Romeo and Juliet Final Assignment 4/30/13

Romeo and Juliet Final Assignment

Question 3- How does the character (Romeo) develop and change in the story? What theme or message is shown through these changes?

            Sometimes love changes us and makes us into a different person we once were. This was the case in William Shakespeare’s play- Romeo and Juliet written in the 16^th century. Romeo, one of the main characters, meets his soul mate Juliet, and instantly transforms into a new person. He was gloomy at the beginning of the book, but as he met Juliet he suddenly became elated and peaceful. When Julia “died” Romeo becomes angry, furious and of course sad. Romeo develops throughout the story going from heart broken and in grief, to happy and joyful, to finally devastated as he could no longer see his love until the day she “passes away”.

            Romeo started off being troubled, heartbroken and even depressed. At the time he loved Rosaline who rejected him, which left poor Romeo abandoned and unloved. Romeo would wonder around the streets as hours felt long. He felt that no other girl could replace Rosaline’s beauty and he would be alone for the rest of his life. Romeo quotes- “A sick man in sadness makes his will- / A word ill urged to one that is so ill. / In sadness, cousin, [To Benvolio] I do love a women.” (Shakespeare 1.1. 210-213). The text evidence shows that Romeo feels like a “sick man in sadness”. He is so depressed that he feels ill, because of the women he loves.

            After his sad period, Romeo has a sudden change of heart when he meets Juliet, the love of his life. When Romeo saw Juliet and she saw him, it was love at first sight. They were made for each other. Romeo spontaneously forgets his sad emotions and becomes the happiest man alive. He becomes joyful and peppy as he found his soul mate and marries her. For example in Romeo and Juliet, Romeo says, “Amen, amen. But come what sorrow can, / It cannot countervail the exchange of joy / That one short minute gives me in her sight.” (Shakespeare 2.6. 3-5). Romeo is so deeply in love with Juliet that in one short minute he gets so much happiness and joy from just looking at her. The fact that he can marry and touch her makes Romeo so festive.

            Finally towards the end of the play, Romeo gets banished from Verona, therefore unable to see his love one. Already he feels troubled because of that. But on top, when Balthasar comes to Romeo and tells him Juliet is dead (Romeo was unaware that Juliet was alive but paralyzed with a potion- faking her death) Romeo become furious, angry and sad at the same time. He is devastated with the situation. The one girl that made him joyful is no longer alive. Romeo transforms into something more than sadness- revenge. For example when Romeo just finds out about Juliet’s situation, he quotes- “Is it e’en so?- Then I defy you, stars!- / Thou knowest my lodging. Get me [To Balthasar] ink and paper, / And hire post-horses. I will hence tonight.”(Shakespeare 5.1. 25-27). This clearly states that Romeo is mad at the world, for taking Juliet. It also shows that Romeo wants to hence Juliet’s death. Because Juliet is dead Romeo feels the need to die as consequence.

            Romeo changes extremely throughout the story. At first he is somber because Rosaline does not accept is love. Then Romeo meets Juliet and immediately becomes happy and excited with the world. Every minute he sees Juliet is the best in his life. But like they say every day has its dark, and after Romeo is banished and thinks Juliet is dead he becomes sad, angry and ferocious towards the world. Romeo should have cried out when Balthasar told him and waited a bit before doing anything idiotic, but if you find a soul mate perhaps feelings get more attached. But at their young age, Romeo and Juliet should have slowed things out before straight love and marriage, but maybe people did that back in the day. Romeo was sad, happy, and angry but how did Romeo feel just before death?