Romeo & Juliet-the film “Love is a powerful and destructive force”

The topic of this essay has two main defining words about love: powerful and destructive. The meaning of power is to have authority or influence and the definition for destruction is to ruin or put an end to something. For example, Romeo’s actions in the play are solely controlled by the power of love but the story ends in destruction.

The main outline of the play is about two prominent families (the Montagues and the Capulets) living in Verona, Italy, who are enemies. The main character Romeo belongs to the Montague household, whereas Juliet is a Capulet and arranged to marry Paris, a pompous nobleman. As fate would have it, Romeo and Juliet meet ‘accidentally’ and fall instantly in love. The star-crossed lovers are faced with a series of tragic events revolving around their love for each other. They are forced to desperate actions in order to keep their love secret and themselves safe. However, things seldom go as planned and the result is never joyful; a trail of death and tragedy is scattered in the lover’s wake.

In the introduction of the script, I think the symbolism of the star-crossed lovers is there to show that it is written in the stars that Romeo and Juliet should fall in love, along with the underlying tragedies that follow. In other words, they are fated to disaster and destined to love.

Romeo’s character changes considerably throughout the play, and his actions are strongly influenced by his love for Juliet. The definition of love is a strong liking or affection for someone or something. At first, Romeo’s affection for Juliet is based entirely on her appearance, and no doubt, superficial. Despite this, they inevitably fall in love and eventually marry in secret from the families. Romeo climbs into the orchard to talk to her, despite knowing that the consequence could be death: “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out…”

He refuses to fight Tybalt after their marriage and he commits suicide in the final act because he feels that life isn’t worth living if his beloved Juliet isn’t there to share it with him: ‘Death, that has sucked the honey of thy breath’

‘(To the apothecary) let me have a dram of poison’

Despite it’s potency, love is not the only thing to blame. The infantile feuds between Capulet and Montague alike, is the spark that started the fire.

However, Romeo’s actions when he becomes enveloped in his own emotions, oblivious to the outside world, show the destructive element in the plot.

Romeo’s irrational behavior leads him to eventually kill Tybalt, himself, and without even knowing it, his lover.

Romeo’s character in the play is commonly seen as the romantic and committed lover, but he can also be seen as the selfish, young fool who doesn’t think before he acts. Juliet is portrayed as the young and innocent girl who falls in love not only with Romeo, but also the excitement of secrecy. I sympathize with both Romeo and Juliet because they’re both too young to understand what real love is, and because of the arguments their families have involved them in, all of which manage to destroy them.

In conclusion, I think that whilst love can be powerful and influential, it can sometimes play part in being destructive. My view is that the tragic chronology of events, are caused not by love alone, but by simple hatred and emotional wounds that will never heal; all love did was deepen the wound.