Romeo And Juliet: Tragedy, Love Story Or Both? Essay, Research Paper

Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy, Love Story or Both?

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, is the tale of two lovers who take

their lives for each other when their love is hindered by their feuding parents.

After reading Romeo and Juliet, apparently a tragedy, I would say that this

story contains aspects of both a love story and a tragedy. The tale of two

teenagers who fall in love at first sight and then marry, become true lovers and

then risk it all for their love cannot surely be all tragedy. However, it is a

tragedy, and has been called that for decades.

I will discuss with you what makes this story a tragedy, and then what makes it

a love story.

To begin, the family Montague and the family Capulet had been locked in a feud

for years, even so that their servants fought on the street. This is the tragedy

that sets off the train of other misfortunes, and if these conflicts were

resolved, none of the further things I am about to mention would have happened.

The tragedy of Romeo’s love for Rosalind, she too was a Capulet, and so that

barred his love for her, although she also did not love him.

Quite obviously, the misfortune of Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love. This is

the basis of the whole story. For two people to love each other and not be able

to show their true feelings for each other is ultimately very frustrating. It’s

“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” style.

The tragedy of Tybalt’s death. Another result of the family fight, this was a

tragedy for all involved, the Capulets and the Montagues, because Romeo was

banished from Verona. The blight of the messenger not getting to Romeo in time.

Romeo just missing Juliet awakening is surely a tragedy. To me this is one of

the most frustrating things in the play, because if he just waited two minutes

longer…

And lastly, the death of Juliet. It is sad that she felt she had to take her own

life to be with the one she truly loved.

The first thing in this story which makes me say that it is a love story is the

falling in love of Romeo and Juliet. Some people say they do not believe in love

at first sight, but when reading this scene anyone would find it hard not to

believe in this.

The disobeying of their parents wishes is the beginning of the love story, and

the balcony scene in act 2, scene 2 is enough to make anyone’s heart melt.

Another thing which adds to the love story is the marriage of Romeo and Juliet.

Marriage is a big commitment, (’till death do us part, believe it or not they

meant it in those days, not like us today ['till divorce do us part]) and to

love someone so much that you would want to marry them is surely part of a love

story.

Lastly, to take your own life for your husband or wife is definitely a sign of

true love. To love each other enough that you would commit suicide just to be

with them after death to me is the ultimate commitment.

So there you go. I am sure you can see that the tragedies do dominate the

aspects of the love story, but by no means does this mean that they are not

there. The world may call it a tragedy, but I would say that it is both.