What is love? Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare shows love in so many different ways and forms. The main thematic message regarding love in the story is that love requires sacrifice. This message is shown by many characters in the story, including: Mercutio, Juliet, and Romeo. Shakespeare’s first hint of the message: love requires sacrifice, is shown through the character Mercutio. Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend who is funny, wild, impatient, carefree, and is never afraid to use his sword if he needs to. In the beginning of the play, Romeo refuses to go to a party because he can’t get over his old love and he had a dream the night before saying that going to the
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Juliet tells him the reason their parents will not accept their marriage, is because their families are enemies. Romeo responds saying, “ By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am. My dear saint, is hateful to myself Because it is an enemy to thee. Had I written, I would tear the paper.” (page 73) For Romeo to basically “throw away” his family name is a big deal. His family is well-respected, wealthy, and in the top of the social class in Verona. This shows the commitment and sacrifice Romeo is willing to make for the love of Juliet. The last sacrifice Romeo makes for Juliet is at the end of the play when he poisons himself. After hearing Juliet is “dead”, Romeo buys poison, visits Juliet in her grave, kisses her their last goodbye, and drinks the poison. When hearing Juliet’s “death”, he says, “I defy you, stars” (act 5 scene 1, line 24). This means he is going to defy fate, sometimes referred to as "the stars," for trying to keep them apart, by taking his own life in hopes to be reunited with his love in the afterlife. Romeo loves Juliet so much, he feels that he rather be dead than to live a life without Juliet. Poisoning himself shows that he is willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice, his life, for the love of each other. When Juliet wakes up, she finds a dead Romeo next to her with the poison near him. She returns Romeo’s sacrifice by taking in her own life so they can be reunited
Juliet tells him the reason their parents will not accept their marriage, is because their families are enemies. Romeo responds saying, “ By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am. My dear saint, is hateful to myself Because it is an enemy to thee. Had I written, I would tear the paper.” (page 73) For Romeo to basically “throw away” his family name is a big deal. His family is well-respected, wealthy, and in the top of the social class in Verona. This shows the commitment and sacrifice Romeo is willing to make for the love of Juliet. The last sacrifice Romeo makes for Juliet is at the end of the play when he poisons himself. After hearing Juliet is “dead”, Romeo buys poison, visits Juliet in her grave, kisses her their last goodbye, and drinks the poison. When hearing Juliet’s “death”, he says, “I defy you, stars” (act 5 scene 1, line 24). This means he is going to defy fate, sometimes referred to as "the stars," for trying to keep them apart, by taking his own life in hopes to be reunited with his love in the afterlife. Romeo loves Juliet so much, he feels that he rather be dead than to live a life without Juliet. Poisoning himself shows that he is willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice, his life, for the love of each other. When Juliet wakes up, she finds a dead Romeo next to her with the poison near him. She returns Romeo’s sacrifice by taking in her own life so they can be reunited