Theme

Shakespeare makes many different themes present throughout the play Romeo and Juliet, but one if the themes that I believe to be most powerful is the teenagers vigorous search for love. Romeo and Juliet fell in love the first moment that they laid eyes on eachother. Throughout the rest of the play, they had to overcome many different barriers and make important decisions in order to defend their love for eachother. First, Romeo and Juliet were forbidden to be together because of the life-long feud between their families. When Juliet said, "Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet" (Shakespeare II.ii.34-36), she was telling Romeo to not acknowledge his family name so they could get married and be together. She was willing to disown her own family and their name as long as she could be with her love Romeo, who she barely knew. Second, Romeo returned to Verona after he had been banished and threatened with death. The Prince said, "And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence" (Shakespeare III.i.182-183). This shows that Romeo was in fact banished but returned to Verona anyway. He risked his life so that he could be with a girl that he scarcely knew, but was so madly in love with. These prove the theme of the teenager's vigorous search for love because Romeo and Juliet disowned their families, risked banishment and even death for an uncertain chance at love between two very unfortunate teens. Even in today's society, teenagers are so willing to lie, cheat, and manipulate others for just the smallest chance at teenage love. People in school develop bad reputations and lose close friendships over a high school relationship that probably will not last. Teenagers throughout the years, tend to be overdramatic and will do anything for a shot at love.