Romeo & Juliet (Themes)

Conflict

Family

Characters

Love

Romeo and Juliet's first meeting

When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they instantly fall in love. Shakespeare presents their initial meeting as passionate, flirtatious and true.

Romeo's friendship with Mercutio

Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt so Mercutio takes his place. When Tybalt kills Mercutio unjustly, Romeo swears to avenge his best friend's death, thus killing Tybalt.

Romeo and Juliet's deaths

Romeo goes to find Juliet in the Capulet tomb, believing her to be dead. He takes some poison and dies. Juliet awakens, finds her love poisoned and kills herself with Romeo's dagger so they can be together in the afterlife.

The two warring families

Juliet's inner conflict

When Juliet discovers the true identity of her true love, she is shocked and cannot believe she loves someone who she is supposed to hate.

Conflict between Tybalt and Romeo

Tybalt believes Romeo to have greatly dishonoured his family when he gate-crashes the Capulet party. He decides that Romeo must pay and offers to duel with Romeo.

Similar

Warring

In the opening scene, Shakespeare presents the families' servants fighting against each other, for their house's honour. The families themselves quickly get involved and it turns into a fight against each other.

Apologetic and repentin

When the families discover Romeo and Juliet have committed suicide, they apologise for their behaviour and vow to uphold their memory in their hearts.

Romeo

The Nurse

Friar Lawrence

Juliet

Benvolio - Romeo’s cousin

Mercutio - Romeo’s close friend

Capulet - Juliet’s father

Tybalt - Juliet’s cousin

Impulsive – he falls immediately in love with Juliet and forgets Rosaline.

Devoted friend – when Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Romeo is so enraged that he kills him too.

Passionate – he kills himself in order to be with Juliet.

Obedient – even though she has not thought of love or marriage before now, Juliet agrees to look at Paris at the party.

Passionate – she falls instantly in love with Romeo.

Courageous – she disobeys her parents and arranges to marry Romeo in secret. She later kills herself for love.

Trustworthy – both Romeo and Juliet confide in Friar Lawrence. He is a neutral character who hopes that by marrying the young lovers, the two feuding families will come to peace.

Wise – the Friar challenges Romeo when he switches the focus of his affections from Rosaline to Juliet. He also has faith in the young people.

Compassionate – he comforts Juliet when Romeo is banished and she is told to marry Paris.

Trustworthy – the Nurse is Juliet’s companion and confidante. She has brought Juliet up from birth and wants the best for her. She keeps the meetings between Juliet and Romeo a secret.

Playful – when the Nurse brings news from Romeo to Juliet about their marriage arrangements, she teases Juliet by taking time to tell her his answer.

Caring – the Nurse puts Juliet’s wishes first and takes big risks by arranging secret meetings and a marriage for Romeo and Juliet.

Controlling

Proud

Peaceful

Honest

Fun-loving

Loyal

Impulsive

Aggressive

"Two households, both alike in dignity."

This shows that the two families are similar. The use of the word "dignity" highlights how the families have similar principles and status in the city of Verona.

Shakespeare presents the similarities between the two families in the prologue, as he highlights to the audience how they are similar.

This shows the Prince's anger as Capulet and Montague have been involved in another fray on the streets of Verona, upsetting the peace. The families have "thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets" illustrating how the conflict is continuous and despite the Prince's warnings, they still continue to battle against each other.

"By thee old Capulet, and Montague, have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets."

"O brother Montague, give me thy hand."

This shows that Capulet wishes Montague to forgive him for their previous arguments. Capulet's address of Montague as "brother" illustrates how he wants their relationship to move forward; they are like brothers due to their deceased children's marriage.

Shakespeare opens his play with the first line, illustrating the "ancient" grudge that has been happening in Verona. Shakespeare does this to show that the conflict has been ongoing and isn't likely to stop. He describes it as "ancient"' to illustrate how ingrained the conflict is with the families - it is a part of their daily lives.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

Juliet uses 'must' which indicates that she has no other choice - she loves Romeo and cannot change the fact. This presents a conflict for Juliet, as she cannot change what she feels - despite knowing that she should.

"That I must love a loathed enemy."

"Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw."

This shows that Tybalt believes he has been injured with Romeo's actions. He commands Romeo to 'turn and draw', taking part in a fight.

"To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

Romeo suggests that he is 'rough' and not worthy of Juliet's touch. The fact Romeo describes the kiss as 'tender' illustrates Romeo's gentle and true emotions and feelings for Juliet. This shows that their first meeting was charged with love and desire for one another.

"Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him."

This shows Romeo's determination for avenging Mercutio's death, as he is willing to die to see Mercutio's murder avenged. He tells Tybalt that either he or Tybalt 'must go with him'. This directly shows how passionate he feels about Mercutio, as someone will be joining Mercutio's soul in the journey to heaven.

This shows that Juliet is happy to die, as she describes the dagger, the instrument of her death, as 'happy'. The use of the exclamation mark illustrates her emotion - she is both elated and distraught - she cannot cope with life without Romeo so decides to join him in death.

"O happy dagger!"