'In Romeo And Juliet, Shakespeare Shows Us That Love Is A Most Powerful, Complex And Dangerous Emotion. Discuss
The emotion love is the most significant theme in Romeo and Juliet - a popular play written by Shakespeare. This tragic story tells of two star cross'd lovers whose deaths are caused by the enmity of their families. Love can be most powerful, complex and dangerous. It has the ability to turn thoughts and perspectives obscure and it is overwhelmingly dangerous. Love overpowers both Romeo and Juliet, guiding them feel and do things that are impractical. Their love is the cause of their untimely death yet ironically, it is also what joins the feuding families together. As well as being complicated and destructive, love is an intense emotion that ultimately brings peace to 'fair Verona'.
The love between Romeo and Juliet is indescribably powerful as it supersedes all other emotions, loyalties and values. The hatred the lovers should feel for each other is put aside, for their love would feel the same no matter which family they belonged to. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague (11.ii.38-39). Friendship becomes less significant to the pair and Romeo exemplifies this when he abandons his own friends to pursue Juliet, he's 'fair sun'. 'Can I go forward when my heart is here?' he ponders. (11.i.1) Similarly, family also holds less importance when compared to their love: 'Deny thy father and refuse thy name / Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet,' Juliet exclaims passionately. (11.ii.34-36) Romeo and Juliet love each other beyond comprehension and they end their own lives, for their love is too powerful to live without. Their lives to them, is of less value than their love and in the end, this emotion is strong enough to conquer the hate between the Capulet and Montague families.
Shakespeare displays how love is a most complex emotion by showing it's capability of causing emotions to contradict other feelings. When Juliet learns that her husband has slain Tybalt, she is shocked...
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