Friday, March 7, 2014

In the final scene of Romeo and Juliet, how can you infer that the hate between the families stems from their love?

I assume that the question you are asking relates to the
interesting relationship between hate and love that is featured in this excellent
tragedy, and in particular how it relates to the final scene, where, through the death
of Romeo and Juliet, the Montagues and the Capulets finally make peace. Note what the
Prince says to both of these families regarding the impact of their
hate:



Where
be these enemies? Capulet, Montague,


See what a scourge is
laid upon your hate,


That heaven finds means to kill your
joys with love...



The irony
of the Prince's words is clear. Through the hate of the two families and their feud,
fate or "heaven" decreed that the two "joys" of these families, Romeo and Juliet, should
be killed by love for one another. Capulet himself says that the death of Romeo and
Juliet is a "poor sacrifice for our emnity." Love of family pride and honour is shown to
have tragic and irreversible consequences that will haunt Verona and in particular the
two families for many years to come.

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