Message

What we can learn from a tragedy

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, which means that we know right from the start that the play will end in tragedy. Because of this, the play is instructive about how we should go about certain things in life, such as love or important life decisions. Watching Romeo and Juliet struggle with this might teach us to handle ourselves better or become better at recognizing our own flaws. 

Below, we outline two possible messages of this play, focusing on the portrayal of love. Obviously, there are other messages in the play as well.

It should perhaps be added that Shakespeare sought to entertain as well as educate his audience. The fact that his plays do both at the same time adds to their popularity.

The message is ambiguous

More than anything, the message of Romeo and Juliet depends on what we consider the central problem of the play: Is it the patriarchal, old-fashioned rules of society or the selfish wishes of the individual? The love betwe...