Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Essay Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story about two children whose families are feuding. It was written in about 1596 when Shakespeare was about 26 years of age. The play is set in Verona, Italy. It was set abroad because Shakespeare didnt want to offend anyone through the script, if they were to relate themselves to someone in it. Shakespeare got his inspiration from many sources. Romeo and Juliet gained its inspiration from an Arthur Brooke poem written in 1562, called The tragical history of Romeous and Juliet. At the time of writing, Shakespeare had been called a magpie because his ideas were not original. Another source of inspiration for the script could be his personal experience of young love. He was 18 when he got married to a 26 yr old woman called Anne Hathaway. Romeo and Juliet is still a popular play because of its theme. The theme of love which people can still relate to today. Also, the theme revolves around family honour and standing up for your beliefs, which people can also still relate to today. At the time that the play was set, the society was known as a patriarchal society. This meant that men were more in charge and had a higher status than women. Young girls from well-to-do families were expected to be married at a very young age, and they had very little choice in the matter. In Act 1 Scene 2, Lord Capulet is presented as a fair, liberal and generous man. In the scene he is speaking to Paris, and Paris keeps asking for Juliets hand in marriage. However, Lord Capulet disagrees, which would be unusual in those days. She hath not seen the change of 14 years, Let 2 more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride Here he is saying that she is only thirteen years old, and that if Paris comes back for her hand in marriage in two years, only then will Lord Capulet agree or consider wedding them both. Lord Capulet uses poetic language in this scene to show that he is a bit of a hero. It makes him look sophisticated and well mannered; therefore the audience has a positive view of him. Lord Capulet talks about Juliet in a very optimistic way. He says, She is the hopeful lady of my earth. This demonstrates to the audience that he is respectful and that Juliet means a lot to him. Juliet is also his only child, meaning that she is very precious to him. He also uses metaphors, for example he describes some women as earth treading stars. This is an example of natural imagery, which shows that Lord Capulet is quite light hearted. Another idea of the fact that he is light-hearted would be that he uses puns. An example of this is when he says the word marrd. At that moment he is talking about Juliets marriage, therefore the audience know straight away that he is referring to the word married. In old English, marrd meant spoilt. In the time that the play was set, Lord Capulet actions would have been quite unusual, and suggest that he values Juliets happiness aswel as his desire to see her married. Throughout the scene, Shakespeare gives us a positive view of Lord Capulet. He shows us that Lord Capulet is understanding and very considerate for a parent in that society. Fathers were usually not this liberal in those days therefore the audience find Lord Capulets actions and choices rather unusual. A lot happens between Act 1 Scene 2 and Act 3 Scene 4. Romeo and Juliet have met and fallen in love. They have secretly married. The only people who know this are the Friar and the nurse. Romeo kills Tybalt because Tybalt killed Romeos best friend Mercutio. Romeo has been banished to Mantua. During Act 3 Scene 4, Paris and Lord Capulet meet up again to discuss the marriage of Paris and Juliet. Lord Capulet re-assures Paris that Juliet will get married to Paris. Lord Capulet has seems to have changed his mind about the marriage. Before, in Act 1 Scene 2, he was trying to put Paris off, whereas now he wants the wedding to take place. The reason I think he has changed his mind is because Tybalt has died and he is now thinking about his own death. If Juliet was to marry Paris, she would have the security and protection that she needs. The Capulets have lost a dear member of their family therefore Lord Capulet doesnt feel as strong or confident anymore. He is grief-stricken and wants some level of protection for Juliet. I think that Lord Capulet is not being reasonable because one minute he intends to let Juliet choose who she marries, whereas now he is planning her wedding without even informing her. Lord Capulet is not confident about Juliet agreeing to the marriage. .. Of my childs love: I think she will be ruled In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not. Here Lord Capulet is saying that he thinks that Juliet will agree. But then he re-assures himself that she will definitely agree. This is also a use of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Juliet has already disobeyed her father and secretly got married to Romeo. In this scene, Lord Capulet speaks in a hesitant and jerky manner. We know this because he makes a lot of references to time. He also uses very short sentences which shows his mind is breaking down too because he is also no longer using poetic language. In Act 3 Scene 5, Romeo has spent the night with Juliet and shortly after, she finds out shes going to be married to Paris. Juliet is shocked and upset, and refuses to agree. However, when Lord Capulet enters he believes that Juliet is upset because of Tybalts death. We know this because he compares her tears to a sea of grief. For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, Do ebb and flow with tears This extended metaphor suggests that Lord Capulet is back in control because he uses poetic language. When Lord Capulet enters Juliets room he is back in control. He speaks in iambic pentameter. This gives his speeches rhythm, control and pace. However, this rhythm will break down later in the scene. He seems to be in a good mood and tries to comfort her because he thinks she is upset because of Tybalts death. Juliet replies to her father in a respectful way. She speaks her mind but at the same time stays respectful. She tries her best to stand up for herself but at the same time knows her place as his daughter. Proud can I never be of what I hate, but thankful even for hate, that is meant love. This shows that she tries to explain her decision without revealing too much. However Lord Capulet dramatically changes and starts using some extremely abusive terms. He is now describing Juliet as a mistress minion and a baggage. This means that she is worthless and slave-like. The reason Lord Capulet responds like this is because he is astounded that Juliet is refusing to marry Paris. He enters the scene in a confident and happy mood, thinking that once he tells her about the marriage she will be happy. However this backfires because he finds out she is refusing and this makes him angry. He goes from being a poetic hero to someone who is quite insulting. He also tells Juliet he will drag her to the wedding even if she isnt ready. He says, or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither, out, you green-sickness carrion! He describes her as a green-sickness carrion which means she is a diseased, rotting piece of animal meat. In the earlier scenes he was using a lot of positive natural imagery, whereas now his speech has broken down and he is insulting his only child in a very bad way. His description of Juliet shows that he is very angry at her he has turned into a typical patriarchal father. In the scene, Lord Capulet has control over Juliets life because he is deciding her future for her. Juliet is different to other girls of her time because at first she did have the choice of marrying whoever she wanted to. Also, she is disobeying her fathers wishes, which would have been unusual because girls in those days didnt tend to argue with their parents decisions, and agreed with their wishes. In conclusion, Lord Capulet language, style and tone changes dramatically throughout the 3 scenes. The overall impression that we get of Lord Capulet is that he totally unfair. The fact that he is being considerate to her at the start makes his change more dramatic and shocking. Lord Capulet does want to see Juliet happy, but in the later scenes (act 3 scene 5), he is more demanding than he was before. In the time the play was set, the society was a patriarchal society. This could explain why Lord Capulet is forcing Juliet to get married. He is starting to think along the same lines as every other patriarchal father, whereas before he was putting his daughters feelings first. Juliet is shocked at her fathers behavior. She wasnt expecting him to force her to get married. This leads to Juliet going to see Friar Lawrence about the situation because she is already married to Romeo, and if she was to marry Paris, she would be committing bigamy. If Lord Capulet was to have been a bit more understanding then Juliet may have not gone to see the Friar. Shakespeare included these scenes into his play for many reasons. The scenes move the plot quickly to its tragic end. Juliet doesnt get a chance to make a choice about her life. The scenes make the audience empathise and sympathise with Juliet, and also raise dramatic tension. Lord Capulets speech changes dramatically throughout the scenes aswel. He goes from being a poetic hero, and talking in an elequent way.. to someone who is insulting and doesnt care about what he says.