Friendship: Romeo's friend, Mercutio, causes his banishment. His other friend, Friar Lawrence, causes his death. Juliet's friend, the Nurse, abandons her in her time of need.

Friendship is a major theme explored in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare's view on friendship and its portrayal in this play are all about how your friends turn their backs on you when you need it the most. In Juliet's case her Nurse abandons her when she need help trying to figure out if she should leave Romeo and marry Paris or not? Her Nurse in act 3 scene 5 line 222 to 227 " Romeo is banished...I think it best you marry with the County" she is basically saying forget about Romeo and marry the rich handsome man that will provide her a better life. Juliet was seeking comfort that her decision on marrying Romeo was a good one but the nurse just turned her back and told her that she should have married Paris. For Romeo, his friends get him banished and then killed. Mercutio is the one that starts a fight with Tybalt, in turn causing Romeo to kill Tybalt. As a result Mercutio's anger towards the Capulets in starting the fight caused Romeo to get banished by the Prince of Verona. 

Suicide: It's the gigantic green elephant in the room. You might as well talk about it.

The fundamental thing of the play is that the two main characters commit suicide. Due to miss communication and stupid choices both Romeo and Juliet kill themselves out of "undying love" at the end of the play. Their deaths should have been prevented but because of their immaturity and the problem with communications it ended badly. Neither character had to die. If Juliet truly loved Romeo she would have run away with him instead of staying behind. That would then result in no more dying. Or if Romeo had the common sense to check Juliet's body thoroughly he would have known she wasn’t actually dead, resulting in him not committing suicide. In act 5 scene 3 lines 75 to 120 not a single word shows that he checked her body. He simply looked at her and assumed because of what he had been told. If one is truly in love they would shake the person and try to wake them up purely because they do not want to believe what has happened to their love ones. But that doesn’t answer the fight he has with Paris, whom he kills. If Paris wasn't so thick headed and blinded by prejudices against the families no one who have got hurt or dies. All would have lived. There is so much unnecessary suicide in this play purely due to the lack of communication and common sense of the characters.

Love vs. Lust: Romeo and Juliet are obsessed, infatuated, out of control, and irrational. Sounds like lust to me

Romeo and Juliet is a play based on strong bonding love that the characters feel between each other. Most people forget that the play only spans a few days. Their relationship from start to their death wasn’t even a week long.  This 'love' Shakespeare portrays between the characters appears to be more like lust than love. Throughout the characters are obsessed and irrational with each other. For example, in Act 1 scene 5 from lines 90 to 107 Romeo and Juliet have only just met and they have fallen in love, have kissed twice already and have planned to meet again in secret. All in the space of say 5 minutes they met and then love each other, willing to die for them. This is not really love, love is so much more, it’s the connection and history you have with a person. Their quirks and personality which only you can see a different side to. The way Shakespeare has written Romeo and Juliet's love really is the picture of lust and the ignorance of teens when it comes to love. 

The view on Love in Romeo and Juliet

Love is portrayed in various ways in Romeo and Juliet. There are two emphasized views on love, the physical and emotional. Romeo's love is all about the romance and emotional connection he has with both Rosaline and Juliet. An example of his romantic love is when he first talks to Juliet, he suddenly forgets about Rosaline and is smitten by another. 'Dear saint, let lips do what hands do' (Act 1, scene 5, line 100), when Romeo says this to Juliet he is comparing her to a saint in all her beauty and grace. He has begun to say sweet poetry to her to win her over. In contrast both the nurse's and Benvolio's view on love is merely the physical attributes of good look, and that they are good in bed. In scene 4 of Act 2 Benvolio goes on about the way he thinks love is, all the physical actions and what he would do. The nurse, however similar in opinion that love is a physical thing, tells Romeo that she believes Paris is better for Juliet because of his looks, wealth and status; 'I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man' (Act 2, Scene 4, line 108). Shakespeare uses these characters to portray the various kinds of love in a way that is quiet in your face and bluntly clear.

Notes on 3 documents about women and marriage

Notes on the guide lines for women behavior, expectations and about marriage. 
(First document)

• Women are Not to gossip, have/get nice looks (vanity), no silliness and when in company behave like a lady not a child or foolishly. 
• What a man needs to be successful:
  • Well spoken
  • Knowledgeable
  • Good mind
  • Skill in trade or craft to live by (sewing )
  • Most important
  
  
• If she is not honest she is greedy? The most important thing in a woman is honesty and charity.

• Talking about purity/virginity
• Definition of perfect woman (page 2)
• As soon as someone has damaged her reputation no one will touch you - importance of reputation
• Consequence of the  impact of bringing shame to the family
• Children are bound to be dutiful to their parents. Children should not speak about marriage without the parents consent first.
• Parents know better
• This is what even knows to be true, of all times, for women to do what their parents say about marriage because they know better and can get the best outcome of life for them. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

Notes on rules regarding marriage

(Second document)

• for a minister to marry people they have to have a licence type thing from the church/authority to say they can
• unless the wedding is on a holy day perhaps?
• marriage has to be between the hours of 8 and 12.
• only in churches and chapels - no where else
• Parents have to consent the marriage prior and agree to the logistics of everything. 

Notes on marriage customs

(Third document)

• the age of consent was really young - 16 and even younger preparations were already being made.
• cannot date - have to leave everything to you parents because they will know what is best for you etc.
• dowry's are important part - except no dowry is needed in the marriage if the man has no land
• women have to be pure otherwise men will not look at them for marriage i think
• a girl had a baby outside of marriage - as soon as the baby was born they killed her and maybe the baby?

Diary Entry Response

Today was not as I'd hoped it would go. Life is pretty crap lately. It rained and was just miserable in every way. School today went terribly, I forgot to pack lunch so I was hungry all day and I was late to almost every class. Mum and dad both went to work today, but dad has another nightshift as well. I don't think he should be going, he hasn't been feeling the best lately. My little sister Clare was really annoying. She pulled my hair out and threw a tantrum in my bedroom. But at least I have Ryan to cheer me up. I think I have found my true love. He is very caring and I love him so much. He sends me cute texts and always knows the perfect thing to say to me. He is just so perfect, but my family doesn't seem to think so. For some reason they all hate him, they think he is a bad influence on me. They just don't understand. They haven't given him a chance or got to know him. Everyone wants me to end it but I love Ryan so much. Dad threatened me yesterday. He really scared me, so much that I had to try really hard not to start crying. He told me that if I didn't end my relationship with Ryan the family would disown me! I am in a troubled place now. I love my family and I need them, I never want to loose them. But at the same time I think I've found the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm stuck. I wish they wouldn't make me choose. I love them both and this isn't fair at all. Family is suppose to stick by you with whatever decisions you make, to support you and help you when you need it. My family doesn't seem to want to do that at all, instead just toss me out like trash. Dad says he doesn't like Ryan for "reasons". Apparently it's because he doesn't get good grades like me and that he works at a dodgy mechanic shop. I've told them that his job is temporary, and that his slipped grades is because his trying to work more to earn enough money to pay for his little sisters surgery. I think they just don't like him because his family is poorer than ours, since we are quiet wealthy and live in a nice house and things. I with they could get past their prejudices to see the great guy in him. He does so much for others, is so loyal and always does his best. I wish my family could see what I see. Uh, I have dinner now. Better get ready for another lecture about it all. 

Love Story - Taylor Swift Discussion

Discussion Questions: 1. Outline the subject matter of the poem? The subject matter is about the love between Romeo and Juliet, the time they met until they are together again, in the last verse it can be seen their strength of their love, “Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone, I love you and that's all I really know.” 2. Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance. The poem is entitled “Love Story” because it follows the meeting of Juliet and Romeo, “We were both young when I first saw you… I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.” These lines account the first time they met when they were younger. Then middle section is all about the times afterwards. The end is the closing of the chapter, ending with a marriage proposal, “Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.” 3. Describe the relationship between the two characters. Who are they? Romeo and Juliet are to young people that fall in love “at first sight” almost. They get quiet intimate and close to each other over a short period of time. Juliet is the rich girl while Romeo is seen as a rough guy not worthy of her hand. 4. What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship? In the line “And my daddy said stay away from Juliet,” it points out in a matter of fact way that her father did not approve of the relationship. This is further proven in the line, “So I sneak out to the garden to see you,” showing that Juliet was not allowed to see Romeo and that she had to secretly see him without her father finding out. These lines show great obstacle in the relationship, having to avoid being caught in order to follow their hearts. 5. What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip? The song and clip “Love Story” explores themes and issues such as love, hope, the support of your family, secrecy and reality of the situation. It explores the power that love has between two people and what they will do to be together, even to secretly meet against the opinion of family. The clip then brings the entire story back to the reality of Taylor’s real life and the love between a boy that she compares her version of Romeo and Juliet to. 6. How does the “Love story” end for Romeo and Juliet in the song? Is this how it ends for the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Why does Taylor Swift end her song this way? What perspective is she writing from and why would they want the story to end this way? In Taylor’s song “Love Story” it ends with Romeo and Juliet being allowed to be together and get married, however in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet both of the lovers end up dying. Taylor ends her song with them getting together to show that love can prevail and that is a wonderful thing. She makes a happy and cheerful clip that leads to her believing that she can have a happily ever after with her Romeo. She is writing this story from her perspective on the way she wants her love to be like, especially by ending the story with a happy ending as appose to the sad reality of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.