"Romeo and Juliet"

"Romeo and Juliet" is quite possibly the most famous tragedy of all time and it is most certainly the most recognized of all the works by William Shakespeare. It is the most adapted play around the world by both theatre and film. The following is a script analysis of 'Romeo and Juliet' along with the essential facts and themes that coincide with this marvelous piece of literature. It's setting is in that of the city of Verona, Italy. In this city, there is a bitter rival feud between the two families that rule Verona, the Capulet and the Montagues(The Major Conflict). Another important conflict in the story is with Romeo and Juliet (man) against the two families (society). They defy the very principles that their families have raised them to believe out of the sake of love.

In between the feud is the prince of Verona, Escalus, who acts as the peacekeeper of the city and prevents the two families from causing chaos and bloodshed. Along with the prince are the two children of the families, both of which have no ill intent of the other despite what their families have taught them, Romeo of Montague and Juliet of Capulet. They both love each other unconditionally and with restrain; they don't care what their families think of their affair and fall completely in love with each other. To me, Romeo and Juliet both represent love, undying, unconditional, and eternal. The families represent division as they are divided against each other and hate each other for whatever reason. The climax of this play is reached when Romeo kills Tybalt in cold blood for killing his friend Mercutio. From that moment on Romeo is banished from Verona and Juliet is left to find a drastic way to reunite with him and to fight off marrying Paris and her stubborn father; the rivalry between the two families is fueled even greater with both sides of the family mourning their losses.

The resolution is when Romeo goes to see the body of Juliet thus breaking his banishment and possibly facing his death by the Capulets or even the Prince. The Final Action is reached when the Prince shouts to the public "ALL ARE PUNISHED!" in anger of the lives taken by Romeo and Juliet themselves and because their suicides came from the bitterness between the two families inability to accept each other and make peace on their own. Romeo's objective is to find a new love or a new spark in his life after his heartbreak at the start of the play with Rosaline. Juliet's objective is experience real love and to not have it brought to her, but for her to find it herself, which she does with Romeo. The Subject of the play is about love and fate. The Idea of the play is that in our search for love, we may have to defy our parents and society as love itself has no boundaries, but there are consequences that love can bring, some of which are more severe than can be imagined.

"Romeo and Juliet" is to me what it has been to millions of people across the world for centuries now, the greatest love story ever told. It hits a note on going against what society rules as wrong and chasing your love wherever it may take you. But it serves as a reminder to me to never fall to in love with someone for the end results could cost you your life and the lives of those you love the most. Yet at the same time, out of that could come something more. The ultimate irony of this play is that it was not the union of Romeo and Juliet that would bring the two families together as they and Friar Laurence had hoped for, but it was their death.




Works Cited

Felner, Mira and Orenstein, Claudia. The World of Theatre: Tradition and Innovation. New York: Pearson Education, 2006.

"Romeo + Juliet" poster pic. 1996. .

'Romeo and Juliet" picture. stage. .