Romeo And Juliet Power Analysis

“Power is like a desolating pestilence, it pollutes whatever it touches” (Shelley). The play Romeo & Juliet, by William Shakespeare, takes place in the 1300’s in Verona, Italy. It’s about two lovers called Romeo and Juliet. They can’t show their love for each other because of one major conflict stopping them from expressing their love, the hate both of their families have for each other. Romeo, belonging to the Montagues, and Juliet, belonging to the Capulets, can’t express their love for each other in public because their families are sworn enemies. This is why the play refers them to “star-crossed lovers” (Romeo & Juliet. prologue. 46). There are many problems that relate to power that connect with the obstacles that Romeo and Juliet face. All of the obstacles deal with something or someone who is in a position of power. The concept of power leads to a lot of events and eventually the tragedy of Romeo & Juliet. Power, in essence, is the ability to control other people and other things, which in turn positively or negatively affects those in power and those being controlled by power.
Going …show more content…
In the story of Romeo & Juliet the names of the family have power over everyone in those two families. For example, “JULIET. Or, if thou wilt not, but be sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (Romeo & Juliet. 2. 2. 48-49). This shows that Juliet’s last name, Capulet, is holding her back from giving all her love to Romeo. Their families names have been sworn enemies for a while so that hate has spreaded throughout the families. If one family sees another family member with their enemy, they are going to consider them being a traitor. This means that anyone in the Capulet family can’t be seen with anyone in the Montague family. The names have power over everyone included in those families and control who they can and can’t