"Romeo and Juliet"

Analytical Essay # 53350

English > Analysis
Literature > English
Shakespeare > Romeo and Juliet

"Romeo and Juliet"

Argues that William Shakespeare's play can be regarded as both a tragedy and a comedy.

734 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper first presents a brief overview of the life of William Shakespeare, before explaining the story of one his most famous plays, "Romeo and Juliet". The paper argues that the play and Juliet are both a comedy and a tragedy and that, although it is the ultimate love story between two young lovers and their ironic deaths, the play has comedic highlights.

From the Paper:

"Juliet, realizing that she may never be with Romeo, concocts a plan to separate herself from Paris by swallowing a potion to put her into a lifeless state. Romeo reacts irrationally to the news that Juliet is "dead" and plans his own death. Romeo drinks poison, killing himself all the time believing that his true love is dead. When Juliet awakens from her lifeless state to find that Romeo is dead she finds the bottle of poison that Romeo drank. Finding the bottle empty, she takes Romeo's dagger and stabs herself. Both young lovers commit the last defiance of their complicated lives, creating the ultimate tragedy."