Romeo and Juliet - the role of hatred, not love

Essay by undela416Junior High, 9th gradeA+, May 2004

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Even though Romeo and Juliet is known as a love story, hate is shown in the play. Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, like today's world, shows the power hatred plays in our lives. In Shakespeare's play, the power of hate between two families, the Capulets and Monatgues, causes the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet their children. Hatred is also shown in the play when Mercutio and Tybalt lose their lives due to the family's hatred, and when Tybalt threatens to kill Romeo at the Capulet masque party.

Romeo and Juliet shows the power of hatred when Tybalt threatens to have Romeo killed at the Capulet masque party. At the masque party, Romeo was noticed by Tybalt. Tybalt told Capulet, but Capulet didn't want to ruin the party. Tybalt got mad when Capulet blew him off. He complains, "Patience perforce with willful choler meeting makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.

I will withdraw. But this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall." (I.V.86-89) This was a quote after Capulet paid no attention to Tybalt, and he threatened to dual with Romeo. Romeo has never fought in his life, but Tybalt was one of the best fighters in Verona. This was a problem for Romeo. Juliet's cousin didn't like him before they even met.

The play shows the extreme amount of hatred in the killing of Mercutio and Tybalt at the fight scene. Mercutio wasn't even involved in the fight between Tybalt and Romeo. He just stepped in because he wanted to defend his best friend. That caused his death. Romeo got so angry; the lover became a fighter and killed Tybalt in a duel. Tybalt said this to Romeo right before he fought. "Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him...