Death
“Well we were born to die” – Capulet. Act 3, Scene 4.
Death seems to be a recurring theme throughout the play and it seems to be a common occurrence. Most of the main characters in the play die. Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Mercutio and Tybalt are all central characters to the play, but end up dead before the end. It is Romeo’s love for Juliet that causes him to kill himself, and Juliet’s love for Romeo which causes her to kill herself.
Name
“‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy” – Juliet. Act 2, Scene 2.
The names of Capulet and Montague are mentioned a lot throughout the play. They are the names of the two main families from which Romeo and Juliet come. It is historical that the two families do not like each other and the tradition was carried on. When the play is set, the people of the two houses are only defending the two names because history says that they have to. It is also only the reputation of the two names disliking each other which is the problem which Romeo and Juliet have. Juliet acknowledges this when she says that the only problem is history, rather than a physical thing: “What’s Montague; It is nor hand nor foot, nor arm nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O be some other name.”
Reputation
“Two households both alike in dignity” - The Prologue
The houses of both Montague and Capulet feel that the names of their houses are something which has to be protected. They are always trying to uphold what they believe are the good names of their houses. The planned marriage of Juliet to Paris is also because of his reputation. He is related to the prince, so he has a good reputation, and is someone who can give the name of Capulet a better reputation.
Appearance
“Young men’s love then lies not truly with their hearts, but in their eyes” - Friar Laurence. Act 2, Scene 3
It should be noted the speed that Romeo and Juliet fall in love. It can be argued that it was something more than physical appearance which caused them to fall in love, but it cannot be much more. They know very little of each others personalities, which shows that physical appearance plays a major part in them being in love.
“Well we were born to die” – Capulet. Act 3, Scene 4.
Death seems to be a recurring theme throughout the play and it seems to be a common occurrence. Most of the main characters in the play die. Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Mercutio and Tybalt are all central characters to the play, but end up dead before the end. It is Romeo’s love for Juliet that causes him to kill himself, and Juliet’s love for Romeo which causes her to kill herself.
Name
“‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy” – Juliet. Act 2, Scene 2.
The names of Capulet and Montague are mentioned a lot throughout the play. They are the names of the two main families from which Romeo and Juliet come. It is historical that the two families do not like each other and the tradition was carried on. When the play is set, the people of the two houses are only defending the two names because history says that they have to. It is also only the reputation of the two names disliking each other which is the problem which Romeo and Juliet have. Juliet acknowledges this when she says that the only problem is history, rather than a physical thing: “What’s Montague; It is nor hand nor foot, nor arm nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O be some other name.”
Reputation
“Two households both alike in dignity” - The Prologue
The houses of both Montague and Capulet feel that the names of their houses are something which has to be protected. They are always trying to uphold what they believe are the good names of their houses. The planned marriage of Juliet to Paris is also because of his reputation. He is related to the prince, so he has a good reputation, and is someone who can give the name of Capulet a better reputation.
Appearance
“Young men’s love then lies not truly with their hearts, but in their eyes” - Friar Laurence. Act 2, Scene 3
It should be noted the speed that Romeo and Juliet fall in love. It can be argued that it was something more than physical appearance which caused them to fall in love, but it cannot be much more. They know very little of each others personalities, which shows that physical appearance plays a major part in them being in love.
