Essay/Term paper: Romeo & juliet - tragedy, love story or both

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Romeo and Juliet

ROMEO AND JULIET - TRAGEDY, LOVE STORY
OR BOTH?

Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, is the tale of two
lovers who take their lives for each other when their love is hindered
by their feuding parents. After reading Romeo and Juliet, apparently a
tragedy, I would say that this story contains aspects of both a
love story and a tragedy. The tale of two teenagers who fall in
love at first sight and then marry, become true lovers and then
risk it all for their love cannot surely be all tragedy. However,
it is a tragedy, and has been called that for decades.

I will discuss with you what makes this story a tragedy, and
then what makes it a love story.
To begin, the family Montague and the family Capulet had been
locked in a feud for years, even so that their servants fought
on the street. This is the tragedy that sets off the train of
other misfortunes, and if these conflicts were resolved, none
of the further things I am about to mention would have
happened.
The tragedy of Romeo's love for Rosalind, she too was a
Capulet, and so that barred his love for her, although she also
did not love him.
Quite obviously, the misfortune of Romeo and Juliet's
forbidden love. This is the basis of the whole story. For two
people to love each other and not be able to show their true
feelings for each other is ultimately very frustrating. It's
"Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" style.
The tragedy of Tybalt's death. Another result of the family
fight, this was a tragedy for all involved, the Capulets and the
Montagues, because Romeo was banished from Verona.
The blight of the messenger not getting to Romeo in time.
Romeo just missing Juliet awakening is surely a tragedy. To me
this is one of the most frustrating things in the play, because
if he just waited two minutes longer...
And lastly, the death of Juliet. It is sad that she felt she had
to take her own life to be with the one she truly loved.

The first thing in this story which makes me say that it is a
love story is the falling in love of Romeo and Juliet. Some
people say they do not believe in love at first sight, but when
reading this scene anyone would find it hard not to believe in
this.
The disobeying of their parents wishes is the beginning of the
love story, and the balcony scene in act 2, scene 2 is enough to
make anyone's heart melt.
Another thing which adds to the love story is the marriage of
Romeo and Juliet. Marriage is a big commitment, ('till death do
us part, believe it or not they meant it in those days, not like
us today ['till divorce do us part]) and to love someone so much
that you would want to marry them is surely part of a love
story.
Lastly, to take your own life for your husband or wife is
definitely a sign of true love. To love each other enough that
you would commit suicide just to be with them after death to
me is the ultimate commitment.

So there you go. I am sure you can see that the tragedies do
dominate the aspects of the love story, but by no means does
this mean that they are not there. The world may call it a
tragedy, but I would say that it is both.