The Ten Commandments are an important and relevant aspect of the religion motif in Romeo and Juliet that plays a major role in development of characters and dramatic action as well as helping to present and add depth to themes. One of the most well known commandments is the fifth one that says thou shall not kill. Considered to be the worst crime of all time, murder is a serious mortal sin as well and goes completely against the word of God. Romeo actually kills two people in this play as evident in, “[They fight, Tybalt/Paris falls]” (3,1,125) (5,3,71). However, was Romeo really and truly going against the word of God in these instances. Romeo kills Paris because he stands in Romeo’s way of reaching Juliet’s grave, and being Juliet is the
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It demonstrates how his religion of love is more important to him than anything including the lord’s law. In the other instance, Tybalt murders Romeo’s best friend Mercutio, which leads Romeo to kill Tybalt to avenge his friend’s death. The Prince banishes Romeo for his actions and since the feud has caused the Prince to lose a relative. Although the Prince claims this to be a harsh punishment, others would disagree as evident in, “Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince, Taking thy part, hath rushed aside the law” (3,3,25-26). The Prince forgave Romeo already for his actions, as he knew that he was good friends with Mercutio and trying to avenge him. Shakespeare conveys the prince like God here, because he delivered a just punishment upon Romeo, but yet understanding and forgiving of him. It demonstrates how the play is more about forgiveness of sin versus sin …show more content…
Juliet is the ultimate example of how this can change and the two extremes of this aspect. In the very beginning of the play, Juliet’s parents try to convince her to meet Paris and marry him even though she is only a teenager. Despite her being so young, Juliet obediently says she will try to meet Paris and attempt to fall in love with him. Further down the road, however, when she loves Romeo above all other things in the universe, her parents try to forcefully make her marry Paris when she is already married to Romeo. Juliet’s parents are completely unaware of her marriage to Romeo, and being her family’s enemy, is necessary to be kept a secret. As shown in the passage, “Where I have learnt me to repent the sin/ Of disobedient opposition/ To you and your behests and am enjoined/ By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you!/ Henceforward I am ever ruled by you,” (4, 2, 16-21). Contradictory to before, as Juliet respected her parents requests very much, she has completely turned the tables and now is going against them by lying and plotting against them. An action such as this is a serious mortal sin as well and violates the Ten Commandments. As it says in the Bible, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). Despite Juliet being Romeo’s wife,
It demonstrates how his religion of love is more important to him than anything including the lord’s law. In the other instance, Tybalt murders Romeo’s best friend Mercutio, which leads Romeo to kill Tybalt to avenge his friend’s death. The Prince banishes Romeo for his actions and since the feud has caused the Prince to lose a relative. Although the Prince claims this to be a harsh punishment, others would disagree as evident in, “Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince, Taking thy part, hath rushed aside the law” (3,3,25-26). The Prince forgave Romeo already for his actions, as he knew that he was good friends with Mercutio and trying to avenge him. Shakespeare conveys the prince like God here, because he delivered a just punishment upon Romeo, but yet understanding and forgiving of him. It demonstrates how the play is more about forgiveness of sin versus sin …show more content…
Juliet is the ultimate example of how this can change and the two extremes of this aspect. In the very beginning of the play, Juliet’s parents try to convince her to meet Paris and marry him even though she is only a teenager. Despite her being so young, Juliet obediently says she will try to meet Paris and attempt to fall in love with him. Further down the road, however, when she loves Romeo above all other things in the universe, her parents try to forcefully make her marry Paris when she is already married to Romeo. Juliet’s parents are completely unaware of her marriage to Romeo, and being her family’s enemy, is necessary to be kept a secret. As shown in the passage, “Where I have learnt me to repent the sin/ Of disobedient opposition/ To you and your behests and am enjoined/ By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you!/ Henceforward I am ever ruled by you,” (4, 2, 16-21). Contradictory to before, as Juliet respected her parents requests very much, she has completely turned the tables and now is going against them by lying and plotting against them. An action such as this is a serious mortal sin as well and violates the Ten Commandments. As it says in the Bible, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). Despite Juliet being Romeo’s wife,