Shakespeare is a well known author who wrote in the 1500's. Many of his plays are classified as tra
gedies. According to the Oxford dictionary of current English, a tragedy is described as a serious
disaster or a sad event. In Shakespeare plays, tragedy is identified as a story that ends unhappily
due to the fall of the protagonist, which is the tragic hero. For a play to be a tragedy, there mu
st be a tragic hero. In the play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is the tragic hero. The theme of tragedy
plays a great role in the play Romeo and Juliet. By analyzing Romeo's tragic flaw, his noble birth,
his series of poor decisions, the suffering of Romeo that extends beyond himself, it is evident tha
t Romeo and Juliet is classified as a tragedy.
A person must posses certain qualities
that classify one as a tragic hero. One of these qualities is the noble birth of a character. In t
he play Romeo and Juliet Romeo being the tragic hero, possesses that quality. Romeo is a Montague,
and in the city of Verona the Montagues are a well known and respected family. It is a known fact t
hat the Montagues are of noble birth when it is said by Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1, Line 141: 'My no
ble uncle.' Benvolio is referring to Lord Montague, who is the father of Romeo. The Montagues are
also a rich family, and that is one of the reasons for the respect for Romeo. 'Verona brags of him.
.. a bears him like a partly gentleman.' This was said by Lord Capulet in Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 6566. This quote illustrates that even Romeo's enemies know well of him and know that he is respected
and talked about by the citizens of Verona. Usually when a character is introduced as being noble,
the audience is aware that in the end of the play, the character will have a tragic fall.
Another necessary quality possessed by a tragic hero is the hero's tragic flaw, which in Romeo'
s case is falling in love too quickly and deeply. ' To seek a tragic flaw in either Romeo or Juliet
is a foolish and futile.' - comments Harold Goddard, a critic from the book: ' Modern critical view
s, William Shakespeare the Tragedies.' Goddard supports the idea that having a tragic flaw is a par
t of being a tragic hero. Another critic states that ' if Romeo's character does have a tragic flaw
, it is youthful impetuosity; an older or more deliberate man might somehow have managed to avoid th
e quarrel and would not rush to kill himself as soon as he believed that Juliet was dead.' ( Phillis
Rackin, author of ' Shakespeare Tragedies.')In the play Romeo and Juliet romeo's tragic fall being
he falls in love too quickly and too deeply, brings him to an awful end. In the beginning of the pl
ay one is introduced to Romeo being deeply and hopelessly in love with Rosaline. However Rosaline d
oes not feel the same way about Romeo. This is when Romeo is unhappy and says to Benvolio: 'Not hav
ing that which makes having short.' ( Act 1, Scene 1, Line 162). This very well illustrates how de
eply Romeo was in love with Rosaline. In the next scene the audience realize that Romeo ha fallen f
or another, which is Juliet. 'For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.' -Said by Romeo in Act 1
, Scene 5, Line 52.The audience can quickly identify Romeo's flaw of falling in love too quickly and
deeply when he forgets about his feelings for Rosaline and concentrates on Juliet. Juliet too real
izes that Romeo's love for her was too fast when she said : 'It is too rash, too undvis'd, too sudde
n.'( Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 117-118). Having a tragic flaw could be foreshadowing of the fall of the
tragic hero.
Rome being the play's tragic hero makes a series of poor decisions. The
first decision of many was going to the Capulet's party. ' Direct my sail! Oh lusty gentlemen.'
Says Romeo in Act 1, Scene 4, Line 113. If Romeo did not go to the party he would not have met Juli
et. It was unnecessary for Romeo to try to stop the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio. If Romeo di
d not try to stop the fight, Mercutio would not have been killed, and the fight between Romeo and Ty
balt would not have existed. Romeo says in Act 3, Scene 1, Line 94 : ' Courage, man; the hurt can n
ot be much.', when he tries to stop the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio. Romeo makes the wrong ch
oice when he decides to fight Tybalt for the death of Mercutio. 'Either thou, or I, or both, must g
o with him.'( Act 3, Scene 1, Line 1290. This quote refers to Romeo's challenge for Tybalt. If Rom
eo did not fight Tybalt he would not have been banished from Verona. Another one of Romeo's poor de
cisions was the decision to commit suicide, which was also his last decision. 'O true apothecary, t
hy drugs are quick, thus with a kiss I die.' Said Romeo in Act 5, Scene 3, Line 120, right before he
died. If only Romeo decided not to drink the poison he would have been alive to see Juliet wake.
All these decisions caused Romeo, the tragic hero, to end his life tragically.
The suf
fering of the tragic hero also extends beyond himself. Due to the actions of Romeo, Mercutio and Ty
balt died. 'When he tries to make peace between them and Mercutio is fatally wounded, Romeo remarks
pathetically 'I thought out for the best.' '- Comments Phillis Rackin author of Shakespeare Tragedi
es. 'Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads', remarks Romeo after Mercutio's death, ca
used by Romeo. Tybalt's death also results from Romeo's poor actions. After Romeo's death Lady Mon
tague dies of a heart attack. Lord Montague says to the Prince in Act 5, Scene 3, Line 209: 'Alas m
y leige, my wife is dead tonight.' Because of Romeo, Juliet decides upon her own death. She argues
with her father, drinks the potion, and later stabs herself, all for the love for Romeo. Verona's
peace is disturbed by all the commotion of the fights between the Capulets and the Montagues, caused
mainly by Romeo. There is still no peace in the streets of Verona. The families of both Romeo and
Juliet suffer over the loss of their children, and everyone is unhappy. Since Romeo brought suffer
ing upon people rather than himself, he is truly the tragic hero and makes the play Romeo and Juliet
a tragedy.
It is obvious that in the play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is the tragic hero.
This is evident when the audience see Romeo's noble birth, his tragic flaw, series of poor decisio
ns he made and the fact that through his actions he brought suffering upon other people. Most plays
, stories or novels have a moral. The moral of Romeo and Juliet is not to rush into things like lov
e, hate and important decisions. All people should think twice about every decision they are making
. From all the evidence stated in this paragraph along with the paragraphs above it is said that Ro
meo and Juliet is classified as a tragedy.
WORKS CONSULTED Bloom, Nasold. Modern critical vi
ews. William shakespeare the Tragedies.1985 Rackin, Phillis. Shakespeare's Tragedies. 1978 Brodley,
A.C. Shakespearian Tragedy. 1986 Oxford school Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet. 1982 shakespeare well
known author wrote many plays classified tragedies according oxford dictionary current english trage
dy described serious disaster event shakespeare plays tragedy identified story that ends unhappily f
all protagonist which tragic hero play tragedy there must tragic hero play romeo juliet romeo tragic
hero theme plays great role play romeo juliet analyzing flaw noble birth series poor decisions suff
ering that extends beyond himself evident that juliet classified person must posses certain qualitie
s classify these qualities noble birth character being possesses quality montague city verona montag
ues well known respected family known fact montagues noble birth when said benvolio scene line uncle
benvolio referring lord montague father montagues also rich family reasons respect verona brags bea
rs like partly gentleman this said lord capulet scene lines this quote illustrates even enemies know
well know respected talked about citizens verona usually when character introduced being audience a
ware character will have fall another necessary quality possessed flaw which case falling love quick
ly deeply seek flaw either foolish futile comments harold goddard critic from book modern critical v
iews william shakespeare tragedies goddard supports idea having part being another critic states doe
s have youthful impetuosity older more deliberate might somehow have managed avoid quarrel would rus
h kill himself soon believed dead phillis rackin author tragedies fall falls love quickly deeply bri
ngs awful beginning introduced deeply hopelessly love with rosaline however rosaline does feel same
about this when unhappy says benvolio having which makes having short scene line very illustrates wi
th rosaline next audience realize fallen another true beauty till night said line audience quickly i
dentify falling forgets about feelings concentrates realizes fast rash undvis sudden lines could for
eshadowing rome makes series poor decisions first decision many going capulet party direct sail lust
y gentlemen says party would unnecessary stop fight between tybalt mercutio stop fight mercutio woul
d been killed fight between tybalt existed says courage hurt much tries stop between tybalt mercutio
makes wrong choice decides death either thou both must with quote refers challenge been banished fr
om poor decisions decision commit suicide also last decision true apothecary drugs quick thus kiss r
ight before died only decided drink poison been alive wake these caused life tragically suffering al
so extends beyond himself actions died tries make peace them fatally wounded remarks pathetically th
ought best comments phillis rackin author soul little above heads remarks after death caused death r
esults from actions after lady montague dies heart attack lord prince alas leige wife dead tonight b
ecause decides upon argues father drinks potion later stabs herself peace disturbed commotion fights
capulets caused mainly there still peace streets families both suffer over loss their children ever
yone unhappy since brought suffering upon people rather than truly obvious evident series made fact
through actions brought upon other people most stories novels moral moral rush into things like hate
important people should think twice every they making evidence stated paragraph along paragraphs ab
ove classified works consulted bloom nasold modern critical views william rackin phillis brodley sha
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