I personally think that the Love theme in the romance novel "Romeo and Juliet" is too cheesy. How can they be that in love after knowing each other for a night? They barely knew each other's names before they were declaring their deep love for one another. However, we do tend to see that sort of thing happen in the world today. Young people are often claiming to be "in love" when they're hardly old enough to know what love is.
- Barbra Smith
37 years, Albany, New York
0ne of the main themes in "Romeo and Juliet" has got to be Love and Hate. Both of these themes are shown so strongly throughout the play, and I feel they apply to us in real life as well. Specifically in the feud between the two families, Capulet and Montague. There is so much hate between these families that they can't even stand being in each other's presence. They judge everyone too quickly, and have an idea in their mind that anyone who is from the other family is cruel and evil. However at the end of the play, both families realize that they were wrong through their children's deaths. I believe that through this story, Shakespeare teaches a very clear message of how we should not hold grudges and hate people like these two families did.
- Albert Brown
41 years, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Romeo and Juliet has got to be one of my all time favorite books. I just love the way Shakespeare writes, and how he is able to incorperate so many themes and ideas through his writing. Love and Hate is one of these main topics. I like how there is such a contrast between the Love and the Hate, how two people can love each other so much, and yet, come from the very two families who despise each other. It is clever that he chose Love and Hate as one of his main themes because of how well it relates to us in the real world. It is a very common theme which gets taught not only in Christianity, but many other religions and households as well. Shakespeare is touching in on a subject that nearly everyone can relate to.
- Joanne Suthers
26 years, Journalist for "Daily
News" in Florida
I have always had a love/hate relationship with "Romeo & Juliet" (no pun intended). I love the overall story line and the suspense it brings, but there have always been a few themes I disagree with. When Romeo and Juliet decide to run away and have a secret marriage, it is almost like Shakespeare is giving young teenagers the idea that they are allowed to disobey their parents if it's "all in the name of love". He may also be putting the idea of suicide into their minds when Romeo and Juliet decide that they would rather die than live without the other. In my opinion it is all a bit too dramatic.
- Stella Witherton
44 years, Burbank, California
READER'S RESPONSE
This Week's Topic:
Love & Hate in Romeo & Juliet
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