Essay/Term paper: Romeo and juliet: tragedy of a family or a city?

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy of A Family or A City?


Is Romeo and Juliet's death a tragedy of two families or a tragedy of a
city? In the following quote, W. H. Auden says, "The tragedy of Romeo and
Juliet….is not simply a tragedy of two individuals, but the tragedy of a city.
Everybody in the city is one way or another involved in and responsible for what
happens." I agree with this quote. In the rest of this essay you will read why.
One reason why it is a tragedy of a city is because almost everyone is
involved. Almost the whole city attended the party which the Capulets held. Even
Romeo attended the party. Now the audience of the play knows that even the
city's citizens are involved.
The next reason is when Benvolio and Tybalt exchange insults. At first
they just argue. Then within a blink of an eye, you see masses of people
fighting. People come from all sides. To me, it looked as if the whole town was
present at the brawl.
The third and most consequential reason is the ending of the play at
Romeo and Juliet's funeral. The star crossed lovers' bodies were carried out
into the center of town. All of Verona was following. There were masses of
people. The whole town was present. This reason made me decide the lovers'
deaths were a trgedy of a city.
In conclusion, with all the people involved in the tragedy of Romeo and
Juliet's death, the tragedy was of a city.