'Romeo and Juliet' is often referred to as one of the greatest love stories of all time but no love can survive because of the suffocating hate which engulfs the characters. Immediately readers are told that Romeo and Juliet meet a fatal end because of the loathsome feud between their families, the only thing which could finally end it is the extreme, worst case scenario of their children dying. "The continuance of their parents' rage, which, but their children's end, naught could remove" (Act 1, Prologue). Such hate could only be vanquished by such tragedy, love had no chance at exterminating the hate, and this is what leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If love has no chance, no power throughout the play, then how can 'Romeo and Juliet' be a story of love? It must be a story of hate and the power hate reaps through the lives of those in the play.
Following the prologue the play immediately begins with a quarrel between the Montagues and the Capulets where the reader can unequivocally see that there is an intense hate between the two families. Tybalt declares that peace is as equally repulsive as the Montagues, "...talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee." (Act 1, Scene 1). Readers can also see that age has not softened the disdain between Montague and Capulet as they pathetically in their old age seek to quarrel and uphold their reputations as "enemies of peace" (Act 1, Scene 1).
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| Tybalt hating on everything |
From all this animosity readers are expected to believe that the greatest love can occur from this uncontrollable hate. When Romeo tries to abolish the hate Tybalt has for him following Romeo attending the Capulet party, his passiveness and affection has no affect against the raging Tybalt. "Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting" (Act 3, Scene 1). Romeo can not minimise the situation or the hate Tybalt has for him, even though Tybalt and Romeo scarcely know each other, "boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me" (Act 3, Scene 1). Romeo's loving response to Tybalt angers Mercutio who is "soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved" (Act 3, Scene 1). Mercutio intervenes between Romeo and Tybalt, fueling the anger and disdain for each other and leading to the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt. All this happened because love did not match the strength of hate and Romeo's "calm, dishonourable, vile submission" (Act 3, Scene 1). Romeo's love for Tybalt turns to hate, Mercutio curses the houses and the rift between the Montagues and the Capulets continues to grow.
Romeo's attempt to keep the peace through loving acts instead of anger and violence proves to have no affect because the intense loathing between the characters of the play is far too strong. Even his soft and feminine nature quickly turns to violent and impulsive like Tybalt, Benvolio and Mercutio. Romeo and Juliet who passionately love each other, so much so that they disobeyed their families and marry in secrect, end up failing because of the hate between their families. The "love sprung from my only hate" (Act 1 Scene 5) can not overcome the intense and longstanding disdain between the two families.
'Romeo and Juliet' is often referred to as one of the greatest love stories of all time but no love can survive because of the suffocating hate which engulfs the characters. Immediately readers are told that Romeo and Juliet meet a fatal end because of the loathsome feud between their families, the only thing which could finally end it is the extreme, worst case scenario of their children dying. "The continuance of their parents' rage, which, but their children's end, naught could remove" (Act 1, Prologue). Such hate could only be vanquished by such tragedy, love had no chance at exterminating the hate, and this is what leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If love has no chance, no power throughout the play, then how can 'Romeo and Juliet' be a story of love? It must be a story of hate and the power hate reaps through the lives of those in the play.
I completely agree with Romeo and Juliet being a tale of hate rather than love. The love story of Romeo and Juliet lasted only weeks (if that) because of the savage feuding families that they came from.The hate was overpowering every other emotion and when someone would attempt to fight it off, it would win every time. For example Romeo killing Tybalt after trying to befriend him (as mentioned above). Love cannot survive in such hate. If Romeo and Juliet was about love, they would not have had to kill themselves to live together and get married. They wouldn't have had to do any of it in secret. Love is too fragile, too delicate to even be planted in such bad soil and that is why I agree with your post
ReplyDeleteI strongly disagree with your argument, rather than Romeo and Juliet being a story about hate it is a story about love. It has held onto its reputation of being one of the greatest love stories of all time, with good reason. Throughout the story, their everlasting love for each other didn’t only affect them but those around them. “O brother Montague, give me thy hand” – Capulet (Act 5, Scene 3). Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other only affected others positively in one way or another. It finally ended the raging feud between both families and Verona was at peace. How could this story be about hate when love brought feuding sides together? This love tale also explores the sacrifices made due to love. Both Romeo and Juliet were willing enough to take their own lives to be with each other forever. They loved each other enough to forget about the consequences of their actions because they are so focused on expressing the affection they had. This conveys an act of true love rather than that of hate. All reasons in which I disagree will your argument and believe Romeo and Juliet is a story about love and not hate.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your argument- in the play, love is an intense, ecstatic and overwhelming force that surpasses all other values and emotions, even the concept of hatred. The notion of love and romance is first seen when Juliet tells Romeo to “deny thy father and refuse thy name…or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love…and I'll no longer be a Capulet” (Act 2, Scene 2). This shows that the ‘young lovers’ are compelled to defy their entire social world (particularly their own families) in order to be with each other. The significant deaths of both Romeo and Juliet are also indications of how far love has stretched for them. Through this, love can be seen as the naturally dominant and dynamic theme within the story; a brutal, powerful emotion that manipulates the characters to act against their own world, and ultimately against themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is naive to think that Romeo and Juliet is not a play of hate. The argument presented is absolutely correct, the elements of romance are strongly outweighed by those of hatred. It could be argued that Romeo and Juliet were only attracted to each other, because of the idea that it was forbidden. Making the play less about love and more about spite. For how can someone fall in love so quickly? They can't or at least not immediately! Then there are the frequent themes of disobedience which are represented throughout the text. For example Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris ‘He shall not make me a joyful bride’ (Act 3, Scene 5), or Romeo attending the Capulet party . This again reinforces the idea that Romeo and Juliet is a play more about hate and the hatred the characters have for each other rather than any other theme, emotion or aspect presented in the play.
ReplyDeleteThe play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ written by William Shakespeare displays the infections love between the two protagonists, Romeo and Juliet. The play is not a play of hate because it clearly shows the passion and dedication that Romeo and Juliet had for each other. This is proven when they stay together and risks their lives. (Act 2, Scene 2) The only negativity present in the play of “Romeo and Juliet” is the powerful hatred between the Capulets and Montagues which presents the eventful ending of Romeo and Juliet’s lives. This argument is incorrect but does has some truth in relation to the opposing families and quarrels between them. If the opposing families did not interfere with their relationship and the events that brought them together, the death of Romeo and Juliet would not have occurred in the play.
ReplyDelete-Lucy Di Maggio
The play “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare shows the love between the two characters of rival families, Romeo and Juliet. This play is not a play of hate as it is a play about love and how passion and dedication that two people can have for each other and how it makes them go to incredible lengths to be with their loved ones. This is proven when Romeo and Juliet took their lives because they could not live to be without each other (Act 5, Scene 3). The only hatred present in the play is the great hatred between the Capulets and Montagues which was a leading influence to the ending of Romeo and Juliet’s lives. This argument shreds light in relation to the opposing families and clashes between them. If the opposing families did not interfere with the relationship of Romeo and Juliet then the death of the two would not have occurred.
ReplyDeleteRomeo and Juliet – the perfect love story. Despite the play’s clear exploration of hatred and its issues, the play is ultimately centered around love. The story shows how love can lead some to extreme measures as seen through the plays main two characters Romeo and Juliet who resort to death over a life without one another. Even after Romeo is merely banished Juliet experiences significant sadness; so much so she proclaims; “There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, in that word’s death. No words can that woe sound” (Act 3, Scene 2). Love is even shown to overcome hatred. Purely by birth, and due to the centuries-long conflict between the two families, Romeo and Juliet were supposed to have nothing but hate for one another. Yet, love is obviously shown to prevail. Overall Romeo and Juliet prorates a love story experienced through a world hate.
ReplyDeleteI partially agree with your argument of 'Romeo and Juliet' being a hate story rather than a love story. There were clear explorations of hatred in the story however that hate was not portrayed between the two protagonist but rather those involved in the feuding families. The hatred in the story stems from a long lasting feud between the two households with each household raised to despise the other. Romeo and Juliet's story was the mending of the conflict through love and sacrifice. The two lovers made multiple attempts to rebuild their relationship with the people around them, this is shown when Romeo tries to calm Tybalt down as he does not wish to hate him back saying - "But love thee better than thou canst devise...And so, good Capulet,-which name I tender" (Act 3, Scene 1). These attempts that Romeo and Juliet made were unsuccessful and the hatred continued until they gave up their lives not wanting to live in such a world thus ending the long feud between the families. Romeo and Juliet's story portrays the struggle of love during a time of hate.
ReplyDelete‘Romeo and Juliet’ has always been referred to as a story about love. Although love cannot survive with the suffocating hate that is presented through the two families. The Montagues and Capulets have such a feud that their own children cannot sustain a love for each other. In the blog, it states “Immediately readers are told that Romeo and Juliet meet a fatal end because of the loathsome feud between their families, the only thing which could finally end it is the extreme, worst case scenario of their children dying”. This proves that the family’s feud had more of an impact and seemed more important for the two sides than their children and the love they had for each other. Therefore, the story of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is about hate rather than love and had and consequently had a fatal ending.
ReplyDeleteChiara Ravnik:
ReplyDeleteAs an audience member I disagree with your argument.
Within the play, love is portrayed thoroughly and romantically. The act of love in the play is seen as a strong motive that brings the ‘star-cross’d lovers’ together. The bond created and shared between ‘Romeo and Juliet’ brings them closer together meaning they will die for one another. The young love present between the two means they have rash actions and decisions which push them to quickly move forward in the relationship. “Deny thy father and refuse thy name…or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love…and I'll no longer be a Capulet” (Act 2, Scene 2). This quotation states that their love for one another is too strong that they will go against their family’s values and traditions of the social norm to be together. No longer being a Capulet and marrying into the family enemy means that their love for one another will define and conquer all evil present within the relationships of their feuding families. LOVE is a dominant theme present throughout the play, even in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet their love is so strong that they cannot live without one another, Love together, Die together. This act of love and sensitive emotions throughout the play draw the audience into thinking, seeing and visualising the love and bond shared between the young lovers.
I agree that Romeo and Juliet is a play of hate, not love. I believe that the idea that Romeo and Juliet love each other so dearly after such a small amount of time and to such extent that they would be willing to die to be together, this kind of love would not survive and grow under such hatred and intense dislike. If the families found out about Romeo and Juliet's secret love then they would for certain be punished. If they see you, they’ll murder you. Says Juliet. (Act 2, Scene 2.) Because of the extremes that would be taken by the families in order to keep them apart, the play is most certainly a play of hatred, rather than love as most suggest.
ReplyDelete