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William Shakespeare was a great English playwright, dramatist, and poet who lived during the late sixteenth century and early seventeenth century. Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. No other writer's plays have been produced so many times or read so widely in so many countries as his. There are many reasons as to why William Shakespeare is so famous. He is generally considered to be both the greatest dramatist the world has ever known as well as the finest poet who has written in the English language.
Many reasons can be given for Shakespeare's enormous appeal. His fame basically is from his great understanding of human nature. He was able to find universal human qualities and put them in a dramatic situation creating characters that are timeless. Yet he had the ability to create characters that are highly individual human beings. Their struggles in life are universal. Sometimes they are successful and sometimes their lives are full of pain, suffering, and failure.
In addition to his understanding and realistic view of human nature, Shakespeare had a vast knowledge of a variety of subjects. These subjects include music, law, religion, stage, art, politics, hunting, and sports. Shakespeare had a tremendous influence on culture and literature throughout the world. He contributed greatly to the development of the English language. Many words and phrases from Shakespeare's plays and poems have become part of our speech. Shakespeare's plays and poems have become a required part of education in the United States.
Therefore, his ideas on subjects as romantic love, heroism, comedy, and tragedy have helped shape the attitudes of millions of people. His portrayal of historical figures and events have influenced our thinking more than what has been written in history books. The world has admired and respected many great writers, but only Shakespeare had generated such enormous continuing interest. Love has existed in many forms throughout time.
There is no better example than in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this tale, when love is most apparent, the most crucial events occur to develop this "tragedy. " The evident forms of love are love for friends, love for enemies, and love between lovers. First, love for friends was, and is, a necessity for the characters. Romeo had been in love with a girl who did not feel love the same way that he did. Consequently, Romeo was distraught. He thought no woman could be as fare as Rosaline.
Romeo's friend Benvolio, thought differently. Benvolio encouraged Romeo to go to the Capulet's feast and accurately predicted that Romeo would find other girls more attractive than Rosaline. This was highlighted when Benvolio said, "Compare her face with one that I show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow. " (I. II. 86 - 87). Later, when violence was prevalent, Benvolio watched out for his friends and relatives, encouraging peace. He spoke against fighting when he said, "I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire.
The day is hot, the Capulet's abroad. And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl. " (III. I. 1 - 3). The Nurse is Juliet's best friend, but calling her "mom" would be more appropriate. Unlike Lady Capulet, Juliet's mother, the nurse cares for Juliet, knows exactly when she was born, and has fond memories of her childhood. The Nurse acted like a messenger, meeting with Romeo to discuss wedding plans for him and Juliet.
The love of friends was necessary for any future love to blossom. The next form of love was for enemies. The hatred between the houses of Capulet and Montague was known throughout the town of Verona. Hatred had reached the lowest servants from each of the families.
Due to the hate, the relationship of Romeo and Juliet could never have been public. The feuding families would have condemned the relationship, something the two lovers could not accept. In Act 1, scene II, the fact that Romeo and his friends were uninvited, but still attended the Capulet's party, added to Tybalt's anger. Tybalt was the personification of hatred between the Capulet and Montague families.
Tybalt and Mercutio were always ready for a fight. The prince was sick of the fighting and said death would come to anyone from either house if they were caught fighting in public. However, both families still thought that they had to show superiority, and future fights because destined. The constant violence led to the accidental killing of Mercutio by Tybalt. In his last minutes Mercutio realized the immaturity of the families' feuds, when he said, "A plague o' both your houses!" (III. I. 90).
In a period of impulse and rage, Romeo took it upon himself to get revenge by killing Tybalt. This murder caused Romeo to be banished from Verona and separated from his love Juliet. Lastly, the most important type of love is love between lovers. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet were victims of Cupid's arrows. They were truly "star-crossed. " Juliet needed Romeo to get away from her overprotective parents who were planning her future.
If Juliet was going to disobey here parents, they would have disowned her. Ironically, at the party that Lord Capulet held so that Juliet could meet her projected husband, Paris, she met her future husband, Romeo. They met by chance, looking into each others eyes and instantly being attracted. The first conversation was sealed with a kiss. The meeting was regretted, however Romeo and Juliet knew a relationship would not be accepted with them being from feuding families. It was too late for them to turn back though, they had fallen in love.
When Juliet found out she had started to love Romeo, she did not change her feeling, she just said, "My only love sprung from only hate! Too early seen unknown, and too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me. That I must love a loathed enemy. " (I. V. 138 - 141). In an act of impulse, the two were secretly married by Friar Lawrence.
Romeo was soon ordered to be banished. In his last night in Verona, Romeo made love to Juliet. Juliet wished Romeo would not go even though it would be risking his life to be seen in the daylight. Her feelings were expressed when she said, "Yond light is not day-light, I know it. It is some meteor that the sun exhales. " (III. V. 13 - 14).
Romeo was exiled. The couple was so depressed after being separated, suicide was often contemplated. Juliet's father was being hasty and forced Juliet to marry Paris. Juliet saw her only option was to fake her death and wait for Romeo to return to her. On the eve of her wedding, Juliet drank a poison that made her appear to be dead. Romeo had not found out about the Friar's plan, so when he returned to Verona he thought his wife was dead.
He drank a poison that killed him. Juliet woke up soon after to find her husband dead. She stabbed herself. Suicide was the only way Romeo and Juliet could be together. Love will attach couples, families, and friends forever. It may also put people in precarious positions which will lead them to hurt others.
However, everyone is expected to take those chances in life much like the characters in Romeo and Juliet. The love for friends, love for enemies, and love between lovers may have led to this tragedy, but it was all for a greater good. The Capulet and Montague family have found the error in their ways and the stupidity in their fighting. It just took two teenagers to show them the light, much like teenagers can change adults ways of thinking today.
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Research essay sample on Human Struggle In Romeo And Juliet
