Romeo and Juliet Notes
Themes
Love:
• Shakespeare advocates love as something that can make you
free and resolve conflict by transcending the family rivalries,
but also as an emotion that can control and blind you, leading
to tragic consequences.
• Shakespeare is critical of the superficial nature of the younger
generation’s love
• Shakespeare reveals the importance of parental love by
portraying how the lack of it can lead to the younger
generation making impulsive and reckless decisions.
Fate and destiny vs. Free Will:
• Shakespeare presents the tension between free-will and fate
and destiny to be critical of the role of fate and destiny in the
characters’ decisions and actions.
• Shakespeare uses celestial imagery throughout the play to
foreshadow the predetermined, inevitable tragic outcomes of
Romeo and Juliet’s love.
, Family and Loyalty:
• Shakespeare is critical of the hierarchy in family by exploring
the tension between parental authority and the desires of the
younger generation in a patriarchal society
• Shakespeare presents the older generation as valuing family
honour more than the younger generation
• Shakespeare presents the lack of family love as leading to the
younger generation to act impulsively and recklessly
Violence and conflict
• Shakespeare presents conflict and violence as a way of
maintaining their own honour or the honour of those close to
them and their families.
• Shakespeare is critical of males abusing their power against
women.
• Shakespeare implies that societal expectations make male
aggression inevitable.
Honour/Justice
• Shakespeare reveals how personal honour and the honour of
those close to them can cloud people’s view of fair justice.
• Shakespeare also presents the importance of honour through
family and the relationships between Juliet and Romeo, and
Juliet and her parents
Age Gap:
• Shakespeare presents violence as a result of the immaturity
and impulsiveness of the younger generation rather than the
older generation.
• Shakespeare presents the older generation as valuing status
and family honour more than the younger generation.
Themes
Love:
• Shakespeare advocates love as something that can make you
free and resolve conflict by transcending the family rivalries,
but also as an emotion that can control and blind you, leading
to tragic consequences.
• Shakespeare is critical of the superficial nature of the younger
generation’s love
• Shakespeare reveals the importance of parental love by
portraying how the lack of it can lead to the younger
generation making impulsive and reckless decisions.
Fate and destiny vs. Free Will:
• Shakespeare presents the tension between free-will and fate
and destiny to be critical of the role of fate and destiny in the
characters’ decisions and actions.
• Shakespeare uses celestial imagery throughout the play to
foreshadow the predetermined, inevitable tragic outcomes of
Romeo and Juliet’s love.
, Family and Loyalty:
• Shakespeare is critical of the hierarchy in family by exploring
the tension between parental authority and the desires of the
younger generation in a patriarchal society
• Shakespeare presents the older generation as valuing family
honour more than the younger generation
• Shakespeare presents the lack of family love as leading to the
younger generation to act impulsively and recklessly
Violence and conflict
• Shakespeare presents conflict and violence as a way of
maintaining their own honour or the honour of those close to
them and their families.
• Shakespeare is critical of males abusing their power against
women.
• Shakespeare implies that societal expectations make male
aggression inevitable.
Honour/Justice
• Shakespeare reveals how personal honour and the honour of
those close to them can cloud people’s view of fair justice.
• Shakespeare also presents the importance of honour through
family and the relationships between Juliet and Romeo, and
Juliet and her parents
Age Gap:
• Shakespeare presents violence as a result of the immaturity
and impulsiveness of the younger generation rather than the
older generation.
• Shakespeare presents the older generation as valuing status
and family honour more than the younger generation.
