short essay romeo and juliet

Romeo And Juliet Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on romeo and juliet.

Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love tragedy written by William Shakespeare. This is a story of love and fate. Furthermore, the basis of this tragic love story is the Old Italian tale translated into English in the sixteenth century. The story is about two young star-crossed lovers whose death results in reconcile between their feuding families. Moreover, Romeo and Juliet is among the most frequently performed plays by Shakespeare .

Lessons of Love from Romeo and Juliet

First of all, Romeo and Juliet teach us that love is blind. Romeo and Juliet belonged to two influential families. Furthermore, these two families were engaged in a big feud among themselves. However, against all odds, Romeo and Juliet find each other and fall in love. Most noteworthy, they are blind to the fact that they are from rival families. They strive to be together in spite of the threat of hate between their families.

Another important lesson is that love brings out the best in us. Most noteworthy, Romeo and Juliet were very different characters by the end of the story than in the beginning. Romeo was suffering from depression before he met Juliet. Furthermore, Juliet was an innocent timid girl. Juliet was forced into marriage against her will by her parents. After falling in love, the personalities of these characters changed in positive ways. Romeo becomes a deeply passionate lover and Juliet becomes a confident woman.

Life without love is certainly not worth living. Later in the story, Romeo learns that his beloved Juliet is dead. At this moment Romeo felt a heart-shattering moment. Romeo then gets extremely sad and drinks poison. However, Juliet was alive and wakes up to see Romeo dead. Juliet then immediately decides to kill herself due to this massive heartbreak. Hence, both lovers believed that life without love is not worth living.

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Legacy of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Furthermore, the play was very popular even in Shakespeare’s lifetime. Scholar Gary Taylor believes it as the sixth most popular of Shakespeare’s plays. Moreover, Sir William Davenant of the Duke’s Company staged Romeo and Juliet in 1662. The earliest production of Romeo and Juliet was in North America on 23 March 1730.

There were professional performances of Romeo and Juliet in the mid-19th century. In 19th century America, probably the most elaborate productions of Romeo and Juliet took place. The first professional performance of the play in Japan seems to be George Crichton Miln’s company’s production in 1890. In the 20th century, Romeo and Juliet became the second most popular play behind Hamlet.

There have been at least 24 operas based on Romeo and Juliet. The best-known ballet version of this play is Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Most noteworthy, Romeo and Juliet have a huge impact on literature. Romeo and Juliet made romance as a worthy topic for tragedy. Before Romeo and Juliet, romantic tragedy was certainly unthinkable.

Romeo and Juliet are probably the most popular romantic fictional characters. They have been an inspiration for lovers around the world for centuries. Most noteworthy, the story depicts the struggle of the couple against a patriarchal society. People will always consider Romeo and Juliet as archetypal young lovers.

Q1 State any one lesson of love from Romeo and Juliet?

A1 One lesson of love from Romeo and Juliet is that love brings out the best in us.

Q2 What makes Romeo and Juliet unique in literature?

A2 Romeo and Juliet made romance as a worthy topic for tragedy. This is what makes it unique.

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Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Essay | Long and Short Essays on Tragedy in Romeo and Juliet Story

October 01, 2021 by Prasanna

Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Essay: Romeo and Juliet tragedy essay was the most popular love tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the year 1597. The Romeo and Juliet tragedy is the story of love and fate. William Shakespeare has described the Romeo and Juliet tragedy as the story about two young star-crossed lovers whose death results in reconciliation between two feuding families. The Romeo and Juliet tragedy is considered to be the most frequently acted play amongst the tragic plays of William Shakespeare. The Romeo and Juliet tragedy is an eternal love story of all times. The sweetness of this relationship is adorned by all young lovers though the end was not desirable. Romeo and Juliet tragedy depicts the forbidden love shared by two young lovers coming from two feuding families.

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Long Essay on Romeo And Juliet Tragedy 700 Words in English

The main theme of Romeo and Juliet tragedy revolves around three things– love, family, and conflict. The play Romeo and Juliet tragedy has been borrowed from the Italian author Arthur Brooke’s tale The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet but the work of William Shakespeare has made its place in the history of English literature. It is considered that from the Romeo and Juliet tragedy the dramatical skills of William Shakespeare were more recognized which makes Romeo and Juliet notorious. From the eighteenth century till the current date Romeo and Juliet tragedy has influenced many other stories.

The main plot of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy centers around two teenage lovers who have been referred to as Star crossed lovers and this label directs to the inevitable fate they meet. The two feuding families namely the Montague and the Capulet possess deep hatred towards each other but Romeo and Juliet perdue their secret love against this strong dislikes of their families continuing for decades. The Capulet organized a party where Juliet was to meet County Paris as her suit where Romeo along with his two friends Benvolio and Mercutio enters in disguise and in this incident the two adolescents fall in love and promise each other to be together forever. Here Juliet,’s nurse helps her to flee and get into an eternal relationship of marriage.

Hereby chance Juliet’s cousin Tybalt comes to know about the secret meeting and vows taken by the two young lovers and fate befalls on them. Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo for a brawl which Romeo refuses but his friend Mercutio gets angry and ready to fight Tybalt. Romeo tries to stop the fight and by this time Mercutio gets killed by Tybalt. The death of Mercutio makes Romeo furious and in turn, he kills Tybalt. Count Paris came to know about the murder and banished Romeo. Juliet, unaware of these incidents, was worried about Romeo being late to meet her. Later, as the Capulet family mourns, the death of Tybalt delays the marriage of Juliet with Prince Paris. Friar Lawrence arranges for spending a night with Juliet with Romeo before he leaves for Mantua. Juliet’s parents are angry as Juliet refuses to marry Paris as they are unaware of Juliet’s secret marriage with Romeo.

Friar Lawrence helps Juliet by providing a sleeping draught which will make her unconscious for some hours and will be proved to be dead in front of the Capulet family and in the meantime Romeo will be made aware of the secret plan. Fate betrayed again where the messenger could not reach Romeo for an epidemic in the city. News of Juliet’s death reached Romeo who couldn’t withstand the news and decided to kill himself. He manages to get poison from an apathy shop in Mantua and reaches Verona in the grave of Juliet.

Here Romeo meets Paris who came to grief over Juliet’s death and kills him. After killing Paris Romeo drinks the poison and kills himself. Friar Lawrence comes in due course to rescue Juliet as per their plan but finds Romeo’s dead body lying beside Juliet’s grave. Juliet, after returning to her senses could not bear the pain of Romeo’s death, stabbed herself and died beside Romeo. Later the two feuding families arrive knowing about their children’s death and ultimately leads to peacemaking and both the families promise to erect monuments in the memory of Romeo and Juliet and their eternal love story.

This famous Romeo and Juliet tragedy by William Shakespeare has described the epitome of love wherein the two young lovers did not think twice to sacrifice their lives for the sake of love. We as readers are awestruck by the extreme ability of dramatic skills of the greatest playwright of English literature William Shakespeare.

Short Essay on Romeo And Juliet Tragedy

The moment we hear the name of the Romeo Juliet duo, the first thing that strikes us is eternal love. Hope most of us know the famous love story of Romeo and Juliet. To begin with this age-long famous Romeo Juliet tragedy we need to mention its great creator Shakespeare. Yes, the greatest dramatist of all times -William Shakespeare has gifted us with the famous Romeo Juliet tragedy. Shakespeare does not require any introduction in the field of English literature. The name itself describes him. From his early childhood, only his inclination towards theatre and plays has been the result of the greatest creation of English plays that we treasure. Yes amongst all the tragedies of Shakespeare Romeo Juliet tragedy is worth mentioning.

It is quite common that whenever someone speaks about love stories the name of Romeo and Juliet comes to the forefront. The play centers on the two protagonists namely Romeo and Juliet who met by chance and falls in love. But it was due to the feudal rivalry that these two young lovers met a tragic consequence. The Capulet and the Montague families were age-long rivals and this results in the loss of two young lives. Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy is a unique work of Shakespeare’s early writing series. The Romeo and Juliet tragedy was originally adopted from Arthur Brooke’s version of The Tragical History of Romeo and Juliet. Though the main theme was borrowed from Arthur Brooke’s story, Shakespeare made some changes to make the play more realistic. The age of the two lovers was decreased to prove the failure of immaturity in love story.

The Romeo and Juliet tragedy revolves how both fell in love at first glance and prepared for a secret marriage i.e. a sort of engagement. Romeo and Juliet took the step for a secret marriage as Juliet Capulet’s father arranged for her marriage with County Paris. Knowing about this secret marriage Juliet’s cousin Tybalt asked for a duel with Romeo which Romeo declined. But Romeo’s friend Mercutio invites the duo and gets killed by Tybalt when Romeo was trying to stop them. After Mercutio’s death Romeo gets furious and in a rage kills Tybalt. This incident enhances the enmity of the Capulet family and Montague family and as a consequence of this the two young lovers decide to put an end to their life. Hence comes to the end of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy where we see two lovers in deep emotional attachment meet the tragic consequence.

FAQ’s on Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Essay

Question 1. In which year the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was written by William Shakespeare?

Answer: The play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was written in the year 1597.

Question 2. What was the original story this play was adopted from?

Answer: The Romeo and Juliet tragedy was originally adopted from Arthur Brooke’s version of The Tragical History of Romeo and Juliet.

Question 3. Why is ‘Romeo and Juliet’ called a romantic tragedy?

Answer: The play Romeo and Juliet is known as a romantic tragedy because it’s a love story of a young boy and girl who ended their lives at the end of the play.

Question 4. Why did Juliet agree to marry County Paris?

Answer: Juliet refuses to marry Paris in the beginning, but later agrees because she plans to fake her death and escape to be with Romeo forever.

Question 5. How did Romeo and Juliet end their lives?

Answer: Romeo does not know about Juliet’s plan, thinks she is really dead, and kills himself. When Juliet finally wakes up, she discovers that Romeo is dead and then kills her.

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Romeo and Juliet

By william shakespeare, romeo and juliet essay questions.

In what way do Romeo and Juliet break gender conventions? How do these roles fluctuate throughout the play?

At the beginning of the play, the young lovers' behavior reverses common gender conventions – Romeo acts in a way that his friends call feminine, while Juliet exhibits masculine qualities. Romeo is by no means an archetypal Elizabethan man; he is disinterested in asserting his physical power like the other male characters in the play. Instead, Romeo chooses to stew in his pensive melancholy. On several instances, Romeo's companions suggest that his introspective behavior is effeminate. On the other hand, Juliet exhibits a more pronounced sense of agency than most female characters in Shakespeare's time. While the women around her, like her mother, blindly act in accordance with Lord Capulet's wishes, Juliet proudly expresses her opinion. Even when she has lost a battle (like when Lord Capulet insists she consider marrying Paris), she demonstrates a shrewd ability to deflect attention without committing to anything. In her relationship with Romeo, Juliet clearly takes the lead by insisting on marriage and proposing the plan to unite them. As the play progresses, Romeo starts to break out of his pensive inaction to the point that Mercutio notices this change. Romeo also makes a great shift from his cowardly attempt at suicide in Act III to his willful decision in Act V. Overall, Romeo and Juliet are arguably a good match because they are so distinct. Juliet is headstrong, while Romeo is passive until passion strikes and inspires him to action.

Contrast Romeo's attempted suicide in Act 3 with his actual suicide in Act 5. How do these two events reveal changes in his character and an evolving view of death?

Romeo considers suicide in both Act 3 and Act 5. In Act 3, Romeo's desire to take his own life is a cowardly response to his grief over killing Tybalt. He is afraid of the consequences of his actions and would rather escape the world entirely than face losing Juliet. Both Friar Laurence and the Nurse criticize Romeo for his weakness and lack of responsibility - taking the knife from his hands. In contrast, Romeo actually does commit suicide in Act V because he sees no other option. He plans for it, seeking out the Apothecary before leaving Mantua, and kills himself out of solidarity with Juliet, not because he is afraid. While suicide is hardly a defensible action, Romeo's dual attempts to take his life reveal his growing maturity and his strengthened moral resolve.

Several characters criticize Romeo for falling in love too quickly. Do you believe this is true? Does his tendency towards infatuation give the audience occasion to question Romeo's affection for Juliet?

This question obviously asks for a student opinion, but there is evidence to support both sides of the argument. In Act 2, Friar Laurence states his opinion that Romeo does indeed fall in love too quickly. Romeo is arguably in love with being in love more than he is in love with any particular woman. The speed with which his affections shift from Rosaline to Juliet – all before he ever exchanges a word with the latter – suggests that Romeo's feelings of 'love' are closer to lust than commitment. This interpretation is supported by the numerous sexual references in the play, which are even interwoven with religious imagery in Romeo and Juliet's first conversation. However, it also possible to argue that Romeo's lust does not invalidate the purity of his love. Romeo and Juliet celebrates young, passionate love, which includes physical lust. Furthermore, whereas Romeo was content to pine for Rosaline from afar, his love for Juliet forces him to spring into action. He is melancholy over Rosaline, but he is willing to die for Juliet. Therefore, a possible reading is that Romeo and Juliet's relationship might have been sparked by physical attraction, but it grew into a deep, spiritual connection.

Examine the contrast between order and disorder in Romeo and Juliet . How does Shakespeare express this dichotomy through symbols, and how do those motifs help to underline the other major themes in the play?

The contrast between order and disorder appears from the Prologue, where the Chorus tells a tragic story using the ordered sonnet form. From that point onwards, the separation between order and disorder is a common theme. Ironically, violence and disorder occurs in bright daylight, while the serenity of love emerges at night. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is uncomplicated without the disorderly feud between their families, which has taken over the streets of Verona. The contrast between order and disorder underscores the way that Shakespeare presents love - a safe cocoon in which the lovers can separate themselves from the unpredictable world around them. At the end of the play, it becomes clear that a relationship based on pure love cannot co-exist with human weaknesses like greed and jealousy.

Many critics note a tonal inconsistency in Romeo and Juliet . Do you find the shift in tone that occurs after Mercutio's death to be problematic? Does this shift correspond to an established structural tradition or is it simply one of Shakespeare's whims?

After the Prologue until the point where Mercutio dies in Act III, Romeo and Juliet is mostly a comic romance. After Mercutio dies, the nature of the play suddenly shifts into tragedy. It is possible that this extreme shift is merely the product of Shakespeare's whims, especially because the play has many other asides that are uncharacteristic of either comedy or tragedy. For example, Mercutio's Queen Mab speech is dreamy and poetic, while the Nurse's colorful personality gives her more dimension than functional characters generally require. However, it is also possible to see the parallels between this tonal shift and the play's thematic contrast between order and disorder. Shakespeare frequently explored the human potential for both comedy and tragedy in his plays, and it is possible that in Romeo and Juliet , he wanted to explore the transition from youthful whimsy into the complications of adulthood. From this perspective, the play's unusual structure could represent a journey to maturity. Romeo grows from a petulant teenager who believes he can ignore the world around him to a man who accepts the fact that his actions have consequences.

Eminent literary critic Harold Bloom considers Mercutio to be one of Shakespeare's greatest inventions in Romeo and Juliet . Why do you agree or disagree with him? What sets Mercutio apart?

One of Shakespeare's great dramatic talents is his ability to portray functional characters as multi-faceted individuals. Mercutio, for example, could have served a simple dramatic function, helping the audience get to know Romeo in the early acts. Then, his death in Act 3 is a crucial plot point in the play, heightening the stakes and forcing Romeo to make a life-changing decision. Mercutio barely appears in Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet , which Romeo and Juliet is based on. Therefore, Shakespeare made a point of fleshing out the character. In Mercutio's Queen Mab speech, Shakespeare has the opportunity to truly delve into the bizarre and often dangerous sexual nature of love. Further, Mercutio's insight as he dies truly expresses the horrors of revenge, as he declares a plague on both the Montague and Capulet families. He is the first casualty of their feud - and because he transcends functionality, the audience mourns his untimely death and can relate to Romeo's capricious revenge.

How does Shakespeare use symbols of gold and silver throughout the play? What does each element represent?

Shakespeare uses gold and silver as symbols to criticize human folly. He often invokes the image of silver to symbolize pure love and innocent beauty. On the other hand, he uses gold as a sign of greed or desire. For example, Shakespeare describes Rosaline as immune to showers of gold, an image that symbolizes the selfishness of bribery. Later, when Romeo is banished, he comments that banishment is a "golden axe," meaning that banishment is merely a shiny euphemism for death. Finally, the erection of the golden statues at the end of the play is a sign of the fact that neither Lord Capulet nor Lord Montague has really learned anything from the loss of their children. They are still competing to claim the higher level of grief. Romeo, however, recognizes the power of gold and rejects it - through him, Shakespeare suggests a distinction between a world governed by wealth and the cocoon of true love.

Do a character analysis of Friar Laurence. What motivates him? In what ways does this motivation complicate his character?

Friar Laurence is yet another character who transcends his functional purpose. When Romeo first approaches the Friar to plan his marriage to Juliet, the older man questions the young man's sincerity, since Romeo openly pined for Rosaline only a few days before. However, the Friar shows a willingness to compromise by agreeing to marry the young lovers nevertheless. What ultimately motivates Friar Laurence is his desire to end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, and he sees Romeo and Juliet's marriage as a means to that end. While his peaceful intentions are admirable, his devious actions to achieve them – conducting a marriage that he explicitly questions – suggests he is more driven by politics than by an internal moral compass. The fact that a religious figure would compromise one of the Church's sacraments (marriage) further suggests that the Friar wants his power to extend beyond the confines of his Chapel. He also displays his hubris by helping Juliet to fake her death, rather than simply helping her get to Mantua to be with Romeo. While Friar Laurence is not an explicit villain, his internal contradictions speak to Shakespeare's ability to create multi-faceted characters.

Should Romeo and Juliet be considered a classical tragedy (in which fate destroys individuals)? Or is it more a tragedy of circumstance and personality? Moreover, could the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet have been avoided?

In classical tragedy, an individual is defeated by Fate, despite his or her best efforts to change a pre-determined course of events. A classical tragedy both celebrates an individual's willpower while lamenting the fact that the universe cannot be bested by mankind. The tragic elements in Romeo and Juliet are undeniable - two young lovers want nothing more than to be together and fall victim to an ancient feud and rigid societal conventions. However, while Romeo and Juliet's deaths result from human folly, the immovable power of fate also has a hand in sealing their destinies. For instance, Romeo and Juliet had many opportunities to simply run away together instead of being separated after Romeo is banished from Verona. Furthermore, many of the tragic occurrences are contingent on antagonistic characters running into one another, and then choosing to pursue vengeance rather than simply walk away. Based on this evidence, it is possible to read Shakespeare's intent as suggesting that behavioral adjustment can often prevent tragic events.

How is Romeo and Juliet a criticism of organized religion? Examine the play's secularism to develop your answer.

While Romeo and Juliet does not present explicit attacks against religion, Shakespeare reveals his skepticism of Christianity in subtle ways. In many ways, Romeo and Juliet must reject the tenets of Christianity in order to be together. In their first meeting, they banter, using religious imagery to share their sexual feelings. In this exchange, the lovers acknowledge the omnipresence of Christianity, but cheekily use religious images in an unexpected context. Further, Christian tradition would have required Juliet to submit to her father's desire, but instead, she manipulates his expectations to distract him from her real agenda. Even Friar Laurence, an explicitly religious figure, uses Christianity as a tool towards his own ends. In this way, the play implicitly suggests that the rigid rules of religion often work in opposition to the desires of the heart - and to pursue true happiness, one must throw off the shackles of organized faith.

Romeo and Juliet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Romeo and Juliet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Can you find verbal irony in the play? Where?

One example of verbal irony would be Romeo's reference to the poison he has purchased as a "sweet medicine". A cordial is a sweet liquor or medicine.

Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.

What do we learn about Mercutio in queen man speech?

The whole speech is based on pagan Celtic mythology. Mercutio’s speech is laced with sexual innuendo. The words “queen” and “mab” refer to whores in Elizabethan England. As his speech goes on we notice the subtext get increasingly sexual...

What does Romeo fear as he approaches Capulet house? What literary device would this be an example of?

Romeo feels something bad is going to happen.

I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Looks like foreshadowing to me!

Study Guide for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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Essays for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies
• Fate in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Under the Guise of Love
• The Apothecary's Greater Significance in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Two Worlds

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E-Text of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet e-text contains the full text of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

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Romeo and Juliet

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Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Mercutio has many clever and joking lines. He often wants to cheer up Romeo and make others laugh.

• How does the tone of the play change when Mercutio is killed? ( topic sentence )
• How do events in the rest of the play show that Mercutio’s death is an important turning point in the plot? Name at least three events and use details from the text to support your ideas.
• Finally, discuss in your concluding sentence or sentences how Mercutio’s death connects to the theme of feuds and rivalry .

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2. Consider the setting of the famous balcony scene and the placement and movement of the characters throughout it.

• What might Shakespeare have been suggesting with the use of the balcony, symbolically? ( topic sentence )
• What are three ways that the imagery of this scene relates to the theme of love’s complexities ? Cite details from the scene for each imagery idea.
• Finally, describe in your concluding sentence or sentences how the overall setting and scene contribute to the emotions that spark between Romeo and Juliet at the Capulet feast.

3. The Nurse is a “comic relief” character in much of the play, as well as a caretaker who shows genuine love for and devotion to Juliet.

• Why does the Nurse’s attempt to persuade Juliet to marry Paris surprise many readers? ( topic sentence )
• What are two or three conclusions that Juliet seem to draw once the Nurse offers this counsel? Cite actions or lines to support your ideas.
• Finally, discuss in your concluding sentences how the Nurse is meaningful beyond her comic relief role—and beyond what Juliet might understand. In other words, what might the Nurse represent about love’s complexities?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Choose one of the play’s major recurring images (e.g., the moon, stars, and sun; light and darkness; plants and flowers; birds). Then trace the appearance of your chosen motif throughout the play. (Use the “Find” feature within an online text for help.) How does Shakespeare’s use of the image change as the play goes on? How do his choices in the way he uses the image affect the tone and atmosphere of the surrounding moments? How does word choice and connotation in the language that accompanies the image contribute to or mirror the unfolding of events? Ultimately, what might Shakespeare be suggesting about the symbolic value of that changing, recurring image?

2. Consider Friar Lawrence’s monologue on the properties of herbs at the start of Act II, Scene iii. What might readers infer indirectly about his traits and qualities, based on this speech? How do his ideas about moderation play out in his own behavior—and how does the play seem to support or undermine those ideas? How might this monologue connect to a theme or themes in the play? As you compose your essay, incorporate at least three quoted lines or phrases from the speech that strengthen your points of discussion. Cite your quotations with act, scene, and line number.

3. Many of the play’s characters seem skeptical or cynical about romantic love. How does the play explore the theme of love’s complexities —its power, its silliness, its beauty, its dangers? Ultimately, what message about romantic love is most strongly conveyed? What motifs support this message, and what examples of character actions and reactions contribute to it? Is Shakespeare’s message valid today? Why or why not?

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Romeo and Juliet — “Romeo and Juliet”: Compare and Contrast

"Romeo and Juliet": Compare and Contrast

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Characterization of romeo and juliet, themes of love and fate.

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