Romeo and Juliet arguably do deserve sympathy because they die for a feud between their families, the reason for which nobody in either family seems even to remember. If their families weren't feuding, then maybe Romeo and Juliet could have had a normal, enduring relationship. Speaking to herself (or so she thinks) in act two, scene two, Juliet says about Romeo, "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague." In other words, Romeo's family name is insignificant and is of no consequence as regards his character. In this sentiment, Juliet exposes the foolishness of the feud which would separate her from Romeo.
Romeo and Juliet also arguably deserve sympathy because they are pitted against fate, in a battle that they can't possibly win. Indeed, in the prologue to the play, we are told that their love is, from the beginning, "death-marked." In act one, scene five, Romeo's "mind misgives / Some consequence hanging in the stars" And in act four, scene five, Juliet, with "an ill-divining soul," has a vision of Romeo, climbing down from her balcony, "dead in the bottom of a tomb."
On the other hand, one might argue that Romeo and Juliet do not deserve sympathy, or at least not our unqualified sympathy. They both betray their parents, which in Elizabethan England would have been a much more grievous crime than it perhaps is today. They both also love recklessly, immaturely, and irresponsibly. Indeed, Friar Lawrence, in act two, scene six, warns them that "These violent delights have violent ends," meaning that they are loving too intensely, too recklessly, and need to slow down. He compares their love, with ominous foresight, to "fire and powder," implying that, like a trail of gunpowder, their love is headed for some kind of explosion. One might argue that if they had loved more moderately, and less recklessly, then they might have been able to eventually overcome the obstacles in their way.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Do Romeo and Juliet deserve sympathy?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What is the theme of the chapter Lead?
Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...
-
It seems most likely you are asking about Michael Halliday's theories of language. He argues children have seven main functions they use...
-
Note that these events are not in chronological order. The story is told by the narrator, looking back upon her life. The first notable even...
-
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry has his first lesson in chapter eight of the book. While Harry has many other classes before...
-
A Dog’s Purpose is a 32 chapter novel narrated from the perspective of a dog who is repeatedly reincarnated, with his ultimate goal of disco...
-
Auggie’s first day of school is rough, but it could certainly have been worse. When he gets to school, he attempts to maintain a low profile...
-
Meg Meg is the central character in the novel, and we see the action through her eyes. She is important to the novel because she, along with...
-
Pluralism implies that different communities and cultures that enter a foreign one will hold on to their culture and traditions. This will l...
No comments:
Post a Comment