Romeo and Juliet Analysis Essay

“The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet” is a play written by William Shakespeare in the late

1500’s. In the city of Verona, Italy, the Montagues and Capulets, two very prominent families,

continue their feud, further fueled by masked Montagues crashing a Capulet party. Romeo

Montague and Juliet Capulet enter the scene, two starcrossed lovers, doomed to death. Juliet,

betrothed to Paris, the Mayor of Verona, marries Romeo in secret. Shortly thereafter, Romeo tries

to stop a fight, leading to the death of Tybalt Capulet, as well as his own banishment. Romeo and

Juliet must find a way to overcome this and escape Verona together. With their love continues the

blood shed of their families, as well as the damnation of all those around them. Only with their

deaths will the rampant feud end. The central themes in Romeo and Juliet by William

Shakespeare are love, Man vs. Man, and fate.

Shakespeare uses the theme of Man vs. Man to enhance the audience’s understanding of

Romeo and Juliet. An example of Man vs. Man is, “Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?” “I do bite

my thumb, sir,” in Act I, scene I, lines 45-46. Gregory and Sampson start trying to annoy Abram

in the first scene. Setting up the fact that the Montagues and Capulets are feuding. It shows how

childish this feud is and how arrogant they both are. As well as how stupid grudges can be.

Another example of Man vs. Man is, “I am hurt. A plague o’ both houses! I am sped,” in Act III,

scene I, lines 93-94. During this scene, Mercutio has been stabbed as a result of this feud

between the two houses. Out of anger, Mercutio curses them both, as revenge for bringing him

into this. It shows how terrible feuds are and how dangerous they can be, even for people who

didn’t want to be involved. Finally, the last example of Man vs. Man is, “This gentleman, the

Prince’s near ally, my very friend, hath got this mortal hurt, in my behalf! My reputation

stained,” in Act III, scene I, lines 114-116. Romeo finally assesses what happened during the
duel. Even though Mercutio didn’t die by his hand, it’s still his fault. Causing regret and sadness

to overcome his senses. This feud caused his best friend’s death as well as many others’.

Shakespeare reiterates the fact that feuds and grudges are dangerous for both the people involved

and those who aren’t involved. This strengthens the theme of Man vs. Man being problematic

and dangerous.

Shakespeare uses figurative language to enhance the audience’s understanding of the

message of love. An example of a metaphor is, “It is the east and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun,

and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far

more fair than she,” in Act II, scene II, lines 3-6. This is an example of figurative language

because Romeo compares Juliet to the sun, implying her importance in his life, for she is his one

true love and his reason for existence. As well as her beautiful appearance. Also, how he

compares her cousin, Rosaline with the moon, the sun’s opposite, saying she’s sick and pale with

grief and assuring Juliet that she is far more beautiful than Rosaline. The language that

Shakespeare uses helps illustrate how these characters express themselves, like how intense

Romeo’s feelings for Juliet are. This strengthens the theme of love because Romeo is so in love

with Juliet that he compares her to the sun, saying that her beauty and importance is above

everyone else, especially her cousin Rosaline. Even implying that her existence is the reason why

he’s alive. Though, whether his love is towards her or rather her appearance is uncertain.

Romeo Montague is an example of fate in Romeo and Juliet. He is shown to be dramatic,

clingy, brash, bold, and impulsive. Romeo showcases the theme of fate by his decisions and the

warning signs that the people around him show. No matter what he does, he ends up dying

alongside Juliet and trying to succumb to his own feverish love for her. His fate has been sealed
since the beginning. For example, Romeo says, “I fear too early, for my mind misgives some

consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date,” in Act I, scene IV, lines

107-109. In this scene he references the prologue, which includes the fact that he and Juliet are

star crossed lovers, that once cross, crash and burn. In the same line in the prologue it also says

that they will take their life. Romeo has a feeling that something bad will happen. Another

example is, “Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much” “No, ‘tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide

as a church-door, but ‘tis enough, ‘twill serve, ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a

grave man,” in Act III, scene I, lines 99-102. This is foreshadowing how Mercutio will die and it

will be Romeo’s fault. Just by being friends with Romeo, Mercutio has his fate sealed. Romeo,

even while having his own fate play out in front of him, ends up affecting other people’s fates

and causing them harm. Mercutio and Benvolio are also examples of fate as well as examples of

foil characters. When Romeo tells Mercutio about his dream while having just discussed the

Masquerade party, Mercutio says this, “True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle

brain, begot of nothing but vain fantasy, which is as thin of substance as the air,” in Act I, scene

IV, lines 102-106. He essentially tells Romeo that his dream meant nothing, even though it was

about the fact that something bad would happen that night. Benvolio then says, “This wind you

talk of blows us from ourselves,” in Act I, scene IV, line 110. He validates at least some meaning

in dreams, warning Romeo that they “blow us from ourselves”. Benvolio acts as the voice of

reason and thinks his decisions and words through, while Mercutio is more impulsive and erratic.

Their different opinions and wording creates a comedic effect meanwhile also getting the point

across that these are two very different characters trying to help their friend in different ways.

While on the stage together they highlight one another’s personalities and characteristics. This

helps the audience see how interwoven and significant fate is in this play. With continuous
references and soliloquies about the theme. This strengthens the theme of fate in the play as well

as how closely it relates to Romeo.

In conclusion, Shakespeare uses love, Man vs. Man, and fate to enhance the reader’s

understanding of the play and it’s characters. These are all key points to the play, from grudges to

unwanted marriage and running away, they all connect back to the characters and help the reader

overall. Romeo and Juliet has many themes, but they’re all equally important and truly make an

impact on the story.