Love Obedience Duty in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
...d in that vow Do I live dead that live to tell it now”) although this changes when he see Juliet. Juliet appears to be obedient and loyal to her family, promising to give Paris a chance (Act I Scene III Lines 97-99: “I’ll look to like…Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.”), until her love of Romeo tears her loyalties apart. It is not only this type of love (romantic) that this play explores. Loves such as dutiful love is displayed through Paris, who loves Juliet dutifully while Juliet is expected to do so to Paris (Paris shows this in Act V Scene III, bringing flowers to Juliet’s grave). Conditional love is shows through Juliet’s parents, who arrange her marriage, seemingly unjust, but arguably with her best interests at heart (Act III Scene IV Lines 12-17: “Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender Of my child’s love…on Wednesday next”). The friendship between Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo is another example of love that leads to events in the play. For instance, the death of Mercutio leads Romeo to seek revenge for his death (Act III Scene I Lines 122-129: “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain…Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.”). The fatherly relationship Friar Laurence and Romeo share can be a reason for the friar’s involvement in the play. Love connects the characters of the play to one another as they share some form of love in some way for another person. Love thus plays a significant role in the play. Obedience is a key theme in the play although it is less wide spread across characters. This theme is mostly relevant towards Juliet but it can be applied to Romeo as well. The issue of family honour versus personal gain is brought up by the way Juliet is required to listen to her father and marry Paris although she is in love with Romeo (Act III Scene V Lines 120-123: “I pray you, tell my lord and father…These are news indeed!”). The same can be applied to Romeo and his father. The two lovers are compelled to take their families side in this “civil brawl” and cannot be together. Thus, this theme provides the play with the complication and can therefore be said to be important. The theme of duty is one of great significance. Most characters belong to either the Montague or Capulet household so the theme is tied in. The idea presented is that one has a duty to follow the beliefs and values of your family even though you do not believe in them. Romeo is one such case. This is an important issue addressed, as Shakespeare could be satirical of society in this manner. Romeo and Juliet are able to break away from this and love one another even though they know it would not be approved of. This is a vital point in the play (Act II Scene II). Another form of duty is similar to obed...