William Shakespeare about Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare presents the idea that love can conquer all, love can conquer anything if you truly believe it can. In Romeo and Juliet, the theme is proven in the way that Juliet almost dies trying to keep Romeo' and Juliet's marriage still a thing. Shakespeare proves the thought that love can conquer all in many ways, but is shown specifically in three main points including self-sacrifice, family issues, and the willingness to do something to join someone you care about.

Shakespeare shows the theme of self-sacrifice for both Romeo and Juliet in nearly identical ways. The thought of self-sacrifice for Romeo is shown in Act 2, scene II by his willingness to scale the orchard walls just to talk to Juliet. Juliet in fear of Romeo getting harmed says “How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art If any of my kinsmen find thee here. (2.2 66-69).” Shakespeare puts the dialogue toward Romeo to explain a mood of anxiety toward Romeo from Juliet. Shakespeare even goes a step ahead and decides to show another example for Juliet caring about Romeo, in Act 4, scene I-II, Juliet shows her sacrifice by deciding to drink a potion from Friar Laurence, which in turn should make her assumptively "dead" for roughly 24 hours, to avoid marrying anyone other than Romeo, who she is already married to. Friar is hesitant at first when Juliet asks for a way to avoid the marriage by saying "Tomorrow night, look that thou lie alone. Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber, Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquor drink thou off; (4.2 92-25)." Friar wants to avoid the marriage between Paris and Juliet because of his morals as a friar, as well as Juliet already being married to Romeo.

In Act III, Romeo and Juliet are faced with the danger of having married as enemies as Tybalt and Mercutio argue and the newly married Romeo attempts to stop the fight, but pledging his love for Tybalt as a new Capulet, Romeo raises the anger of Tybalt who is ignorant of this new development. Tybalt raises his sword at Mercutio for threatening Romeo defending himself. The tragedy causes Romeo to be banished from Verona by the prince. Thus, by marrying Juliet, Romeo has lost his citizenship in Verona and must run away from his new significant other.

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