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Revolt Against Authority in Romeo And Juliet Essay

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Romeo and Juliet is a story of revolt against authority. Discuss.

Much of Romeo and Juliet involves the lovers struggles against public and social institutions that either explicitly or implicitly oppose the existence of their love. Such structures range from the concrete to the abstract; the evident adherence to kin, law and the desire for public order, the familial power of the father, the social importance placed on masculine honour and religion. These institutions would result as a battle between the responsibilities and actions demanded by social institutions and those demanded by the private desires of the individual.

Though they do not always work in concert, each of these societal institutions in some way present obstacles for Romeo and Juliet. The enmity between their families, coupled with the emphasis placed on loyalty and honor to kin, combine to create a profound conflict for Romeo and Juliet, who must rebel against their heritages. With evidence from one of Romeo and Juliets most famous line; O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? (II.ii.33), it is manifest that the ancient grudge serves to create a dramatic obstacle which demands the lovers to rue their roots and rebel against authority, in context of their families. This is expressed in a well-known phrase; Whats in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other word would smell as sweet; (II.ii.43-44).

The law and the emphasis on social civility demands terms of conduct with which the blind passion of love cannot comply. One of the first scenes of the play is a brawl between the servants of Capulet and Montague, perceived and scrutinized later on by the Prince Escalus. He interposes between the two houses and declares, If ever you disturb our streets again,/ Your lives shall pay the forfeit of peace. (I.i.86-87), implying that their hatred doesnt seem to have any rational cause it is simply the results of passions they refuse to restrain. This unsuppressed zeal that both houses hold over each other is one of the most evident example of rebellion against sovereignty, whether both houses are in cognizance or not.

Further, the patriarchal power structure inherent in Renaissance families, wherein the father controls the action of all other family members, particularly women, places Juliet in an extremely vulnerable position. In the event of the fulmination of Lord Capulet at Juliets demurral of Count Paris marriage proposal, the patriarchal authority is evident, with the statement of Lord Capulet; To go with Paris to Saint Peters Church,/ Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. (III.v.154-155). In an age of arranged marriages where women were commodities to be traded for the best price or alliance, Juliet is doing something utterly extraordinary. As her heart, in her familys mind, is not hers to give.

The maintenance of masculine honor forces characters to commit actions they would prefer to avoid. But the social emphasis placed on masculine honour is so profound that they cannot simply ignore them. An instance would be the brawl before the death of Mercutio; O calm dishonourable, vile submission!/ Alla stoccata carries it away./ Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk? (III.i.70-73). The corroboration of Romeo by Mercutio is a form of masculine honour, which soon follows with another. Alive in triumph and Mercutio slain!/ Away to heaven, respective lenity,/ And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. (III.i.84-84) Two men were slain as a result for their masculine principles exerted, Mercutio and Tybalt. Had there been no feud, these deaths would not have occurred.

Religion similarly demands priorities that Romeo and Juliet cannot abide by because of the intensity of their love. In other situations, the Elizabethans, with their Christian background of thought would have regarded the lovers as guilty sinners rather than as innocent victims. Though in most situations the lovers uphold the traditions of Christianity (they wait to marry before consummating their love), their love is so powerful that they begin to think of each other in blasphemous terms. For example, Juliet referring Romeo as so: Which is the god of my idolatry, (II.ii.114) elevating Romeo to level of God. The couples final act of suicide is likewise un-Christian. As suicides, Romeo and Juliet would not be allowed a Christian burial and would have to be condemned to Hell. The lovers relationship would have been classified as a sin, as in this play, the lovers strong feelings overwhelm reason and authority, most clearly shown in their feat of self-murder; From forth the fatal loins of these two foes/ A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, (Prologue.5-6).

It is possible to see Romeo and Juliet as a battle between the responsibilities and actions demanded by social institutions and those demanded by the private desires of the individual. Romeo and Juliets renunciation of their names, with its attendant loss of obligation, make sense in the context of individuals who wish to escape the authoritarian figures of Veronas public world. These complications create the need for the secrecy the lovers are in short of. But the lovers cannot stop the night from becoming day. And Romeo cannot cease being a Montague simply because he desires to; the rest of the world will not let him. The lovers fate can be understood as ultimate revolt, an attempt to put an end to authority at the expense of the lovers lives.

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