Shakespeares Story of Love - Essay Example

Shakespeare’s Story of Love William Shakespeare is characteristically thought of today as a solemn subject that requires extensive, serious study if a person is to understand his plays. Of his most well-known plays, most are histories or tragedies, with some that extend outside of these boundaries. Shakespeare penned Romeo and Juliet in 1597 reflecting through his action and characters the traditions of England and Elizabethan values and while focusing the story on a young couple in Verona. In this way, he also integrates some of the same values that were widely understood in his time to have been essential to people of an even earlier time period. Shakespeare managed to speak to the concerns of the modern world nearly 500 years prior to the modern world coming into being. Though the language may seem somewhat archaic and the exact details might have altered, the story is as pertinent to modern society as it was to those living in the Elizabethan period at the beginning of the 17th century. (Literature, 2008) The play was probably first performed in the Globe Theatre and has since stood as and maybe the most well known example of foolish young love. In many of his plays, for example, he utilizes his characters to discover the meaning of love. In many cases, his investigation is centered on the idea of young, romantic love rarely compared to more mature love. This is apparently because the effect of love on young people is much more evident thus more theatrical in nature. Shakespeare’s notion of young love as a very destructive force can easily be found in his play Romeo and Juliet. The play starts with a prologue where the audience is introduced to his work. This part of the play was to help get its audience settled down and to lure them to pay attention by giving a witty dialogue that sums up the action to come without giving anything away. It does a excellent job of this as it informs the audience the fundamentals of the long-term quarrel between the Capulets and the Montagues; the love that erupts between Juliet, a Capulet and Romeo, a Montague, along the unfortunate end to the young couple, an event which ends the feud. Romeo and Juliet is frequently examined for its investigation into the nature of love, its elements of tragedy or its dramatic content. However, each one of these larger themes can be understood better when one looks at smaller signs within the characters, such as their personality or individual levels of maturity. It can be easily forgotten that this play revolves around two young teenagers trying to find a way of being together despite of a acrimonious feud that exists between their two families. Maturity plays a considerable role in this story as it determines the way in which they react to the pressures brought upon them. Though older, there are many ways in which Romeo can be perceived to be less mature than Juliet within the play. When considering this, it is vital to consider the known generalities concerning maturity and the subsequent actions by each of the two characters concerned to appreciate how love had such a powerful effect on them. “Romeo is lacking the capacity for moderation. Love compels him to sneak into the garden of his enemy’s daughter, risking death simply to catch a glimpse of her.” (Study Guide pg. 6.) The general views which are well-known regarding maturity is that girls tend to mature at a faster rate than boys. This is usually true mentally as well as physically. While this widely held view is not always accurate in specific cases, it can be generally assumed to be correct especially in the case of Romeo and Juliet due to the manner in which they act. It can also be assumed that both characters are of adequate physical maturity to appear as adult-like judging by the way other characters within the play interact with them. However, that their intellectual maturity is still deficient with respect to judgment is evidenced by the poor decision making skills they posses. Romeo is 17, Juliet somewhat younger at 13 indicating that maybe they have reached a comparable level of maturity. However, their decisions make it obvious that Romeo is definitely less mature. Romeo spends much of the play displaying an impetuousness that very much works against him. He gets angry quickly and is quick to fight, both characteristics with being male. However, Romeo is easily and often compared with other males in the play, all within his age range and same class, who are seen to consistently exercise a greater amount of caution and thoughtfulness in their words and actions than Romeo. Romeo’s fascination with Rosalind is also displayed as a childish crush. Compared with his emotional words expressed for Juliet, Romeo matures somewhat noticeably during the play, but not to the point where he surpasses Juliet’s level of maturity. Romeo is eager to be with Juliet and becomes increasingly impatient for every minute that goes by that they are not together regardless of the fact the couple have very recently met. In his interactions with others, he appears much like a spoiled young boy as he pleads for the friar to marry them and, when he discovers Juliet dead, he takes the poison he knows will kill him quickly, impetuously as well. But for a moment of coherent thought on his part both might have lived and certainly himself. Conversely, Juliet shows much more self-control in her actions. When Romeo came to beg her to run away, she suggested they not act so quickly, to slow things down so as to allow the relationship to grow. When he says he can’t wait, she speaks of marriage and takes each required step to make sure that her reputation will stay in good standing. She is offered almost no support and emotional encouragement by her parents who view her more as a commodity instead of a daughter. Juliet meets their expectations with restraint and grace within the boundaries of what she believes she wants for herself. She does not hesitate to speak her mind and decisive when she knows what she wants; quickly convincing the friar, on a mature level, that she is determined to kill herself before she would marry Paris. When the friar recommends she take a drug that will make her appear dead, slowing her heart rate to a beat that is imperceptible, she courageously faces up to the risk and doesn’t give in to the hysterics many women of her young age might have. Romeo, finding Juliet dead in the tomb, with nearly no thought, instantly drinks the poison. This somewhat feminine means of killing himself is comparable to Juliet’s final deed where she thrusts Romeo’s dagger into her heart, an feat that takes a good deal more passion, nerve and ‘manly’ courage that simply taking a drink. In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare venerates the emotions of young lovers as an invincible force that can brush away all logic and reason while also revealing the other side of the coin where this type of love is disproportionately negative to the individual. For Romeo and Juliet, the two youths were able to think only of each other and being together. Because they knew their parents would not approve of their union, they make plans to go away together but their plan is imperfect therefore their story ends in absolute tragedy. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. “The Complete Pelican Shakespeare.” New York: Penguin Classics, 1969. Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The Literature Network. February 21, 2011 Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliette Study Guide pg. 6. Literature BYU February 21, 2011 < http://www.scribd.com/doc/7180655/Romeo-and-Julliette> Read More