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Social Boundaries In Romeo And Juliet

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In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare presents a story that provides many suspects as to who ultimately causes the disastrous suicide of the two young lovers. Despite being a grown man, Romeo is depicted as someone who is exceedingly unstable, dramatic and even impetuous in times of emotional distress. As a result of Romeo acting before he thinks, he tends to have a disregard for social boundaries. In Romeo’s relationships, he rejects the social standards at the time. Romeo’s disregard for established social boundaries in relationships, ultimately leads to the deaths of the lovers because Romeo adores Rosaline, a Capulet, goes to a Capulet party, and marries Juliet, who is also a Capulet. Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline are…show more content…
Although Romeo is aware of the feud, he ignores the fact that if a Capulet finds a Montague at the party it will reignite the feud. For example, When Tybalt, a Capulet finds out that Romeo, a Montague is at the party he reacts by challenging Romeo to a duel, which results in Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment. Also at the Capulet party, Romeo forgets about Rosaline and when he sees Juliet. After looking at Juliet once he falls deeply in love with her, disregarding her name of Capulet. Romeo describes this feeling of love at first sight when he says, “Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night. Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear, Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear” (Rom.1.5.42-45). Many of Romeo’s problems originate at the Capulet party because this is where he meets Juliet and is spotted by Tybalt, an enemy. Romeo and Juliet meeting at the party is only the start of a tragic ending, which ultimately ends in both of their…show more content…
The marriage between Romeo and Juliet ultimately causes their demise and is foreshadowed in the prologue “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, Doth with their death bury their parents' strife” (Rom. 0.0.5-8). Immediately after Romeo and Juliet marry, death and banishment follow. As a result of their marriage, Tybalt’s anger from Romeo’s attendance at the Capulet party resurfaces. Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel that leads to the banishment of Romeo and his and Mercutio’s death. As a result of Romeo’s banishment, there is a flaw in the plan that Friar and Juliet develop to reunite the lovers. There is a miscommunication between the Friar and Romeo when Romeo comes back to Verona to find Juliet dead rather than learning the details from Friar’s letter which never got to him. After seeing Juliet’s corpse, Romeo drinks a deadly poison moments before Juliet wakes up. When Juliet sees that Romeo is dead she proceeds to stab herself with a dagger. Romeo’s marriage to Juliet is ultimately caused by his disregard for social boundaries. Thus, the marriage of Romeo and Juliet leads to his banishment and results in his and his lover’s suicide. Therefore, it is not anyone in the story other than Romeo himself, who is the main cause of him and his lover’s
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