Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare
Themes
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Concern for order over chaos
Growing up/breaking away
Searching for and changing identity
Tension between families
Divided loyalties
Freedom of choice vs. Fate/Destiny
Things aren’t always what they seem
Themes
•  Sometimes it takes a disaster to make
people change their ways
•  A desire for revenge can have multiple
consequences
•  Best intentions can have catastrophic
results
•  Love- remain faithful even if in death
•  Time is the destroyer of all
Paradoxical Themes
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Romance vs. Revenge
Love vs. Hate
Light vs. Dark
Young vs. Old
Haste vs. Delay