Romeo And Juliet

"Love builds bridges where there are none." This quote by R.H. Delaney explains how at many times the only thing that will mend a feud is love or having something in common. I agree with this quote. From my personal experience and with my knowledge of history the only way to end a feud is either to completely erase one of the sides fighting or to have something so in common which both sides feel strongly about that will stop the battle. One of the themes in the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is how the power of love can sometimes be strong enough to put an end to fiery war.

The play opens with a prologue describing the fighting between the Capulets and the Montagues. Since the beginning of time the families; although alike in social ranks have hated each other for reasons unknown. Throughout the play, while Romeo and Juliet's secret love blossoms, the two families do not cease to end their strife. When at the very end of the play, Romeo and Juliet kill themselves, the Capulets and the Montagues see their beloved children dead together. When Friar Lawrence tells them of the children's quest at love and happiness together, the families join hands and agree to honor each other and build statues of their ex-enemies children. This proves that in this play, after years of feuds, love and guilt were the only thing to stop the families from war.

Aside from the Capulet and Montague conflict, Romeo and Juliet learned how to put down their walls and include others they thought not possible into their intimate lives. For Juliet it was Nurse who she let walk over the bridge into her and Romeo's love life. In II.I when Nurse calls for Juliet to come inside, she tells Romeo to hide until she comes back in fear for Nurse to see him at her balcony. By the time Romeo and Juliet confess their love for each other, Juliet is confident enough to tell Nurse of her secret affair with the Montague boy. Love also aids Romeo in opening up to his enemy. When Tybalt and Mercutio fight in III.I, Romeo is hesitant to slay Tybalt due to