Abstract
William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is, first and foremost a love story. However, the real point of the play is the devastating effect of hate. The paper shows how the play is set in an atmosphere of hatred between the Montagues and the Capulets, and it is significant that Shakespeare juxtaposes the most beautiful of human emotions with the most terrible. The paper shows that this concept of love set amidst hate is spelled out in the prologue and within the first few lines we are told that the love of these two young people will be destroyed by the mutual hatred of their families.

From the Paper
"By the end of the play, Romeo's manliness has become his driving force. When Paris is killed and begs him to lay him in Juliet's tomb, Romeo remembers that he was Juliet's suitor and is filled with pity for him, granting his last request. When he sees Juliet, He is overcome with grief and in his last speech, vows to protect her and keep her company even in death..."

Tags:Benvolio, Rosaline

Abstract
Stars and their metaphorical relationship to fate is a major theme in "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. The paper shows that stars are mentioned throughout the play in various circumstances that are indicative of fate and the foreshadowing of events. It also looks at another theme present throughout the work, that of speed. The speed at which events happen and the fate controlling those events have an enormous impact on the lives of Romeo and Juliet.

From the Paper
"When Romeo meets Juliet at the Capulet's feast, he is only able to spend a very short amount of time with her before Benvolio rushes him away with, "Away, begone; the sport is at the best" (1.5.119). We see the same haste in the nurse's dealing with Juliet. The nurse realizes who Romeo is and discourages Juliet from speaking to him. She urges the girl away saying, "Anon, anon! / Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone" (1.5.143-144). So here the pressing issue of time is affecting the first encounter between Romeo and Juliet. All of their encounters with one another throughout the play will take place in the same rushed manner. This first meeting of the two foreshadows the rest of their time together."

Tags:benvolio, Montague, Friar

Abstract
The paper explores how several factors (society, state and family) create insurmountable obstacles for the love of Romeo and Juliet. The focus is on a particular scene (act 3 scene 1), which the author feels is a turning point, or a point of no return for Romeo and Juliet.

From the Paper
"From the start, the audience knows that Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers, doomed to be separated by fate. Even so, there are many moments of hope where it seems like they just might be able to overcome all the difficulties they face. Act 3 scene 1 seems to crush this hope and seal the fate of the lovers. This scene is a turning point in the play where the influence of social institutions directs the tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet by creating insurmountable obstacles for their love. Their fate becomes inescapable when in this scene Romeo and Juliet's society, state and family create the circumstances that keep the lovers from being together."

Tags:benvolio, capulet, mercutio, montague, obstacle, tybalt