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Quote: ‘just because everything's different doesn't mean anything has changed’ - Irene Peters
Young people often make irrational decisions that determine the outcome of their lives. William Shakespeare’s Dramatic Tragedy Romeo and Juliet (1895) explores love and how characters can hold more responsibility than fortune does. Irene Peter’s quote, ‘Just because everything is different doesn’t mean that anything has changed’, applies to how Juliet was promised to Paris by her father but still has a strong love for Romeo. Although an arranged marriage seems like a drastic thing to even consider doing in modern-day society it is unfortunately still a strong aspect of some families' lives that has continued even after the Elizabethan era.
Some say that our lives are written in the stars but when the stars fall what happens then? In the opening prologue, the chorus refers to the protagonists as “star-crossed lovers”, giving an allusion to believing the stars and planets have the power to control events on earth. This quote leads many to believe that Romeo and Juliet are destined to fall in love but are as equally destined to have it destroyed. Although the world has evolved massively into a more opinionated society creating a democracy within a chaotic world there are still beliefs and strong opinions on how the world works. Such as fate and how our lives have been written in the stars. We have all grown up with different cultures and beliefs but also a strong opinion of free will. We can decide if we would like to believe in these stars or simply believe there must be a logical answer for everything. Although these beliefs were created many centuries ago, they are still very vivid in today’s society which just shows as much as we have changed we have stuck to our roots as well. The prologue shows the first and maybe the most famous example of celestial imagery in Romeo and Juliet, referring to the stars, moon, and heavens throughout the play. In Act 1, scene 4, Romeo states that he fears, “some consequences yet hanging in the stars” when he and his friends head to the Capulet ball. When the stars are next mentioned by Romeo he does not mention the astrological power but rather uses the image of the stars to describe Juliet’s beauty. Most of the upcoming celestial images in the play are said in vain, from Romeo’s comparison of Juliet to the sun to Juliet's own wish to “ cut (Romeo) out into little stars”, when he dies. Throughout the play, these celestial images are often associated with the two lovers than with fate, telling us that as the play goes on we cannot simply place all the blame for this tragedy on some impersonal outer force.
How do we tell what love is if there is no real explanation? Romeo’s tendency for rash actions often causes him and his beloved to get into a lot of trouble. His impulsive behavior has made him a romantic icon in our culture, but in the play, it proves his downfall. From the very beginning, Shakespeare heeds us not to view Romeo's sudden passionate moments as too perfect. After all, Shakespeare makes a point to show that Romeo’s love for Juliet is merely another infatuation to replace his broken heart. In Act 2, scene 2 Romeo states, “Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo”, telling us he is willing to change his name and forget his family if it only means he can be with Juliet. This particular scene and many more in this script use pathos within it to try to make the reader feel some kind of sympathy, to make them drawn to this tragic romance of forbidden love. If we were to compare the standard of love in the Elizabethan era compared to our generation now most would say that the expectations have changed through time and the standards of effort made for love. Although there are different perspectives of love evolving the feelings you experience when falling in love or having a deep liking for someone has not. Some people have become more protective of their love or heart in fear it may get hurt as staying in a real relationship in today's society isn't consistent compared to the Elizabethan era. They’d give their body and soul to one person as they had more belief in fate to belong to one partner and one partner alone. In Act 2, scene 2 when Romeo states, “The exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine”, saying I would be satisfied if we made each other true promises of love tells you although it is rushed love it is a commitment both Juliet and Romeo are willing to take. They believe this is their final love and ending leading me to believe the feeling of love hasn't changed through these centuries but the standard of it has.
Romeo and Juliet conclude with a strong concept of love and an understanding of the difference between responsibility and fortune. The script written by William Shakespeare has proven to be one of the most complicated scripts to explain as it has so many themes and concepts to break down. This tragic love story of 1895 has shown to have strong aspects such as the standards of love and beliefs that have still stuck around in today's society that we have still to learn from.
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