Power In Romeo And Juliet
In the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, two families, the Capulets and the Montagues, have a strong hatred for each other. In the beginning of the play, people learn that Romeo Montague had his heart broken by a woman named Rosaline. Later, he met Juliet at a party and they fell in love. A few moments later they found out that their families were rivals, but they didn’t care because they wanted to be with each other. So the following day, Juliet insisted that they get married and so they did. They went to Friar Lawrence, the priest, and even though he didn’t want to go through with it, he believed that the marriage might have brought the families together. Later, Juliet’s father forced her to marry
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a Prince but Juliet refused so she faked her own death. Once Juliet was in the tomb, Romeo went to see her and he killed himself to be with her. Juliet then woke up and saw that Romeo was dead and then she killed herself as well. At the end of the play, the Capulet and Montague families settle their differences and come together. There were many examples of power in the play and how it affected people. The most obvious example of power was that the Capulets and Montagues hatred toward each other ended with the death of Romeo and Juliet. In the book version of the play, it said, “CHORUS. Two households, both alike in dignity. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,” (Romeo and Juliet. Prologue.1.1-6). What the chorus is saying is that because the two families hated each other, Romeo and Juliet knew that they couldn’t get be together without the consent of their parents; however, they still got married. The fact that Romeo and Juliet knew that their families wouldn’t allow them to be together was enough to convince them to kill themselves. In the play, it said, “PRINCE. Where be these enemies?--Capulet, Montague, see what a scourge is laid upon your hate,” (Romeo and Juliet.5.3.301-302). In this scene, the prince tells both families that the reason Romeo and Juliet died was because of the families hatred toward each other. The power that forbid Romeo and Juliet’s love was the family's hatred. Both the Montagues and the Capulets had the power to keep them away from each other, but it was that same power that led to their tragic death. Overall, this was one of the biggest examples of power that stayed throughout the whole book.
Another example of power in Romeo and Juliet is Friar Lawrence’s decision of marrying Romeo and Juliet. In the book, it said, “ROMEO. Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set on the fair daughter of rich Capulet. As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine. And all combined, save what thou must combine by holy marriage,” (Romeo and Juliet.2.3.61-65). In this quote, Romeo is explaining to Friar Lawrence that he loves Juliet and asks him if he’ll marry them. Friar Lawrence wasn’t going to marry them because he knew he would get in trouble with the two families. In the book, it said, “FRIAR LAWRENCE. But come, young waverer, come, go with me. In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love,” (Romeo and Juliet 2.3.96-99). After thinking it over, Friar Lawrence decided to marry them because he thought it would bring both families closer together. Friar Lawrence could’ve not married them and that would’ve changed the entire story, but he did and he had the authority to make that decision. Friar Lawrence had power in this situation because he had the decision of whether or not to marry Romeo and Juliet, and his one decision could’ve changed the whole plot of the play. Overall, in this situation, Friar Lawrence controlled the power because it would’ve impacted what happened in the future. Another example of how power was used in Romeo and Juliet was Mercutio’s decision to fight with Tybalt which eventually ended in both their deaths. In the book, it said, “BENVOLIO. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot and the Capulets are abroad, if we meet we shall not ‘scape a brawl,” (Romeo and Juliet.3.1.1-3). Benvolio knew that Mercutio was bored and was looking for a fight. Benvolio tried to convince Mercutio to leave before the Capulets came because he knew that the consequence of fighting was execution. In the book, it said, “MERCUTIO. O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccato carries it away. Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” (Romeo and Juliet.3.1.74-76). In this scene, Tybalt wanted to fight with Romeo but he refused; therefore, Mercutio, being bored, decided to step up and fight with Tybalt. Mercutio taunted Tybalt until Tybalt finally decided to fight with him. They fought and Tybalt stabbed Mercutio. Later, Romeo fought with Tybalt and killed him. All of it could’ve been avoided, but it was in Mercutio’s power to overrule Benvolio’s decision and stay. Finally, in this situation, Mercutio controlled the power because his decision to stay lead to his death. The last example of power in Romeo and Juliet was Juliet’s disobedience to her father’s wishes and her role in her relationship with Romeo. In the book, it said,
LADY CAPULET. Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn. The Gallant, young, and noble gentlemen, the County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church shall make thee there a joyful bride. JULIET. Now, by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too, he shall not make me there a joyful bride! I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo (Romeo and Juliet.3.5.117-126)
In this scene, Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother, has given her the news that her father will have her marry Paris. Juliet refuses to accept her father’s wishes and tells her mother that she’d rather marry Romeo. In the book, it said, “If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, by one that I’ll procure to come to thee,” (Romeo and Juliet.2.2.150-152). In this scene, Juliet was the one that proposed marriage and Romeo agreed to it. Juliet showed power in her relationship with her dad by refusing to marry Paris. She also showed power in her relationship with Romeo by proposing marriage after only one day of knowing Romeo. Overall, in both situations, Juliet had power by refusing to marry Paris and proposing marriage to Romeo. In the book The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, Machiavelli explains principalities, and how they’re obtained, how they are lost, and he gives advice on how to keep them. In the book, Machiavelli wrote, “On acquiring states accustomed to living in freedom under their own laws, there are three courses open; to ruin them, to reside there in person, or to permit them freedom under a friendly oligarchy drawing a tribute. He who would keep a formerly free city will hold it more easily by means of its own citizens” (Machiavelli). What Machiavelli is saying is that in order for a prince to obtain a state that is accustomed to living by their own rules, there are only three options: to destroy the states, stay there as a person, or let them live as a democracy. In this example, power is what is keeping everything at peace among the ruler and the people. It impacts people in a positive way because the people can live freely and they can express their opinions. In this situation, the people would control the power because they have a say in what goes. In the book, it said, “A prince may rise from a private station either by wickedness, or by the favour of his fellow-citizens. Injuries ought to be done all at once, so that, being tasted less, the offend less. Benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer” (Machiavelli). What Machiavelli is saying is that a prince can rise to power by being cruel to his people, and if he’s going to be cruel, he should do it quick so that it won’t affect them as much, but if he’s going to give them benefits, he should do it little by little so that the effect lasts longer. In this example, power is what keeps the people afraid and under control. It impacts the people in a negative way because they have to endure cruelty and sometimes death. In this situation, power controls the people because it controls how they act. In conclusion, in The Prince, Machiavelli shows that power can control people or people can control power depending on how a prince rises or acquires states. In the book Meditations, written by Marcus Aurelius, Aurelius explains what he learned from parents, friends, masters by their good examples, advice, and counsel. In the book, he wrote, “Every man has three relations to acquit himself in; his body, God, and his neighbours. Have you ever seen a hand or a foot cut off and removed from the body? Just such a thing is the man who is discontented with destiny or cuts himself off by selfishness from the interest of mankind. But here is the fortunate aspect of the case - it lies in his power to set the limb on again” (Aurelius). What Aurelius is saying is that there are three mandatory things that a man must acquit himself in which are his body, God, and his neighbors; therefore, if a man removes one of these things, it lies in his power to acquit himself in it again. In this situation, the man has control over power because he holds the power to “re-attach the limb.” In the book, Aurelius wrote, “Do not spend your thoughts upon other people, nor pry into the talk, fancies and projects of another, nor guess at what he is about, or why he is doing it” (Aurelius). What Aurelius is saying is that one should not worry about what others are doing and instead worry about yourself. In this situation, the man has control over power because he has to make the decision to just worry about himself. Overall, in Meditations, Aurelius says that people control power to better themselves and their lives. In the book The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu, Sun Tzu explains the tactics and stratagem of war. In the book, he wrote, “The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger” (Sun Tzu). Sun Tzu explains that the art of war is governed by five factors, The Moral Law being on of them. In this example, power is what keeps the people under the ruler’s control. Power impacts the people in a negative way because they have to follow their ruler even if it leads to death. The power controls the people because they have to be in complete accord with their ruler. In the book, he wrote, “The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness” (Sun Tzu). Power is what makes the commander follow the virtues. Power has a positive impact on the commander because he’s following good virtues rather than negative ones. In this case, power controls the person because it is necessary for the commander to follow the virtues. In conclusion, in The Art of War, Sun Tzu shows that power controls people when they are overruled and power can control a person when it is their job to follow virtues. In Political Conflict in the Italian City States, written by Lauro Martines, Martines explains political opposition between Italian states and how it led to bad things.
In the book, he wrote, “Political Opposition in Italian city states was not for men who valued themselves more than they valued politics. Exile or loss of life and property were too often the penalties” (Martines 69). What Martines is saying is that people who cared about themselves more than politics were punished by being banished or losing their property. Power is what makes the people who agree with political opposition be exiled. This has a negative effect on the people because they can be exiled or lose their property for agreeing with that concept. Power controls the people because if they agree with political opposition they’ll lose their property. In the book, it said, “When a local group of men, usually eminent or powerful nobles and cives, formed a sworn association, putting in commune their feudal jurisdictions and prerogatives, they consolidated their control over a sizeable and expanding portion of the public power in a given territory” (Martines). What Martines is saying is that when a group of men got together, they could control a large portion of a public power. Power is what the men used to control the group of people. This has a negative impact on the people because they are being controlled instead of having freedom. In this situation, the people control the power because the group of men is using power to control the other group of people. Overall, in Political Conflict in the Italian City States, Martines shows that power controls people when it comes to being exiled and that people control power when it comes to taking control over a group of
people. In the article The Italian Wars, written by Ellis L. Knox, Knox explains the traumatic wars in Italy that led to its political situation. In the article, it said, “Louis XII and Francis I both took a turn at invading Italy, with varying success, followed by an especially devastating invasion by Emperor Charles V, who threw out the French but only at the expense of bringing in the Spanish” (Knox). Power is the large armies that Louis XII, Francis I, and Emperor Charles all used to invade Italy. The power had a negative impact on the people of Italy because they feared the fact that they could get invaded at any moment. In this situation, the power controlled the people of Italy because they were invaded. In the article, it said, “ Invasion entered Italy in September 1494 at the head of 30,000 troops, including Swiss pikemen and Scottish archers and a huge train of artillery, plus a large fleet providing support and supplies” (Knox). Power was the artillery, archers, troops, supplies, and support that the Roman Empire of Spain used to invade Italy. The power had a negative impact on the people of Italy because Spain had a huge army which ended up killing many of the people in Italy. In this situation, it went both ways, the army controlled the power, and the power controlled the people of Italy by the use of fear. In summary, in The Italian Wars, Knox emphasized that power was both controlled and in control.
Given these points, one can see that although power is abstract, it is everywhere and it is very strong. Power is the ability to do something, so in reality, everyone has power. One might have more power than others and that’s why sometimes power controls people. It always depends on your position in a situation that determines whether you control power, or power controls you. Power can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who has more of it. Sometimes it has a positive effect on people or sometimes it has a bad effect on people, it really depends on where you stand. In conclusion, power can be confusing because sometimes it is in control and other times it is controlled, but it always has an impact on people.
a Prince but Juliet refused so she faked her own death. Once Juliet was in the tomb, Romeo went to see her and he killed himself to be with her. Juliet then woke up and saw that Romeo was dead and then she killed herself as well. At the end of the play, the Capulet and Montague families settle their differences and come together. There were many examples of power in the play and how it affected people. The most obvious example of power was that the Capulets and Montagues hatred toward each other ended with the death of Romeo and Juliet. In the book version of the play, it said, “CHORUS. Two households, both alike in dignity. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,” (Romeo and Juliet. Prologue.1.1-6). What the chorus is saying is that because the two families hated each other, Romeo and Juliet knew that they couldn’t get be together without the consent of their parents; however, they still got married. The fact that Romeo and Juliet knew that their families wouldn’t allow them to be together was enough to convince them to kill themselves. In the play, it said, “PRINCE. Where be these enemies?--Capulet, Montague, see what a scourge is laid upon your hate,” (Romeo and Juliet.5.3.301-302). In this scene, the prince tells both families that the reason Romeo and Juliet died was because of the families hatred toward each other. The power that forbid Romeo and Juliet’s love was the family's hatred. Both the Montagues and the Capulets had the power to keep them away from each other, but it was that same power that led to their tragic death. Overall, this was one of the biggest examples of power that stayed throughout the whole book.
Another example of power in Romeo and Juliet is Friar Lawrence’s decision of marrying Romeo and Juliet. In the book, it said, “ROMEO. Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set on the fair daughter of rich Capulet. As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine. And all combined, save what thou must combine by holy marriage,” (Romeo and Juliet.2.3.61-65). In this quote, Romeo is explaining to Friar Lawrence that he loves Juliet and asks him if he’ll marry them. Friar Lawrence wasn’t going to marry them because he knew he would get in trouble with the two families. In the book, it said, “FRIAR LAWRENCE. But come, young waverer, come, go with me. In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love,” (Romeo and Juliet 2.3.96-99). After thinking it over, Friar Lawrence decided to marry them because he thought it would bring both families closer together. Friar Lawrence could’ve not married them and that would’ve changed the entire story, but he did and he had the authority to make that decision. Friar Lawrence had power in this situation because he had the decision of whether or not to marry Romeo and Juliet, and his one decision could’ve changed the whole plot of the play. Overall, in this situation, Friar Lawrence controlled the power because it would’ve impacted what happened in the future. Another example of how power was used in Romeo and Juliet was Mercutio’s decision to fight with Tybalt which eventually ended in both their deaths. In the book, it said, “BENVOLIO. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot and the Capulets are abroad, if we meet we shall not ‘scape a brawl,” (Romeo and Juliet.3.1.1-3). Benvolio knew that Mercutio was bored and was looking for a fight. Benvolio tried to convince Mercutio to leave before the Capulets came because he knew that the consequence of fighting was execution. In the book, it said, “MERCUTIO. O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccato carries it away. Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” (Romeo and Juliet.3.1.74-76). In this scene, Tybalt wanted to fight with Romeo but he refused; therefore, Mercutio, being bored, decided to step up and fight with Tybalt. Mercutio taunted Tybalt until Tybalt finally decided to fight with him. They fought and Tybalt stabbed Mercutio. Later, Romeo fought with Tybalt and killed him. All of it could’ve been avoided, but it was in Mercutio’s power to overrule Benvolio’s decision and stay. Finally, in this situation, Mercutio controlled the power because his decision to stay lead to his death. The last example of power in Romeo and Juliet was Juliet’s disobedience to her father’s wishes and her role in her relationship with Romeo. In the book, it said,
LADY CAPULET. Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn. The Gallant, young, and noble gentlemen, the County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church shall make thee there a joyful bride. JULIET. Now, by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too, he shall not make me there a joyful bride! I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo (Romeo and Juliet.3.5.117-126)
In this scene, Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother, has given her the news that her father will have her marry Paris. Juliet refuses to accept her father’s wishes and tells her mother that she’d rather marry Romeo. In the book, it said, “If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, by one that I’ll procure to come to thee,” (Romeo and Juliet.2.2.150-152). In this scene, Juliet was the one that proposed marriage and Romeo agreed to it. Juliet showed power in her relationship with her dad by refusing to marry Paris. She also showed power in her relationship with Romeo by proposing marriage after only one day of knowing Romeo. Overall, in both situations, Juliet had power by refusing to marry Paris and proposing marriage to Romeo. In the book The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, Machiavelli explains principalities, and how they’re obtained, how they are lost, and he gives advice on how to keep them. In the book, Machiavelli wrote, “On acquiring states accustomed to living in freedom under their own laws, there are three courses open; to ruin them, to reside there in person, or to permit them freedom under a friendly oligarchy drawing a tribute. He who would keep a formerly free city will hold it more easily by means of its own citizens” (Machiavelli). What Machiavelli is saying is that in order for a prince to obtain a state that is accustomed to living by their own rules, there are only three options: to destroy the states, stay there as a person, or let them live as a democracy. In this example, power is what is keeping everything at peace among the ruler and the people. It impacts people in a positive way because the people can live freely and they can express their opinions. In this situation, the people would control the power because they have a say in what goes. In the book, it said, “A prince may rise from a private station either by wickedness, or by the favour of his fellow-citizens. Injuries ought to be done all at once, so that, being tasted less, the offend less. Benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer” (Machiavelli). What Machiavelli is saying is that a prince can rise to power by being cruel to his people, and if he’s going to be cruel, he should do it quick so that it won’t affect them as much, but if he’s going to give them benefits, he should do it little by little so that the effect lasts longer. In this example, power is what keeps the people afraid and under control. It impacts the people in a negative way because they have to endure cruelty and sometimes death. In this situation, power controls the people because it controls how they act. In conclusion, in The Prince, Machiavelli shows that power can control people or people can control power depending on how a prince rises or acquires states. In the book Meditations, written by Marcus Aurelius, Aurelius explains what he learned from parents, friends, masters by their good examples, advice, and counsel. In the book, he wrote, “Every man has three relations to acquit himself in; his body, God, and his neighbours. Have you ever seen a hand or a foot cut off and removed from the body? Just such a thing is the man who is discontented with destiny or cuts himself off by selfishness from the interest of mankind. But here is the fortunate aspect of the case - it lies in his power to set the limb on again” (Aurelius). What Aurelius is saying is that there are three mandatory things that a man must acquit himself in which are his body, God, and his neighbors; therefore, if a man removes one of these things, it lies in his power to acquit himself in it again. In this situation, the man has control over power because he holds the power to “re-attach the limb.” In the book, Aurelius wrote, “Do not spend your thoughts upon other people, nor pry into the talk, fancies and projects of another, nor guess at what he is about, or why he is doing it” (Aurelius). What Aurelius is saying is that one should not worry about what others are doing and instead worry about yourself. In this situation, the man has control over power because he has to make the decision to just worry about himself. Overall, in Meditations, Aurelius says that people control power to better themselves and their lives. In the book The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu, Sun Tzu explains the tactics and stratagem of war. In the book, he wrote, “The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger” (Sun Tzu). Sun Tzu explains that the art of war is governed by five factors, The Moral Law being on of them. In this example, power is what keeps the people under the ruler’s control. Power impacts the people in a negative way because they have to follow their ruler even if it leads to death. The power controls the people because they have to be in complete accord with their ruler. In the book, he wrote, “The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness” (Sun Tzu). Power is what makes the commander follow the virtues. Power has a positive impact on the commander because he’s following good virtues rather than negative ones. In this case, power controls the person because it is necessary for the commander to follow the virtues. In conclusion, in The Art of War, Sun Tzu shows that power controls people when they are overruled and power can control a person when it is their job to follow virtues. In Political Conflict in the Italian City States, written by Lauro Martines, Martines explains political opposition between Italian states and how it led to bad things.
In the book, he wrote, “Political Opposition in Italian city states was not for men who valued themselves more than they valued politics. Exile or loss of life and property were too often the penalties” (Martines 69). What Martines is saying is that people who cared about themselves more than politics were punished by being banished or losing their property. Power is what makes the people who agree with political opposition be exiled. This has a negative effect on the people because they can be exiled or lose their property for agreeing with that concept. Power controls the people because if they agree with political opposition they’ll lose their property. In the book, it said, “When a local group of men, usually eminent or powerful nobles and cives, formed a sworn association, putting in commune their feudal jurisdictions and prerogatives, they consolidated their control over a sizeable and expanding portion of the public power in a given territory” (Martines). What Martines is saying is that when a group of men got together, they could control a large portion of a public power. Power is what the men used to control the group of people. This has a negative impact on the people because they are being controlled instead of having freedom. In this situation, the people control the power because the group of men is using power to control the other group of people. Overall, in Political Conflict in the Italian City States, Martines shows that power controls people when it comes to being exiled and that people control power when it comes to taking control over a group of
people. In the article The Italian Wars, written by Ellis L. Knox, Knox explains the traumatic wars in Italy that led to its political situation. In the article, it said, “Louis XII and Francis I both took a turn at invading Italy, with varying success, followed by an especially devastating invasion by Emperor Charles V, who threw out the French but only at the expense of bringing in the Spanish” (Knox). Power is the large armies that Louis XII, Francis I, and Emperor Charles all used to invade Italy. The power had a negative impact on the people of Italy because they feared the fact that they could get invaded at any moment. In this situation, the power controlled the people of Italy because they were invaded. In the article, it said, “ Invasion entered Italy in September 1494 at the head of 30,000 troops, including Swiss pikemen and Scottish archers and a huge train of artillery, plus a large fleet providing support and supplies” (Knox). Power was the artillery, archers, troops, supplies, and support that the Roman Empire of Spain used to invade Italy. The power had a negative impact on the people of Italy because Spain had a huge army which ended up killing many of the people in Italy. In this situation, it went both ways, the army controlled the power, and the power controlled the people of Italy by the use of fear. In summary, in The Italian Wars, Knox emphasized that power was both controlled and in control.
Given these points, one can see that although power is abstract, it is everywhere and it is very strong. Power is the ability to do something, so in reality, everyone has power. One might have more power than others and that’s why sometimes power controls people. It always depends on your position in a situation that determines whether you control power, or power controls you. Power can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who has more of it. Sometimes it has a positive effect on people or sometimes it has a bad effect on people, it really depends on where you stand. In conclusion, power can be confusing because sometimes it is in control and other times it is controlled, but it always has an impact on people.