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 16th 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?
