Romeo And Juliet

            It is not an uncommon occurrence for two people to fall in love, especially if they are young. But how often do these relationships last forever, and how often do they actually work out? In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare is trying to teach us that young love cannot always work out, because young people tend to be more impetuous, impulsive, and often are not mature enough to make such serious decisions.

            Shakespeare often voices his opinion through other characters in the play that Romeo and Juliet’s relationship isn’t completely right, or that they should slow down. The only characters completely supportive of Romeo and Juliet’s romance are themselves. Friar Lawrence notes to Romeo early in the story that he wants them to move more slowly so that when the end comes, it won’t hit them as hard. “Violent delights have violent ends,” (2.6.9.)  he says. He is saying that a love this lustful, fast, passionate and young will have an equally strong and powerful ending.  He’s right, as they both die for love in the end of the play. Many other characters, such as Mercutio and the Nurse, actively voice their disapproval of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.

            Romeo and Juliet was a tragedy, which means that there will be at least one death in the play. Sure enough, Romeo and Juliet die for each other in the end of the story. They each say that they cannot live without the other before they kill themselves. Romeo’s last words are “O true apothecary, / thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (5. 3. 119-120) “Here’s to my love” clearly and obviously states that he would rather be dead than live without Juliet. Juliet’s intent is similar in some of her last words, “I will kiss thy lips. / Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, / so that I may die with a restorative.” (5. 3. 169-171.) She hopes there is still poison on his lips, so she kisses him. She feels as if to love Romeo is her purpose, so she tries to end her life by making it the last thing she does. Romeo and Juliet are very young, Juliet being thirteen and Romeo being of a slightly older but equally youthful age. By making Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, Shakespeare is emphasizing their immaturity. If you are as young as Romeo and Juliet, you still have your whole life ahead of you and you should not kill yourself over another person, you will eventually move on. Young people often have feelings of suicide or angst, and Shakespeare is showing that they are this young by showing that they are feeling this way. Romeo and Juliet should not have had to make this decision.

            Romeo and Juliet only knew each other for less than a week before marrying each other and dying. It was “love at first sight” when they met at Capulet’s party- when Romeo first saw her, he gushed over Juliet’s beauty and asked himself, “did my heart love till now?” (1. 5. 59) Romeo, being young and impulsive, decided that they were meant to be forever with only a glance. What happened to Rosaline? What happened to loving her forever? If Romeo was so convinced he was in love with Rosaline before, how does he know he really loves Juliet? Juliet is also impulsive, and again shares a similar opinion when she asks Romeo to propose to her in the Balcony Scene. “If that thy bent of love be honorable, / thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.” (2. 2. 150-151) Shakespeare wants us to be shocked at how young they are, and to question how in love they really are in order to move this fast.

            By including his disapproving opinions and adding a tragic ending, William Shakespeare is trying to share with us his true thoughts on young love. He thought young lovers were somewhat immature, impetuous, and that they should stop being so serious in their relationship. If two people are as immature in a relationship as Romeo and Juliet were, their relationship has high chances of ending badly, with death, or with heartbreak.