Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespearean classic that is widely considered to be timeless and universal - a quality that is attained through the strong values, themes, language techniques and characterisations of the play. The themes that are presented in the play revolve around love, hate, death & violence which contribute in a major way to intensify the plot and drama of the play. Other themes include the individual versus society, and the certainty of fate. Shakespeare adopts many techniques, including first person, emotive language, symbolism, foreshadowing and dramatic irony to deliver a strong and powerful effect on the responder. The play is set around two main characters, Romeo & Juliet, who are involved in an intense and passionate relationship without the approval of their feuding families. Romeo and Juliet has affected people across many generations on a number of levels, including physically and emotionally – leading to the universal and timeless quality of the play.
Love is the central theme throughout the play. Shakespeare is able to draw attention to this theme through the main characters, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love at first sight. The love between Romeo and Juliet does not diminish; rather it gets stronger as the play progresses. A strong example of their love for each other is shown in the balcony scene where Romeo and Juliet profess their love for each other and swear to marry each other the following day.
“My love as deep. The more I give thee, the more I have, for both are infinite”.
This quote expresses the extent to which Juliet loves Romeo, and her love for him is boundless.
Another theme that is incorporated into the play is Hate. This hate is born from the rivalry and feuding that exists between the families of Romeo and Juliet. This idea of hate is linked to the love between Romeo and Juliet, as can be seen from the following quote by Juliet:
“My only love sprung from my only hate”.
This quote