THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET: BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

 "Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, 

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. "

(Prologue, Lines 1-4)      

      From the very first lines of his play "Romeo and Juliet," William Shakespeare brings up one very important theme, hate. The Capulet household and Montague household have been sworn enemies. No one knows why they detest each other, but it has always been that way, and both households seem to want to keep it that way. So when Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague fall in love, the hostility between both families kept them part. This hate that both households have created have caused all sort of afflictions, including rebellion, death, and uncertainty. 

      From the beginning of the play, Romeo and Juliet both know that their love is forbidden. But they decide that their love for each other is greater that their loyalty towards their families and decide to elope. By doing so, Romeo and Juliet are rebelling, not just against their parent, but against society.  Juliet knows that her cousin, Tybalt, profoundly hates all Montages. From the very first act of the play we know that. "What, drawn and talk of peace? But I hate the word. As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee." (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 71-73.) She knows that her father has intended for her to marry the Count Paris, and would never let her even go near a Montague. She know that Paris believes that she loves him; and she lies saying that she does. "Do not deny to him [Friar Lawrence] that you love me." "I will confess to you that I love him." (Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 25-26.) Romeo makes everyone believe that he loves another girl, Rosaline. Perhaps if the two households didn't hate each other so much, Romeo wouldn't feel the need to lie and rebel as much. 

      The Prologue also tells us that these pair of star-crossed lovers also are going to die. And the hate caused it. "Where be these enemies?-Capulet, Motague, See what a scourge is lad upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love, And I for winking at your discords too, Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished." (Act 5, Scene 3, Lines 301-305.) Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, and the Prince's relative end up getting killed because of this. He got killed for his love for Romeo and his hate for the Capulets. The readers know that Mercutio is in favor of the Montagues because he insult and embarrass Tybalt. "O calm, dishonorable vile submission! Alla stoccato carries it away. tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?" Although Romeo, nor Juliet did hate each others families, they ended up getting killed because of the hate that their relatives had for each other. 

      During this whole process of secrecy, Romeo and Juliet never had the chance to ponder on getting into an argument. (Probably because they are to worried about having a forbidden love affair.) But they did have the chance to have doubt and uncertainty not just about their relationship, but of the whole situation. After Romeo killed Tybalt, someone that Juliet loved dearly, she began to think more of what Romeo's character might really be like. " Shall I speak ill of him thai is my husband? ... But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband." (Act 3, Scene 2, 106. 110-111.) Juliet is confused and doesn't know wether she should be relieved that Tybalt was killed instead of Romeo or if she should hate Romeo's soul for killing her cousin and friend.  Meanwhile, Romeo has given up hope of living because he has been banished from Verona and beyond Verona's walls there is nothing to survive on. He is uncertain of what to do next, he also doesn't know his current situation with Juliet.  He is afraid that she will be mad at him for killing her favorite cousin. 

     It would be very interesting to find out what would have happened if Romeo and Juliet didn't have to worry about the hate between their two families. Would their relationship be easier? Probably, they wouldn't have to worry about secretly dating, and rebelling behind their parents back. They wouldn't have to worry about their friends and relatives getting killed because of some feud. And they wouldn't have to worry about wether betraying their friend and families was worth the risk of this relationship. Finally, they wouldn't have to worry about dieing because of the hate their families have with each other.