Romeo and Juliet: Journal #9

(Journal for Act V)

I think Romeo and Juliet are viewed as heroes both by the officials and their families. They sacrifices as heroes for the hatred between the Capulets and Montagues.

At Act V Scene III, lines 292-293, the Prince says: "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!". The Prince is talking to the families and telling them this is a punishment for their fault. I think it also indicates that Romeo and Juliet sacrificed for their family's hatred, which would be a heroic act. 

At Act V Scene III, lines 303-304, Capulet says: "As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie—poor sacrifices of out enmity!". First he is agreeing to Montague, who previously said he would raise a statue of Juliet. More importantly, he admits that their children has become sacrifices for their own problem.

No one has ever said anything to wash off their own responsibility or blame Romeo and Juliet for all the problems. They admitted and regretted their acts. Everyone sees Romeo and Juliet as victims who heroically sacrificed for their families; and they did. They sacrificed for the greater good; their families has put away their hatred and come together at last.

Tiger,

5/18/16

Romeo and Juliet: Journal #8 (#7 Skipped)

(Journal for Act IV)

In my views, I think the Capulets are seen as "bad guys". They did not really care for Juliet's feelings before her death or even after her death.

Before Juliet "died", she rejects the idea to marry Paris. To that reaction, Capulet does not care about her opinion, he basically forces her to marry instead. Capulet says in Act III (not supposed to be mentioned in this journal but only as an example) that if she does not marry Paris, she then will not look  him in the face ever again. You might say that this is quite understandable, maybe he is just saying these things but doesn't actually mean it. He might not mean it, but he definitely does not care for Juliet's feelings.

Even after Juliet "dies", all Capulet cares about is the ruined wedding! They never say anything like "oh, I shouldn't have given her too much pressure". Instead, all he sees in his eyes is that it shouldn't have happened on a wedding day. In Act IV Scene 5, lines 61-62, Capulet says: "Uncomfortable time, why camest thou now To murder, murder our solemnity?". He is saying why the sad time came at this moment and killed their "solemn wedding". Capulet only exclaims about the wrong time this death came, but not the death itself. He can care less about whether Juliet's alive or not. All he cares about is the "murder" and "death" of the wedding. In this case, Lady Capulet expressed more personal sorrows than Capulet, she exclaims how sad this moment is and how cruel death is rather than sorrowing for the wedding. Though she does actually care for Juliet more than Capulet does; however, she still only emphasizes the importance of her presence rather than her emotions or feelings.

It is quite hard to say whether they are "bad guys" or complex human beings. They can be expressed either ways. They can be seen as sorrowing for their lost after Juliet's "death" (complex human beings). Or they can be seen as not caring for their child's emotions ("bad guys"). It all depends on the reader's own comprehension.

Tiger,

5/17/16

Romeo and Juliet: Journal #6

(Journal for Act III, Scenes I-III)

I think their reactions prove that Juliet is a very self-conflicting person, and confirms that Romeo is a really emotional and pathetic person.

In Scene II, when Juliet heard the news from the nurse that Romeo killed Tybalt, she becomes angry at Romeo, (Act III Scene II, line 79) "A damned saint, an honorble villain". However, from this sentence, we can also tell that these are completely opposite words used together that don't make sense. Later when the nurse agrees with her and curse on Romeo as she did, she defends Romeo, (Act III Scene II, line 91) "Blistered be thy tongue". She still loves Romeo but she's also angry at him for killing their kinsman. She cannot make up her mind. 

In Scene III, when Romeo heard the news that he got banished from Verona, he just starts sorrowing and complaining to Friar Laurence about how bad this is even compared to death. At Act III Scene III, lines 29-33, Romeo says: "'Tis torture, and not mercy. Heaven is here, where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog and little mouse, every unworthy thing, live here in heaven and may look on her; but Romeo may not". Like how Romeo always is, he only looks at the bad side of an event. He does not appreciate that the Prince did not give him a death sentence but rather a banishment. If he is not satisfied by the banishment, he should think of a plan to get back to Juliet. But he just sits on the ground and do nothing but sorrows and complains about how animals are better than him. Romeo is a very dramatic and pathetic person, and his rational mind definitely gets covered by his emotions when bad things happen.

Romeo and Juliet are both very emotional persons. However, Juliet has more of a self-conflicting personality than a pathetic one. Romeo, needless to say, has nothing but a pathetic mind.

Tiger,

5/15/16

Romeo and Juliet: Journal #5

(Journal for Act II, Scenes III-VI)

I do not agree with Romeo. Actually, I think it's a very childish and irrational. 

My opinions here are going to conflict with my perspectives in my last journal. But I do want to back up for both sides of view.

Firstly, Romeo changes his mind about his "love" and emotions very fast. Yesterday he was crying all night over Rosaline; today he totally forgets about her! At Act II, Scene III, lines 45-46: "No. I have forgot that name, and that name's woe". This sentence completely proves his childish views about love. Only because of the woe that his "love" Rosaline brought him, he is going to give her up without even blinking his eyes. Romeo says that he totally forgets about Rosaline after he saw Juliet. But how can we know if he will completely forget about Juliet after seeing another one or not?

Secondly, he states that their time now is worth the price of them both dying. Romeo just assumes that Juliet will want to die with him even if he has the will. From my perspective, it is quite a selfish action. Only because he wants to die with her and have the joy, she will also need to die with him even if she does not want to.

I think they really need to think about it before deciding something life this, because death is a quite serious topic. Or it might just be some sweet words Romeo says to impress Juliet while he doesn't actually mean it. (I am assuming I have no knowledge of the ending when I write this...)

Tiger,

5/11/16

Romeo and Juliet: Journal #4

(Journal for Act II, Scenes I-II)

I think the love between Romeo and Juliet is very true, inspiring, and selfless. They both sacrifices themselves to have other's presence. They know the risk of getting caught and its consequences but still do it in order to meet and talk to each other. During their conversation, at Act II Scene II lines 71-73: "Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet and I am proof against their enmity". Juliet is warning him that if her family sees him they will murder him. But Romeo is eventually saying that as long as he has her smile, he will be defended. Romeo is risking his life to talk to Juliet right now, and I do not believe this can be faked, it is pure selfless love. Like I have said in the previous journals, Romeo is a very emotional person, so you might say that he is only doing this by his emotions controlling and he is not realizing the true consequences. But when it comes to one's life, one will always look for the way to survive. Romeo is doing exactly the opposite. His love to Juliet is strong and true enough for his emotions to override his will to live. That is why I believe that their love is true and selfless as anything can ever be.

Tiger,

9 May 2016

Romeo and Juliet: Journal #3 (#2 Skipped)

(Journal for Act I, Scene IV-V)

I think Mercutio is a foil to Romeo in the way they view and think about things. Romeo always thinks things are hopeless and he has a very pathetic view. Mercutio, in contrast, is quite optimistic and makes fun out of things that aren't the best instead of getting upset over them.

For example, in Act IV, lines 27-28, when Mercutio is trying to cheer Romeo up: "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down". Mercutio, I believe, is not only just a nice friend of Romeo's, but also a very positive and inspiring person. Even though Romeo's sad atmospheres is covering over all the happiness, Mercutio was still trying to joke and save him from the pathetic mood.

Also, Romeo often worry about too many things, while Mercutio is mostly in a relaxed mood. In Act IV, lines 106-11, Romeo says: "I fear, too early; for my mind misgives some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's revels and expires the term of a despised life, closed in my beast, by some vile forfeit of untimely death". In this quote, Romeo is fearing that some terrible event is going to happen caused by the stars. This might foreshadow his meeting with Juliet later but it can also show that he worry about little things too much. Which contrasts to Mercutio, which gives people a happy, relaxed mood.

Tiger,
5/5/2016

Romeo and Juliet: Journal #1

(Journal for Act I, Scene I)

I think Romeo, from the inferences I can make right now, is a very emotional person. After he falls in love, he cries all day without doing anything else, just one whole day with pathetic emotions. We can prove this in his actions and words. 

Look at some lines when Lord Montague is describing his son when he returns to home at Act 1, Scene 1, lines 131-133: "And private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, and makes him and artificial night". At night, he goes out to the woods and cries all night. When he returns, he locks himself in his room having nothing but sad emotions. These actions shows that he is completely driven by his emotions (love) and nothing else.

Through his conversation with Benvolio, the mood he is in is all shown in his words. I believe that there is no need to quote a specific sentence because any line he says can be quoted! I even feel surrounded by sad atmospheres when he starts talking. Romeo is so sad and emotional that it can be easily spotted in the words he speaks.

Tiger,

5/3/2016