“And they all lived happily ever after” – This might have been the last sentence of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet every other night back in the 18th century. We cannot be sure how theatre companies went about the happy ending of the so “[…] called greatest love story ever told” (Davies, 2001, p. 397) but scholars state that the plays blending of comedic and tragic elements has sometimes encouraged theatres to let their love couple live (cf. Smith, 2012, p. 158; McAllindon, 1991, p. 60).
This raises the question why Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet had to die, which can be answered in several ways. The paper is going to explore three different reasons: the (seemingly) inevitable fate of the “star-crossed lovers” (Prologue, 6), the danger of immature love and the feud with its consequences for society, family, and coming of age. Ultimately the paper will try to find out what Shakespeare might have wanted to tell his audience and how his messages are conveyed by recent film adaptations.
First of all it will be looked at the play’s history, the societal environment during its emergence and Shakespeare’s religious background which are of utmost importance to interpret the author’s ideas. Afterwards all three previously mentioned reasons for the couple’s death will be illustrated and analyzed. In conclusion the paper is going to argue that the play is an example of a man-made tragedy which had to end badly in order to open the audience’s eyes to the goings-on around them. Finally two film adaptations will be looked at in some detail, mainly concentrating on their endings and their justification for it.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 The play
1.2. Shakespeare’s religious background
1.3. Shakespearean Tragedy
2. Fate
3. Religion
4. Immature Love
5. Coming of Age
6. The feud, its initiators and the effects of a patriarchal society
7. Conclusion
8. Cinematic Realization
8.1 West Side Story
8.2 Romeo + Juliet
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper investigates the multifaceted reasons behind the tragic deaths of the protagonists in William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". Moving beyond the traditional reading of inevitable fate, the research explores how the characters' immature love, the influence of religious structures, and, most centrally, the stifling impact of a patriarchal, feuding society contribute to the play's tragic conclusion. By analyzing the text and contrasting it with modern cinematic adaptations, the study argues that the play serves as a critique of social structures that suppress the younger generation.
- The role of "fate" versus individual agency in the protagonists' decisions.
- The influence of 16th-century religious background and the Church on the narrative.
- The portrayal of "immature love" and the struggle for autonomy among youth.
- The systemic effects of a patriarchal, feud-driven society on individual identity.
- Comparison of tragic outcomes in the original play versus "West Side Story" and Baz Luhrmann’s "Romeo + Juliet".
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6. The feud, its initiators and the effects of a patriarchal society
The overall theme of the play is the feud between the two houses of Capulets and Montagues (cf. Dillon, 2007, p. 43). It determines not only everyday family life but also social activities and it reveals the patriarchic structure of life in Verona (cf. Snyder, 1996, pp. 87-88). The prologue tells us that the feud originated between the male leaders of the two houses years ago and that noboy really knows anymore what it is really about.
Despite their age Old Montague and Old Capulet act very fast and irrational when they enter the first scene of the play, calling for their swords without even knowing what the fight between Tybalt and Benvolio is about. Seeing each other seems to be troubling for the old men and to reopen old sores. They do not act like common old men but with an apparent show of eagerness and precipitancy (Coleridge, 1813, p. 36). They are very focused on each other and despite the noise they do not really seem to notice the other men fighting around them anymore (1.1.71-75). What started as a playing around of peers might have easily turned into a fight of life and death if the prince and his officers had not parted the hotheads. From this scene both men appear to be stubborn and set in their way of hating each other. A peaceful solution to their problems does not seem to be possible at least not any time soon, the feud has been going on too long.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the central question of why Romeo and Juliet had to die and outlines the methodological approach, including historical context and film analysis.
2. Fate: Analyzes how fate is employed in the play, suggesting it serves more as a stylistic device to convey helplessness rather than an uncontrollable supernatural force.
3. Religion: Examines the role of Friar Laurence and the Church, concluding that institutional influence is insufficient to overcome the deep-seated societal violence of the feud.
4. Immature Love: Discusses the protagonists' youth and emotional volatility, arguing that their love is not inherently "wrong" but rather destroyed by their surrounding environment.
5. Coming of Age: Explores how the patriarchal structure of Verona, fueled by the feud, prevents the youth from establishing independent identities separate from their houses.
6. The feud, its initiators and the effects of a patriarchal society: Argues that the male leaders’ stubborn adherence to tradition and violence is the root cause of the tragedy, stifling the potential for peace.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes that the play is a critique of a self-destructive patriarchal society that suffocates the younger generation's chances for happiness and autonomy.
8. Cinematic Realization: Compares how "West Side Story" and "Romeo + Juliet" recontextualize the original story to emphasize modern social issues like immigration, media culture, and human weakness.
Keywords
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Tragedy, Fate, Patriarchy, Feud, Immature Love, Coming of Age, Verona, Friar Laurence, West Side Story, Baz Luhrmann, Social critique, Youth, Adaptations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on identifying the underlying reasons for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, specifically moving away from the fatalistic "star-crossed" interpretation toward a social critique of the patriarchal society in Verona.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The key themes include the impact of the feud, the role of religion, the transition into adulthood (coming of age), and the nature of love within a restrictive social environment.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks why Shakespeare’s characters had to die and whether their deaths were caused by external fate or by the destructive dynamics of the patriarchal society in which they lived.
Which academic methods does the author utilize?
The author uses a textual analysis of the play in conjunction with historical context and a comparative study of two specific film adaptations to evaluate how the message of the tragedy is conveyed across different media.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the influence of fate, the failures of religious figures, the impact of the family feud on adolescent growth, and concludes with a look at how cinematic adaptations like West Side Story and Luhrmann's version interpret these same conflicts.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as patriarchy, feud, coming of age, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespearean tragedy, and cinematic adaptation.
How does the paper differentiate between the "fate" of the lovers and their own choices?
The paper argues that while the play references fate to create a sense of inevitability, the characters remain in control of their actions and choices, suggesting that their tragedy is ultimately man-made.
What role does the patriarchal structure play in the protagonists' demise?
The patriarchal structure forces the youth to define themselves solely through their families' hatred, denying them the space to form their own identities and resolve conflicts peacefully, which ultimately leads to their destruction.
Why is the cinematic comparison relevant to the study?
Comparing the film adaptations highlights that the "tragedy" can be interpreted differently depending on the societal context, such as shifting the cause of conflict from family feuds to gang rivalry or postmodern social confusion.
- Quote paper
- Anika Kehl (Author), 2013, Why William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" had to die, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/279031
