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Part 3- Analysizing Themes (Romeo and Juliet).ppt
1. Part 3: Analysizing themes in
Romeo and Juliet
Analyzing Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
By prof. Mao Saroeun, M. Ed. (TESOL)
2. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story
between two teenagers who fall head
over heels for each other in their
forbidden love. The story is riddled with
violence, hatred and revenge, these
powerful themes along with others keep
the audience on the edge of their seat.
Shakespeare wants to create an impact
with his play he wanted to something
different, do something no one else
would dare to do. Romeo and Juliet
turned many heads as it was against
the norm of the Elizabethan society
back in those days. He had a lot of
criticism.
3. As Romeo was a Montague and Juliet was
a Capulet this was bad, they were from
two families that had been feuding for
generations. Romeo and Juliet did not
know this and continues there innocent
love as this tragic tale unfolds. Juliet finds
out her parents have arranged for her to
marry the eligible bachelor Count Paris,
instead of reacting like a normal
Elizabethan girl was expected to at that
time she refused to hear of it and
disobeyed her parents. Her parents
bemused at her reaction have their best
efforts to convince her otherwise rejected.
4. Then they take their matters in their own
hands and give her two choices either to
marry Count Paris or be abandoned by the
family, Juliet feeling she has no other
options stays with her parents while
keeping a relationship with Romeo. They
then carefully master a plan to get married
in secret before Juliet marries Paris and to
escape and live happy ever after. As we
know not all endings are happy as the plan
had some confusion in it and ended up
with both Romeo and Juliet dead. Both
families learning this make an agreement
to never fight again, but too little to late. In
Elizabethan times the church controlled
almost everything, brainwashing people
into believing.
6. Theme #1: The Abiding Quality
of Romantic Love
Although presented as a short-term
expression of youthful passion, Romeo
and Juliet’s love for each other
ultimately wins over every form of social
constraints. The abiding quality of their
selfless love is an essential theme of
the play. It serves to reinforce the claim
that if authentic lovers cannot be united
in this world, they can certainly be
together in the life hereafter.
8. Theme #2: Individual vs.
Society
The conflict between individual desires
and social institutions is a recurrent theme
in “Romeo and Juliet”. The young lovers’
struggle against their respective families is
the most important theme. By opting for
individual fulfillment as opposed to social
traditions, both Romeo and Juliet refuse to
follow the commands of their families.
They illustrate the triumph of an
individual’s will over social customs. On a
metaphorical level, this courage highlights
the threat that young love poses to the
absurd social traditions.
10. Theme #3: Violence
The theme of violence also plays a
significant role in the play. Usually, blind
passion, hatred and desperation are some
instances of violence given throughout
“Romeo and Juliet”. Tybalt kills Mercutio
though it was not intentional. In order to
avenge Mercutio’s death and in a moment
of desperation, Romeo kills Tybalt and
Paris. Both murders are classic examples
of violence. The blind love of Romeo and
Juliet that motivate them to commit suicide
is another example. These examples show
that violence has a vital role in this tragedy
12. Theme #4: The Overarching
Power of Patriarchy
In “Romeo and Juliet”, most of the significant
decisions are made by the men of the two
families, the Capulets, and the Montagues. Lady
Capulet and Lady Montague’s views are not
important. It is clearly displayed by their silent
assertion of their husbands’ ideas in the play. It is
Lord Capulet who selects Paris as his daughter’s
future husband. Then forces Juliet to abide by
his decision. Perhaps the most blatant example
of the rule of men in the play is the feud between
Lord Capulet and Lord Montague. Although their
wives don’t harbor any ill-will toward each other,
the two Lords force their families to support them
in their pointless dispute and keep up their
enmity against each other.
14. Theme #5: The Theme of
Death
Death is a theme that lurks throughout the
play. In many ways, “Romeo and Juliet”
shows the journey of the two lovers from
their initial, love-filled meeting up to their
death. Thus, death serves as the tragic
resolution of various conflicts. For
instance, Romeo’s conflict with Tybalt
ends with the latter’s death. Moreover, the
two young lovers’ conflict with the hostile
social conformity ends with their untimely
deaths. These tragic losses make the
entire play as if it is only a play of deaths.
16. Theme #6: The Inevitability of
Fate
The inevitability of fate is another important
thematic concern of “Romeo and Juliet”.
The phrase, “star-crossed” refers to the fact
that the two lovers were destined to die
from the beginning. Hence, aside from a
string of poor choices made by the two
lovers and their families, the power of fate
governs the end of the play. Friar John’s
inability to deliver the letter to Romeo on
time was inescapable fate and a deadly
blow. The letter would have informed
Romeo that Juliet was alive. It is the most
fatalistic moment in the play that drives
Romeo to commit suicide.
18. Theme #7: Marriage
The institution of marriage is another
important theme in the play. Contrary to
popular beliefs, marriage is not shown as a
good institution in the play. The play
emphasizes the idea that though marriages
of the Capulets and Montagues are socially
approved, it lacks a soul. On the other
hand, the union of Romeo and Juliet is
authentic and yet condemned. Moreover,
the political motive behind Friar Lawrence’s
approval of Romeo and Juliet’s marriage
highlights that in the Shakespearean era,
marriage was seen as a means to ensure
political strength.
20. Theme #8: Ideological Divide
Between the Young and the Old
The ideological divide between the younger
and the older generation is also a repetitive
theme underlying the play. The impulsivity
and youthful exuberance of Romeo, Juliet,
Mercutio, and Paris serve as a strong
contrast to calculating, the political foresight
of Lord Capulet, Lord Montague, and Friar
Lawrence. The tragedy of the play is in the
fact that both the older and younger
generations are unwilling to compromise
and end the disagreement for good. They
are not willing to resolve their pointless
dispute.
21. Theme #9 : The Absurdity Underlying
Family Feuds
22. Theme #9 : The Absurdity
Underlying Family Feuds
The absurd legacy of rivalry between the
Montagues and the Capulets brings
chaos that is shown later in the play.
Although the actual reason for enmity
between the two families remains
undisclosed, it is shown that they are
unable to reconcile with each other. It
also shows that they have no credible
reason for continuing the enmity between
them.
24. Theme #10: Revenge
In addition to violence, revenge is another
destructive element that sustains the
action of the play. Hence, it makes an
important theme of the play. However, the
tragedy carrying the cycle of revenge
neither guarantees a good end nor does it
lead to poetic justice. For instance, Romeo
kills Tybalt in order to seek revenge for
Mercutio’s murder. This rash action of
Romeo is not tried in the court. Moreover,
several other actions that require
resolution are not brought to the law.
Therefore, revenge seems to have the
upper hand.
Blatant: describe sth bad that is obvious or intentional. Enmity: a feeling of hatred.
Impulsivity: showing behavior in which you do things suddenly without any planning and without considering the effects they may have. Exuberance: state of being energetic.
