Timeless Topics From Shakespeare’s
Romeo and Juliet
Meghan Chamberlain
ENG 2D
Mrs. Hockley
May 29th, 2014
The tragic tale of two “star-cross’d lovers” (prologue.6), has been analyzed by high school classrooms for generations. The English play created in 1597 has seemingly timeless themes that are able to relate to multiple generations of young people. Although with the drastic change in society and lifestyle how has the play remained in classrooms? William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet transcends time by addressing the issues of parent-child relationships, honesty, and hate, topics that modern-day teenagers face. In this piece I will address all of these topics and their hidden themes to relate them to this generation of teenagers.
First the topic of parent and child relationships was addressed. Shakespeare addresses the unorthodox relationships between children and parents throughout the play. Mainly focusing on the testy relationship and the divide between the two. While also allowing the audience to analyze their own parent to child relationship. The theme of a division between parent and child is first represented early in the play when Montague views his son in despair, but instead of investigating himself sends Benvolio. “Could we but learn from whence his sorrow grow, / We would as willingly give cure as know” (I.i.147-148). This portrays the theme of division between youth and age because it shows that he would like to know why his son is upset but he does not want to be the one to figure it out. Another example would be when Juliet is approached by her mother, Lady Capulet, about marrying Paris. Lady Capulet insists, “We must talk in secret. Nurse, come back again,” (I.iii.9) because she cannot speak to her daughter alone, mainly because she does not truly know her and feel comfortable talking with her. While parents today are hopefully more involved in their children’s lives, there are still similar issues that relate. For instance parents may feel that it is better to get information about their child through the people close to them, so they don’t appear to be prying too much. Or over step their boundaries concerning their teen’s privacy. Another example would be having someone your close to with you and your parents while you talked, to make you feel more comfortable. This is situation would mainly mean that their isn’t a very close relationship between the parent and the child, but that there is still concern and care in the relationship. That is relatable to both of the Romeo and Juliet example given above. Montague wanted to know why his son was so upset so that he could fix the situation. Also Lady Capulet brought the nurse back to serve as a maternal figure for Juliet. A great example that teens can relate to would be when Juliet challenges her father’s authority when disagreeing to marrying Paris. The extremes of his response may not be shared with the parents of teens today, but the reprimanding definitely is. All of these examples still represent the boundary between parent and child and support the on going saying of strictly a parent and not a friend. Therefore the theme of division between parents and children or young and old is a very relatable issue to every generation of teenagers.
Secondly, Shakespeare uses the topic of honesty to express how honesty is truly the best policy and how it makes situations much simpler. He does this by creating scenarios where the truth is given and where it is not, then allows you to judge for yourself, which was better. Although I believe his main focus was on the consequences of being dishonest. Which is something all teens can relate to. Juliet is dishonest about her feelings towards Romeo throughout the play, or latter, her marriage, except with the Nurse, Romeo, and Friar Lawrence. This later results in terrible conflict and death. All of which could have been avoided or handled differently if she or any one else in the play knew the truth. Except they do not and Juliet finds her secrets leading to the death of her beloved cousin, Tybalt, and her faith. This is properly represented in this passage given by the Nurse:
There’s no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men, all perjur’d,
All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.
(III.ii.86-88)
This quote shows the despair and desperation that resulted from a lack of honesty. The consequences of dishonesty continue until the young lovers take their own lives, along with the deaths and betrayals of several other characters. Although the in the play after terrible things had happened, the characters remaining in the scene would become completely honest. Examples would be Benvolio admitting how both Mercutio and Tybalt actually died, including how Romeo ran off. When he could of denied Romeo was every there and told the families that the young fighters had killed each other in battle. Another example would be Friar Lawrence retelling the entire story of Romeo and Juliet’s love after their demise. Both characters, Benvolio and Friar Lawrence, seem to be releasing the lies they held and finding refuge in the truth. Teenagers today can easily relate to lies getting out of hand and feeling better when the truth is announced. Since teenagers today are raised in a society that is typically dishonest, they tend to be dishonest about many things. They tell lies to avoid consequences, not knowing that by doing that they are just creating bigger ones. As well as the consequences that could come from lying and how much trouble lies can get you into. Also, teenagers can relate to being happier and better after telling the truth, or just never lying. Overall, all teenagers today can relate to the troubles of being dishonest and the simplicity of being honest that is perfectly expressed in Romeo and Juliet.
Thirdly, the topic of hate is threaded around the entire plot of the play and can easily be related to teenagers everywhere. Hate is the basis of this play because it gives us the setting. A city divided by the hate of two rich families. This hate then turns into terrible things, including death, and only results in pain. There are many scenarios in the play that represent the theme of hate but these three perfectly depict Shakespeare’s representation that hate is wrong. First the feud between Montague and Capulet is a great example of how hate can cause divides.
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.
(prologue.1-4)
The division between house Montague and house Capulet is known and obliged through out the entire city of Verona in the play. This feud then leads into terrible actions and unnecessary hate towards people who otherwise would have gotten along well. Juliet described it best when she said:
Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
Nor arm nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O be some other mane!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet;
(II.ii.38-44)
Teenagers who have had friendships divided by others beliefs or have even had parents that have separated can relate to this because they are influenced by other’s hate. Secondly, the fiery Tybalt is a perfect example given by Shakespeare of the extremes of hate, and being fuelled by it. Tybalt is constantly looking for a fight and has been raised on the hate and influenced by his family’s beliefs that people who had not wronged him yet were terrible. Teens from around the world that have grown up believing certain things about other people, cultures, sports teams, pop culture icons, even clothing can be easily influenced since they are young and act without thinking. Leading to terrible consequences that a life fuelled by hate brings. Lastly, Romeo and Juliet would be an impeccable example of the consequences of hate. Their young demise is based off the hate by their two families and the fear they have of defying it. They were raised to hate each other but ended up loving each other. Which by any other means would be a wonderful twist, but in this case it is almost viewed as a sin. Not all teens may be able to relate to the consequences of hate that Juliet and Romeo faced, but they can certainty relate to consequences delivered from hate. Whether it be split friendships, humiliation, isolation, or anything else teens are able to relate to the pain faced by Romeo and Juliet. Furthermore, the theme of hate and the pain resulting from it represented in Romeo and Juliet is relatable to everyone but especially teens.
In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has prevailed this long because it has topics like parent-child relationships, honesty, hate, and many more that relate to every generation of teenagers.
Works Cited:
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Oxford. Oxford University Press, 2008