Romeo And Juliet: The Theme Of Death Essay, Research Paper

Romeo and Juliet: The Theme of Death

Slash, cling, clank these are the sounds that are heard in a sword fight

as a man is killed. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare the

theme death is portrayed many times by the characters Marcutio, Romeo, and

Juliet.

The first instance of the theme death was in act 3 when Marcutio

challenged Tybalt to a sword fight. “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find

a grave man.”(Act three, scene 1, line 104.) Also as Marcutio is dying he says

“Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall Faint.” (Act 3, scene 1, line

113.) Both these quotes show how Marcutio portrayed the theme death. Second,

Romeo is the next to portray the theme death.

Now in Act 5, this is the time that Romeo shows the theme death. He

has heard of Juliet’s death and is so heartbroken that he goes to an apothecary

to get poison so he can join Juliet in heaven. “To Juliet’s grave; for there

must I use thee.” (Act 5, scene 1, line 93). Second when Romeo is about to

drink the poison he says, “Here’s to my love! [Drinks.] O true apothecary!

Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. [Falls.]” (Act 5, scene 3, line

122). These quote show how Romeo loves Juliet. So much he will die to be with

her.” The next quotes show how Juliet’s feelings are mutual to Romeo’s.

After Juliet wakes up from her death like coma she sees Romeo’s dead

corpse and notices that he had never got the message from the friar. “O churl!

Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after? I will kiss his lips.

Haply some poison yet doth hang on them. To make me die with a restorative.”

The next quote shows how the poison has no effect on Juliet, and how she is so

desperate to be with Romeo she will stab herself. “O happy dagger! [Snatches

Romeo's dagger.] This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. [She stabs

herself and falls.] These quote all show Romeo and Juliet’s mutual feelings on

how they will die to be together.

All these quotes show how the theme death was portrayed by the

characters Marcutio, Romeo, and Juliet in the play Romeo and Juliet. This theme

was very important to the play in that if they didn’t love each other enough to

die for one another the family feud wouldn’t have been ended. Now Romeo and

Juliet may be together in a better place were there names don’t matter.