Limited Choices Of “Romeo and Juliet”
Both Romeo and Juliet were victims of their limited choices and social values discuss. The story of Romeo and Juliet truly demonstrates a play of love, tragedy and romance at a time, when social status dominated decision making and women always fell second to the men. Juliet’s choices were limited by her sexual gender, females were not regarded as decision makers and hence their opinions were never recognised. Romeo on the other hand suffered from a different kind of limitation, his choices were limited due to his social denomination, the poor class to which Romeo belonged were not regarded as equal members of society.
However Romeo and Juliet weren’t the only ones who experienced a lack of choice. Mercutio, Tybalt, Benvolio, Nurse, lady Capulet, Capulet and Friar are eight other different characters who also have to deal with limited decisions. These are expressed in many events which unfold throughout the play. The events include a sword fight, emphasis on women’s rights and education, the normality of marriage arrangements, the mail, the potion and the death. Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another faces many challenges beyond the limitations of choices placed upon them, they also have to battle the ignorance of both families.
Both Romeo and Juliet suffer from limited choices and decision making. This is evident when they meet and fall instantly in love. However after discovering the others identity, Romeo being a Montague and Juliet being a Capulet. They both knew their different level of class and social status would never get passed their families hatred towards each other. Romeo: “Is she a Capulet? O dear account. My life is my foes debt. ” Juliet: “My only love sprung from my only hate. ”However Romeo and Juliet both want to get marry, so Romeo goes to see Friar Laurence for help and advice.
Friar Laurence thought it would be a good idea, in which for both families may stop fighting Friar Laurence: “In one respect ill thy assistant be, for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love. ” That afternoon Juliet and Romeo meet and get married. Mercutio is one of the main characters in the play “Romeo & Juliet”. Mercutio is cousin and friend to Romeo, he is not a Montague, nor a Capulet. His friendship with Romeo puts him more on the Montague’s side of the feud. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, after finding out that Romeo is married to Juliet.
Romeo being still dazed off after just being married, he then kills Tybalt. Romeo is the main victim of this incident, his lack of timing, and emotional state, caused the birth of the situation. Romeo: “O, I am fortune’s fool. ” Romeo is then sent to be banished from Verona. Prince: “And for that offence, immediately we do exile him hence. ” Lady Capulet, being a women, suffers under a social burden which limits her opinions as society would not accept a women’s view. After she informs Juliet that she is to marry Paris, Juliet objects. Lady Capulet encourages Juliet to discuss the matter with her father.
Lady Capulet: “Here comes your father. Tell him so yourself and see how he will take it at your hands. ” This shows that lady Capulet, is in no position to make the decisions, for if she as to stand and voice her opinion on the matter, it would result in her husband’s disapproval and social outburst. The nurse on the other hand, has a greater influence on the situation. Even though she has no choices at all, being a nurse and a servant to the Capulet’s, she finds ways to help Juliet deal with the pressures associated with her marriage to Romeo.
Juliet is comfortable with and at ease speaking to the Nurse. However when Romeo is vanished, the nurse turns her back on Juliet, of encouraging her to go marry Paris. Friar Laurence suggests a plan; this involves Juliet drinking a potion that will make her appear dead. Her family will believe she has passed, and take her the burial vault. A will be sent to Romeo, so he is at the vault when Juliet awakens, from the vault they are to escape to Mantua. Juliet takes the potion, hoping that everything will work out Juliet: “Give me, give me!
O, tell not me of fear! Love give me strength , and strength shall help afford, farewell, dear father. ” The next day her family sees Juliet dead. They are all sad and despaired by the situation. The Capulet’s believe they have just lost their only child. Lady Capulet: “But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, but one thing to rejoice and solace in, and cruel death hath catched it from my sight! ” Friar Laurence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. Romeo and Juliet’s death could have been prevented, if they were not together.
Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet; this was the first mistake which would evidentially lead to their deaths. A bond between them was created through marriage. Friar Laurence: “For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till holy church incorporate two in one. ” The tragedies of the play would have occurred if Romeo and Juliet were not married. Romeo and Juliet’s deaths was Friar Laurence’s fault. He thought the plan out poorly, and he foolishly handled critical situations. His impure intentions and incompetence caused the suicides of two young teenagers.
Friar Laurence is told that the mail did not get delivered to Romeo. He then worries of the consequences when Juliet wakes up Friar Laurence: “And keep her at my cell till Romeo came- poor living corse, closed in a dead man’s tomb. ” . Paris came to visit Juliet’s tomb to grieve and strew flowers, when coming across Romeo, they fight and Paris is killed. When Romeo sees Juliet dead, he automatically drinks the potion and then kills himself. Juliet wakes up and sees Romeo dead, so she then stabs herself. Juliet: “Yea, noise? Then ill be brief. O happy dagger. This is thy sheath.
There rust, and let me die. ” The families of both Romeo and Juliet are victims, of their own war because they have just seen their only children die Capulet: “O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds, is empty on the back of montage…” Montages: “Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight, grief of my son’s exile hath stopped her breath. ” However if it wasn’t for their families ignorance and disputes towards each other the result may have ended differently. So in the end, everyone is infected and gets hurt. Prince: “That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!
And I, for winking at your discords too, have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished. ” In conclusion, from the very beginning, the love of Romeo and Juliet was destined to be destroyed. It is tragic that both these people had to die. There were circumstances throughout the course of their lives that led up to their deaths. If their parent’s had not been feuding and if the Nurse had not betrayed Juliet, the outcome of this story would have been different, although fate could not be changed. This was the most important factor in the lives of Romeo and Juliet.
