ROMEO AND JULIET

 Romeo and Juliet are meant to be viewed as fools, and we are meant to learn not to make decisions quickly and without knowledge. For example, Romeo rushes out of his other "love" with Rosaline, rushes into the relationship with Juliet, they both rush into marriage, and they both rush into death. 

 Juliet takes a huge risk by participating in the Friar's plan, and it does not pay off. Romeo thinks she is dead and automatically assumes his life is over as well. He decides to kill himself, not look for happiness in other parts of his life. "Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight." When he actually does, Juliet sees him and does just as he did. Even though we have to take into account the effect that seeing multiple dead friends in one day would have on someone, her decision was rash. She looked for no explanation or solution, and killed herself. "O happy dagger!...This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die." This line means that the sword's rightful place is inside her. 

The Capulets

 Shakespeare characterizes the Capulet parents as complex characters rather than villains. They do want the best for their daughter, but they are not the best parents. Shakespeare shows us that they care about Juliet, because after she "died", they were very upset. "O woe! O woeful, woeful, woeful day! Most lamentable day, most woeful day that ever, ever I did yet behold!" exclaims Lady Capulet after she learns that Juliet is dead. Shakespeare also lets us know that they are very traditional, and though they want their daughter to be happy, they want her to do it their way, which they think is best for her. 

Romeo's Banishment

 In Act 3, Scene 2, Juliet learns of Romeo's banishment. She calls him names that contradict each other because she cannot make up her mind about him. Romeo killed her cousin, whom she loved, but she also loves Romeo. She calls him "A damned Saint, an honorable villain!" Later in the scene, she realized that Romeo had to kill Tybalt or Romeo would have died. She is further conflicted. All she knows is that Romeo's banishment has made her distraught. 

 In Act 3, Scene 3, Romeo learns of his own banishment. He tells the Friar that he would rather be dead than be alive and not be able to see Juliet. Romeo says that even flies are better than him because they can be close to Juliet. He makes it clear that without her his like is meaningless. "'Tis torture, and not mercy. Heaven is here, where Juliet lives...and sayst thou yet that exile is not death?" 

 Both characters react very dramatically and cannot comprehend Romeo's banishment. This tells us that they are extremely upset about the idea that they will never see each other again and hat they feel incomplete without the other.

Romeo and Juliet

 Romeo says that he joy of the time is worth the price it might cost them (their live), and I disagree with Romeo. I don't have a problem with them thinking they're in love, but saying that being with someone you've just met is worth your life is unrealistic. Romeo could change his mind in two days, and it is not worth it. Nothing like that is worth losing your lives. Friar Laurence agrees. "They stumble that run fast." He says that they are rushing into getting married. Romeo is also foreshadowing here, because later in the play they both die.

Romeo and Juliet

 Romeo says that he joy of the time is worth the price it might cost them (their live), and I disagree with Romeo. I don't have a problem with them thinking they're in love, but saying that being with someone you've just met is worth your life is unrealistic. Romeo could change his mind in two days, and it is not worth it. Nothing like that is worth losing your lives. Friar Laurence agrees. "They stumble that run fast." He says that they are rushing into getting married. Romeo is also foreshadowing here, because later in the play they both die.

Romeo and Juliet's Love

 The love that Romeo and Juliet neither inspires me nor seems completely shallow. They don't really know each other at all, and their "love", as far as I can tell, is based off their looks. for example, when Romeo sees Juliet, he says, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in Ethiop's ear- beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!"However, seeing each other makes them happy, so who am I to argue with that. It does seem a little shallow, but you do you. Romeo needs Juliet because without her he is really sad. Before they met, he said, "I have a soul of lead so stakes me to the ground I cannot move. Juliet feels like she needs Romeo, but I don't think this is true, because she was totally fine before she met him. They don't inspire me because I believe "love" is based off of other things than looks. If they are around each other while they're married and then genuinely like their personality, then I won't have a problem.

Mercucio vs. Romeo

 Mercucio is a foil to Romeo in the way that he is humorous while Romeo is dramatic. Romeo is a hopeless romantic while Mercucio is a jokester and tries to lighten the mood by making fun of Romeo's troubles. Mercucio does not get caught up on small things, where as Romeo can be agonized by the smallest events. These are all ways that they contrast. An example of Mercucio's humorous nature happens before they enter the party. Romeo is feeling glum, and Mercucio attempts to make him feel better by making fun of him (??). "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. Give me a case to put my visage in. A visor for a visor! What care I..." Romeo is not amused. "I have a soul of lead."

Romeo's Character

 Romeo is a sad, passionate character. I know this because he is very torn up about Rosaline not loving him back, even though he has not really talked to her and cannot be sure he actually loves her. He is very passionate about her. On page 190, he says, "...She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair..." and again on page 193, "When the devout religion of mine eye..." This quote means he feels like his love for her is more a religion than an infatuation. This also implies, that she is like a goddess, at least to him. He is extremely distraught because she does not love him. We can tell this because on page 187, Montague is talking about his recent actions. For example, "Many a morning hath he there been seen , With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew...shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, And makes himself an artificial night." Romeo has been crying a lot and trying to be alone as much as possible.