Crystal Pham

Classics 9

In Class Write 2

The Tragic Relationship Between Romeo and Juliet

Willaim Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet around 1597. Based on Verona, Italy, the
play narrates the story of two teenage love interests from rival families, Capulet and Montague.
The son of Montague, Romeo, falls deeply in love with the daughter of Capulet, Juliet, at a
masquerade ball. Unfortunate events occur where both children are not able to be together, and
the story ends with both committing suicide. Although many readers of Shakespear interprets
Romeo and Juliet relationship as true love because they sacrifice themselves for each other, I
strongly believe that they did not have any mutual love in the play. Juliet was faced with a
conflict throughout the play, where she had to marry a stranger, Count Paris, which she did not
wish to do. Juliet may have never loved Romeo as he did for her, since she only perused him to
rebel against her arranged marriage with Count Paris.

William Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

(modernly known as Stratford, England), and deceased at his birthplace on April 23, 1616. He is
famously known as a brilliant English playwriter, poet, and actor. During his career, Shakespeare
wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, 3 long narrative poems, and “other projects without his authorship”
(Brown p.1). His plays often consisted of tragedies, historical events, comedies, tragicomedies,
and romances. This essay will discuss Shakespeare’s most well-known play Romeo and Juliet,
based on “Aurthur Brooke’s 1562 poem, The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet”
(Bevington p.1). Shakespeare’s play follows the story of two star-crossed lovers from rival
families of Capulet and Montague. The story introduces a heartbroken hopeless romantic
teenager, Romeo Montague, discovering that his crush, Rosaline of Capulet house, does not
share mutual love with him. So, he sneaks into a Capulet masquerade ball to relieve his pain.
Juliet Capulet is presented as beautiful teenage girl, who was requested for an arranged marriage
with a wealthy man named, Count Paris. The Capulet family hosts a masquerade ball for the two
soon-to-be married individuals to meet. Coincidentally, Romeo captures the eye of the young
girl, and they ultimately confess their love for each other and marry the next day. Unfortunately,
their relationship does not last for long since Romeo commits murder that causes his banishment
from the town. Juliet worries about their separation and cannot stay in her toxic household after
her refusal to marry Paris, so she urges to run away with Romeo. Friar Laurence, a paster for
Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, presents Juliet with a sleeping potion that helps her fake her own
death, where Romeo’s kiss would awaken her, and they could leave town together. Nothing of
the sort ever happens where a misunderstanding occurs that kills both teenagers.

An analogy of Juliet’s perspective, she may have never genuinely loved Romeo, and only
pursued him to rebel against her arranged marriage with Count Paris. Juliet’s first appearance
was in Scene III of Act I; Lady Capulet, Nurse, and Juliet discuss marriage and how Juliet is not
at an eligible age for it. “She’s not fourteen” (Lady Cap. I, III, 12), provides evidence of Juliet’s
age and how she was a young child. Children during the Renaissance and earlier should not have
had to go through an early marriage, especially the consequence of Romeo and Juliet. Discussing
the general aspects to why child marriages are cruel and wrong, is that human brains does not
finish developing until the age of 25. Humans are very vulnerable before age 25, particularly
teenagers who are in an early marriage. Teenagers are known to make impulsive and unthinkable
decisions, because their brain uses their amygdala to problem solve, instead of their frontal
cortex. The amygdala is responsible for the result of aggressive and erratic behaviour, fear, and
immediate reactions; this section of the brain develops later in life. “It is an honour that I dream
not of.” (Jul. I, III, 66) was Juliet’s response to Lady Capulet when she asked Juliet’s opinion on
marriage. None of her parents ever listened to Juliet’s opinion on marriage throughout the play,
which forced her to quickly pursue Romeo. She immediately requests Romeo’s vows and a
marriage the day after they meet, because she feared having to marry Paris before. During
Romeo’s banishment, Juliet felt panicked at the thought of being separated from him and staying
with Paris alongside her toxic parents, she risked her life that caused her sudden death.

Romeo and Juliet was written during the Renaissance period where child marriages were
normalized, and the term adolescents was not discovered. Past society had different social
standards, laws, and especially treatment of women. It is important to acknowledge the past and
understand how their perspective on how child marriages were justifiable, since young women
were determined as “adults” when they first start menstruating. The general purpose of arranged
marriages was to maintain upper class wealth, financial security, and “monetary worth”
(Bevington p.4). The Capulet family had good intentions towards Juliet and cared about their
daughter’s future. Though Juliet had eyes for another young man, Romeo; who she may have
loved for her to risk her life for him. “I will do it without fear or doubt. / To live an unstained
wife of my sweet love.” (Jul. IV, I, 88-89). When Juliet first met Romeo, she was worried about
his feelings towards her and quickly asked for his vows. Juliet believed that she was too quickly
won over by him and clingy. She valued Romeo’s opinions more than her own, which shows her
true love and dedication for him.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is well known for its romantic tragedy between
two love interests, Romeo and Juliet, that could have never ended up together. Their families,
Montague and Capulet, both drove them to a mutual suicide, where it resolves the feud between
them. Juliet never had wanted an arranged marriage with Paris “O, bid me leap, rather than
marry Paris,” (Jul. IV, I, 79), she pursued Romeo instead. Although their relationship seemed
forced and rushed, they clearly felt a passionate feeling towards each other. Shakespeare’s play
was written during a time when child marriages were normalized, since the discovery of
adolescents has not yet happened. This creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for readers to
interpret Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, because there is still another man waiting for her. This
play delivered a tragic romantic narration of how love can drive someone to do the unthinkable.
 Works Cited

Durband, Alan. Shakespeare Made Easy: Romeo and Juliet. 1st ed., Barron's Educational Series,
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Bevington, David. “Romeo and Juliet.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,
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“Marriage.” Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament,
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Brown, John Russell. "William Shakespeare". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Aug. 2022,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare