when looking
at tragedy. Firstly, when one of the main characters has a tragic flaw that is shown through his
persona that leads them to their death. In this play Romeo is the key character to play this
persona. Another factor to consider is the character decides on choices that they cannot foresee
and lastly fate.
Before the play begins there is a prologue, this already tells us that Romeo and Juliet is
destined to end in tragedy. Also in the prologue oxymoron are used to create a dramatic impact
to support the tragedy that will occur, ‘civil blood,’ The reference to Romeo and Juliet as ‘star
crossed lovers’ hints that Romeo and Juliet were meant to die together because it was in their
destiny. Therefore this is what fate has planned for their lives, as it was crossed through the stars
(written in the stars), this already foreshadows the ending, the audience sympathises Romeo and
Juliet as it is inevitable. Also further along the scene there is Prince’s speech, “If you ever disturb
our streets again your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace,” this also destined it to end in
tragedy as it is out of their control as it foreshadows the fate of Romeo and Juliet as they are the
ones who die and their families will live in peace, this again involves the audience as the foresee
the tragedy which creates more sympathy.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy and therefore their fate is death. Kenneth Muir states that a
form of tragedy is influenced by many factors. Whether it is an extreme play to a single poet he
explained that ‘Romeo and Juliet are concerned primarily with one person; they end with the
death of the hero’. The two rival families are to blame due to not being able to come to peace.
The play has a sense of tragedy throughout the story by the decisions made by Romeo and
because of the judgments made by him; this affects the characters and the outcome of the events
that will occur all through the play. The virtues of fate, impulsiveness, and death told through an
engaging love story make Romeo and Juliet an outstanding tragedy. Fate plays an important role
in making Romeo and Juliet an excellent tragedy.
Tragic hero
In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is "a tragic hero.” This is according to
Aristotle’s definition, a tragic hero is a character “who is neither completely good nor completely
bad, but also a member of royalty.” Romeo is a tragic hero because he does many good things, but
many bad things, as well. For example, he is a Montague and he marries Juliet, who is a Capulet.
This is prohibited, so Romeo is bad. However, Romeo does everything he can to keep Juliet happy
and risks his life for her, which makes him good. Romeo is also a man of royalty because he is
Montague’s son. Romeo’s character has many contradictions, which makes the audience think, “is
he good or bad?” Asking these questions and not knowing the answer leads us to believe that
Romeo is a tragic hero, according to Aristotle’s definition.
Pity and fear
Shakespeare depicts the theme of both fear and shock that Romeo feels when exiled in Act 3,
Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet. Immediately into the scene, Shakespeare uses personification when
Romeo asks, “What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand / That I yet know not?” (Shakespeare
III.iii.5-6). Shakespeare sets the tone of fear using this literary device to show how there are to be
harsh consequences for killing Tybalt. This theme is further explored when Romeo asks, “Doth she
not think me an old murderer, / Now I have stained the childhood of our joy / With blood removed
but little from her own?” (Shakespeare III.iii. 103-105). Romeo deeply fears how he's seen in the
eyes of his wife after having murdered one of Juliet’s loved ones.
Catharsis
In Romeo and Juliet,, the two star-crossed lovers eventually commit suicide. The audience,
often in tears by this point, experiences a feeling of catharsis. As the play closes, the two families
in the story make peace with one another, offering a feeling of closure