Love and Vengeance

For every story, playwright, or movie ever written, the ones that mostly catch our eye are the ones written about love and vengeance. Although there are many other genres of writing, people will find more joy in the stories of love and vengeance. What exactly draws one to be so intrigued by a tale of love and vengeance? Well, in keeping with tradition, even William Shakespeare's tale of Romeo and Juliet held a captivating audience as early as the sixteenth century. The context of the playwright is built on the furies of vengeance and the harsh reality of love in a brooding culture.

The aspects of both love and vengeance are ever-present in the playwright of Romeo and Juliet. The common outlook on the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet is that of heartfelt compassion and cathartic emotion. The anecdote opens with two popular families, the Montague's and the Capulet's, feuding in Verona. A young Romeo (Montague) has the intentions of sneaking into a masquerade ball to see Juliet's remarkable cousin Rosaline. Upon arriving, Romeo spots Juliet from afar and immediately confesses his love for her outside in the garden. With the help of the Friar, they decide to marry on impulse without anyone knowing. Tybalt, Juliet's cousin learns that Romeo is at the ball and has every intention of dueling Romeo. Romeo finds no reason to duel Tybalt, but his best friend Mercutio agrees to duel Tybalt. In the process, Mercutio is slain; in a rage of vengeance, Romeo slaughters Tybalt. Romeo is then banned from his home and from Juliet; Fearful for Romeo, Juliet seeks out the help of the Friar. He gives her potion that will make it appear that she is dead for forty-eight hours. Unfortunately, the plan to advise Romeo that it is only a trick fails, and he instantaneously purchases poison so that he can die next to her. He slays Paris, the man that Juliet was prearranged to marry outside of Juliet's tomb; Romeo quickly kisses Juliet and dies silently next to her. Tragically, Juliet awakes from her sleep to see Romeo dead next to her; she sees that the proposal went awfully awry and grabs Romeo's dagger to plunge it in her heart. The two families find the two dead and agree that their hostility must cease.

This bittersweet story appeals to me in ways that articles, television, and modern day entertainment cannot. Maybe my opinion is simply stated that I feel most for those that feel so much for someone else. The possibility that one can love another so instantly boggles my mind, and I have to wonder how Juliet can say, "god of her idolatry" (Shakespeare II.i.156). She inserts Romeo in the role of her God, and leaves all of her beliefs behind to fall in love with him. She, a Capulet was brazen enough to fall in love with the enemy of her family.

Shakespeare's intention here was to ensure that however trivial the feud between the families was, the relationship between Romeo and Juliet was pure, unrelenting, and authentic. Despite the differences of their families, Romeo and Juliet find instances to be together because their desire for one another exceeds their families' hatred towards each other.

In the aspect of being with the one you want, Shakespeare finds one person (besides the two lovers) who is willing to help the two succeed in their marriage; Friar Lawrence appears to be the only faithful person dedicated to seeing the two together. "Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use /Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse: /Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; /And vice sometime's by action dignified" (Shakespeare II.ii.17-22). The friar seems to want for them to be together so bad that the good of their relationship will inevitably turn out the goodness in their families'. Sadly enough, the friar seems to cause their downfall due to his excessive want for the happiness of the couple and, in turn, that of the families.

In a desperate attempt to win the battle against her mother, Juliet becomes enraged when her mother tells her of her father's compliance to promise her to Paris; she states, "I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear /It shall be Romeo-whom you know I hate- /Rather than Paris" (Shakespeare III.v.121-123). Her father becomes outraged at his disinclination to obey him; she fearlessly combats her father's words of contempt. At this point, Shakespeare exhibits Juliet's venturing out into womanhood and independence; she becomes able to recognize her feelings and know exactly the choices she must make to have what she wants. This is a pivotal moment in the life of Juliet, and Shakespeare illustrates her development in such great contrast to the ignorant family that is withholding her from her future.

Perhaps the tragic perception that audiences and readers alike grasp from the play is that love and vengeance will always be dreadfully intertwined, but we will always be intrigued by the sentiments that are left behind. Why? Well, some might argue that love and vengeance are two of the most relatable qualities in the sense of human nature. Therefore, the fact that even the simplest tale of love and hate can arouse a sensation of liberation within the hearts and minds of many is just plain amazing. This is by far one of the most mind-blowing tragedies in the history of English Literature; the reality that two lovers could not escape their families, their names, or their love for one another is perhaps one of the greatest stories of love and vengeance ever conceived.