Essay On Modernity In Romeo And Juliet

Since the beginning of the Enlightenment period and perhaps even prior, the skepticism of the changing world into modernity has been presented by great minds throughout the world. The argument really comes down to a very broad argument of whether rapid change is benefiting the human race or causing its destruction. The argument encompasses many aspects and categories. Poetry and other works of literature have attempted to tackle these questions and also leave their views on which side they fall. William Shakespeare, William Blake and William Wordsworth all fall under the category of praising modernity, and support the push into the new and modern. However, they show this in different ways and specific subcategories. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare …show more content…
Under subcategories of tradition versus modernity, Shakespeare, Blake and Wordsworth all make argument towards modernity and towards the necessity of changing with the times and celebration of new. Despite being a visionary and contemporary in his own life and time, Shakespeare’s writings also supported modernity in the way he showed the value and worth found in the young. Romeo and Juliet has thousands of themes within its pages, which has allowed it to be studied for years and endlessly by scholars and general readers. Although not the most popular, the theme of old versus young presents itself throughout the play. The theme shows up mostly in the ways of parents versus children. Although the children are the ones who die at the end, the play falls in favour of the Romeo and Juliet, and their youthful actions and behaviors. The prologue first addresses this support saying, “The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love. And the continuance of their parents’ rage. Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,” (line 10). In simple terms Romeo and Juliet died because of their parents. This encompasses a bigger theme