Romeo and Juliet Character Philosophy - Book Report/Review Example

Introduction The use of universal themes from different types of plays and literature create a deeper meaning that is not only d at the time frame, but also remains legitimate over a longer period of time. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there is an understanding of several different themes that can be used throughout time. The specific actions, plot line and character development all work together to create a deeper meaning to the story and to provide a specific reaction from those reading the story. The literary techniques combine with this to show a different meaning to the story and to allow the reader to redefine and think of various human elements and universal themes. One of the themes that is prevalent through the story and which creates a specific response is the question of fate. The philosophy of whether fate is a part of everyone’s path, or whether free will is the way in which individual’s live, remains a controversial subject throughout this play. Romeo and Juliet and Reaching Fate The different concepts that are noted in Romeo and Juliet show that the concept of fate is one that is defined by the specific actions that characters take and the revealing of events. This is noted from the beginning introduction of the characters from their presentation as star cross’d lovers. The idea of fate from the beginning is noted as the individuals are introduced not only as loving each other, but also as fulfilling their parent’s strife. Shakespeare writes, “Whose misadventured piteous overthrows / Do with their death bury their parent’s strife. / The fearful passage of their death mark’d love / And the continuance of their parent’s rage, / Which, but with their children’s end, nought could remove / Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage” (Shakespeare, 3 – 4). The introduction that is provided shows a specific relationship to the idea of death and strife, as well as the idea of how fate begins not only from Romeo and Juliet. Instead, it is marked from the parents and the different curses that are between the two families because of the long history that is between both sides. The idea of fate that is carried out is then seen through until the end of the play where the death of both Romeo and Juliet because of their love is one that is recognized as a response to the expected fate of the family. Even though both love each other, there is a continuous controversy because both come from specific families that do not like the other side. The prestige that both families have earned is based on their rivalries toward each other. This makes the love between the couple forbidden and creates the main controversy between the two sides. The conflict that is a part of the play, and which continues despite Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other, is then expected to only lead to the fate that is at the end, where both die for each other. Since the idea of their love is not accepted and because of the several controversies that are surrounding this, the main upheavals can’t provide the couple with a longer or happy relationship. The concepts surrounding the fate that both reach with their death at the end is seen as Romeo believes that Juliet has died, and both end their lives for each other. Not only is there a question of fate that is a part of the family and what occurs, but also a controversy that Shakespeare creates around the idea of free will and fate. The audience is forced to ask which of the two has a stronger outcome and which one is expected to carry out. It is the ending scene in which Juliet fakes her death that shows the concept of free will. When Romeo drinks the poison, it is also a question of free will as he decides that this is the only way for him to live without Juliet. However, Juliet finding this and drinking the poison back then creates a question of whether they had the free will to die together or whether this was their fate because of the love that they had for each other. Not only is the question of fate between the two, but also links to the other characters in the book and how they forced this fate upon the two because of their hate for the other side. “Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet - / where be these enemies? - Capulet! - Montague! See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! / And I, for winking at your discords too / Have lost brace of kinsmen: all are punished” (297). This phrase shows the intertwining of fate and how it not only relates to Romeo and Juliet, but also how it leads to the fate of the others. The punishment of everyone who caused the hate between both sides as a rivalry is recognized by Shakespeare. More importantly, those that were surrounding the event are now held to their own fate because of the occurrence that has happened and because of the enemies that are being looked at with the situation that has arisen. Each of these creates a different understanding of fate and how the fate of the two who have died also leads to a punishment by the others. Literary Techniques and Fate For the fate to be reached in the play, Shakespeare uses several literary techniques and elements that provide a different response to the characters. Doing this allows the audience to understand what may happen if the characters don’t respond according to the different wills of the parent, as well as toward what the rivalries are. From the beginning, Shakespeare hints at the different concepts of fate and how it relates to the rivalry of the families. He also shows the controversy between free will and fate by using specific literary techniques and by providing the reader with a question of this controversy by the end of the book. The first way that Shakespeare uses literary techniques for the concept of fate is through foreshadowing. This is seen throughout the play and creates a belief that Romeo and Juliet will have no option by the end of the play but to die for each other. From the beginning, there are instances where individuals are fighting with each other and putting each other in peril, even as a game and as jest. For instance, Shakespeare writes, “Abr: You lie. Sam: Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. Ben: Part, fools! Put up your swords, you know not what you do. Tyb: What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death” (Shakespeare, 11). There are several instances where Shakespeare mentions the idea of one looking upon their death as a part of their life, as if to state that this is the only outcome that there is for those that are in the play. Whether the fights are in jest or are because of the rivalries, Shakespeare continues to show through foreshadowing that the ultimate fate between the sides is one that is based on death and which will lead to one looking at their own life as one that is passing. In this instance, no one has the free will to decide when they will die or how, but will instead be placed in a position that will lead to this fate. The concept of fate continues with the different dialogue between Romeo and Juliet and the portrayal that they have toward each other as they fall in love. The different scenes that show Romeo and Juliet speaking with others, also portrays the idea of fate and what will occur between the two if they fall in love. The concept of fate, when noted by the dialogue is one that both see because of their love for each other. For instance, Romeo recognizes that his love for Juliet should be stopped as the rivalry between the two families will create controversy and will lead to a fate that is not worthy of both. Juliet recognizes this same problem with the fate of love between both sides and how it may not lead to anything but tragedy. In one dialogue, Romeo is speaking to the servant about his love for Juliet, soon after he has found her. He states “Ay, mine fortune in my misery” (37). Romeo, at this point, believes that he has gone mad and that his fortune will be based on the misery that has occurred because of the circumstances of the situation. The result is that there is an understanding by Romeo that his love, as his fortune, will also bring out his end fate and tragedy. Another literary technique that is displayed through Shakespeare’s understanding of fate is the use of metaphor and the allusions that are created regarding death and the complications surrounding it. Shakespeare intertwines the images, metaphor and allusions in different scenes, specifically which are seen by both Romeo and Juliet in portraying their own fate and the death that falls. For instance, Shakespeare writes about the allusions Juliet has in her sleep regarding death. This works as a form of foreshadowing of fate as well as an allusion and metaphor to what will happen in the end. “And then dreams he of smelling out a suit / And sometimes comes she with a tithe pig’s tail / Tickling a parson’s nose as a lies asleep / Then dreams he of another benefice: / Sometimes she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck / And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats” (65). The reference to the dreams as an allusion and foreshadowing shows the concept of fate in several ways. The cutting of foreign throats is a foreshadowing toward the death that will follow. This is followed by the tithe of the pig’s tale and the parson’s nose that lies asleep. The metaphor that is used in these specific instances shows the concept of fate as one moves into sleep and can’t be awoken, also which refers to death. However, the dream as the metaphor also creates an understanding of love where the dream represents the belief that the love can be one based on romance and the relationship between Romeo and Juliet lying in a sleep before their death. Conclusion The different themes and material that are presented in Romeo and Juliet show not only the concept of love and tragedy, but also represent the question of free will and fate. The outcome of the two characters, as well as the surrounding fate of the families and those that fight in the play, show the main controversy that is linked to the idea of fate. Shakespeare combines this with several literary techniques that show the concept of fate as the only outcome, as opposed to the idea of free will that is the main debate over this controversy. Showing these different aspects of the play then allows one to have a deeper understanding of the meaning of fate and the concept of how choice is defined as an opposing viewpoint throughout the play. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet Harvard University Press: Boston, 1972. Read More