Forbidden Love: Romeo and Juliet’s Ill-Fated Passion through Shakespeare’s Lens

When we are trying to dish out blame to others, we all would like to think that our decision is our own opinion; we all would like to think that When deciding something, our hand is not forced. However, like many things, there is another layer to this. Moreover, this is represented best in literature, specifically in the story Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Moreover, the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, are to blame for their demise.

Forbidden Love in Romeo and Juliet: The Depth of Their Tragedy

When authors write their novels, or in this case, plays, they more often than not have a reason or a purpose for the entertainment content, meaning that the author will subtly force your decision and your opinions into what the author wants the audience to understand.

In the case of Romeo and Juliet, this is done by portraying the story from mainly the two lovers’ point of view, meaning that you see the story through the eyes of these two characters. In our case, this is done because the story is about Romeo and Juliet, but it is also used to enforce the author’s perspective discreetly and the intended theme of the story. Suppose you were to look at the story without all the background knowledge, all the filler.

If you look at the story from the point of view of somebody who has only read a concise summary covering the entire story, you will find how much these two characters are willing to sacrifice for a freshly seeded love. The best summary that portrays this point is in the book itself. It is said before the audience knows anything about these people in the prologue states, “A Pair of Star Crossed lovers Take their life Whose misadventures piteous overthrows doth with their death to bury there parents strife”.

Decisions Lead to Downfall: Romeo and Juliet’s Choices

This summarises the end of the book, if you were to add the essential points to this summary It would read Two people who have never met yet are forbidden to love to find themselves at a party were they fall in love at first sight, they decision of marriage had been made just hours later there love was so deep that due to there separation this story ends in a double suicide. While yes, that left out most things in the story, it tells the main points.

This helps the reader to understand how little these two characters know about each other, yet their desire to be loved by them kills them, and nobody else does. The prince banished Romeo, and yes, the parents’ decisions led to Romeo and Juliet hiding their love, but ultimately, they decided to end their lives. Even the characters state that their love was an ad idea: “Juliet: I have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden. Showing how at least one of the characters knew it was a bad idea but went with it anyway.

Reference

1. Shakespeare, W. (1597). Romeo and Juliet. London: The Elizabethan Press.

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