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Love in the Two Tragedies: William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet. BY olivg Two among the famous works of Shakespeare are Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. And in both of these works, love is portrayed in different ways. Romeo and Juliet disregarded their obstacles and pursued their love until their death while Hamlet and Ophelia allowed family circumstances to affect their relationship. Both couples encountered problems that involved each one’s family affecting each couple’s relationship. In Romeo and Juliet, even before the play begins, the conflict between the families of the Capulets and the Montagues is expressed in the prologue:
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. (PRO. I -4) This hatred or conflict between the families is so great that everyone except the people in the house of Montagues is invited to join the party that the Capulets are having: Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master is the great rich Capulet, and, if you be not of the house of Montagues, pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry. (1. 2. 5-88) While in Hamlet, Polonius orders Ophelia not to see or even talk with Hamlet anymore: In few, Ophelia, Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers, Not of that dye which their investments show, But mere implorators of unholy suits, Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds The better to beguile. This is for all: would not, in plain terms, from this time forth Have you so slander any moment leisure As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. 00k to’t, I charge you. Come your ways. (1. 3. 135-144) And Ophelia quickly replies with, “l shall obey, my lord. ” (1. 3. 45). And with that, Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship as a couple is ended. Though Romeo and Juliet’s so-called love story only took a few days, many reat events happened including the tragic end, which was the death of the lovers. Romeo and Juliet first met when Romeo and his friends decided to attend the party at the Capulets’ house. And the moment Romeo saw Juliet, he quickly fell in love with her and asked a servingman about her, “What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight? ” (1. 5. 4849). And continues with: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Asa rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snovn. ny’ dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night. (1. 5. 51-60) From this, we can see Romeo’s love at first sight towards Juliet. He proclaims Juliet to be the only “true beauty” he’s ever seen.
After a while, Romeo, while taking Juliet’s hand, asked her if he could kiss her: If profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. 1. 5. 104-107) Both Romeo and Juliet didn’t know each other’s names. so Romeo asked the nurse for the name of Juliet. After the nurse told him that Juliet is a Capulet, he realized that he would not be able to pursue his love for her because of their families’ rivalry: Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt. (1. 5. 131-132) Juliet also asked the nurse to get Romeo’s name. pon knowing that Romeo was a Montague, Juliet was deeply hurt and upset: My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me That I must love a loathed enemy. 1. 5. 152-155) After their first meeting, Romeo and Juliet meet in the most famous balcony scene where Juliet spoke her famous line: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? ” (22. 36). There, Romeo confessed his love for her. And Juliet requested Romeo to give up his being a Montague: Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet. 2. 2. 37-39) Juliet admitted that it is only their name that hindered their love for each other: ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And, for thy name, which is no part Of thee, Take all myself. (2. 41-51) Before the couple separates, they confess their love for each other. Then Juliet proposes their marriage: Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honorable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, By one that I’ll procure to come to thee, Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite, And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay And follow thee my lord throughout the world. (22. 149-155) So Juliet arranged the nurse to meet Romeo the next morning, “By the hour of nine. ” (2. 2. 182), to get further details about their said marriage.
The next morning, Romeo visited Friar Lawrence to ask him for his consent to marry Romeo and Juliet: Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set On the fair daughter of rich Capulet. As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine, And all combined, save what thou must combine By holy marriage. When and where and how We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us today. (23. 61-68) Thinking that Romeo and Juliet’s marriage would be the key to finally put an end to their families’ rivalry, Friar Lawrence agreed to marry the couple: But come, young waverer, come, go with me.
In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households’ rancor to pure love. (23. 96-99) The nurse arrived and looked for Romeo, then asked him about the plans for his marriage to Juliet. Romeo then informed her about the plans: Bid her (Juliet) devise Some means to come to shrift this afternoon, And there she shall at Friar Lawrence’ cell Be shrived and married. (2. 4. 183-186) After which, the nurse returned to the Capulet’s house and told Juliet that she and Romeo will meet at Friar Lawrence’s cell that afternoon to get married.
After hearing this, Juliet, of course, was tremendously happy and, as described by the nurse: “Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks. ” (2. 5. 75). Juliet was blushing! As Romeo and Juliet met in Friar Lawrence’s cell, the couple expresses their love and excitement to get married. Romeo uttered: Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath This neighbor air, and let rich music’s tongue Unfold the imagined happiness that both Receive in either by this dear encounter. (2. 6. 4-29) And Juliet answered: Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, Brags of his substance, not of ornament. They are but beggars that can count their worth, But my true love is grown to such excess cannot sum up sum of half my wealth. (2. 6. 30-34) Friar Lawrence then married Romeo and Juliet: Come, come with me, and we will make short work, For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone Till Holy Church incorporate two in one. (2. 6. 35-37) That night, Juliet waited for Romeo to come visit and sleep with her because she still has not heard of Romeo’s exile: Come, night.
Come, Romeo. Come, thou day in night, For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night Whiter than new snow upon a raven’s back. Come, gentle night; come, loving black-browed Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun. 32. 17-27) After the nurse told Juliet about Tybalt’s death and Romeo being the one who killed him, Juliet felt sorrow for her cousin Tybalt and got angry with Romeo: O serpent heart hid with a flow’ ring face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical! Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of divinest show! Just opposite to what thou justly seemist, A damned saint, an honorable villain. (3. 2. 79-85) In other words, Juliet thought Romeo as a devil with an angel’s appearance.