Real World Violence And Video Games - 1513 Words

Real-World Violence and Video Games From news outlets, to politicians, to parents: when tragedies occur they place the blame on many different sources. After the Sandy Hook shooting, media networks fiercely debated whether or not video games played a part in the shooter’s motives, as he had played games from the notorious Grand Theft Auto series prior to the shooting. Some even suggested banning video games outright, despite the fact that other mediums that can portray violence, such as movies and television, were overlooked. It is my personal belief that video games can be a form of art, as they can send as powerful an emotional message as any movie or song can. Thus, I believe it is important to understand the motives behind the creation of these games as well as how people interpret their meanings. The origin of the dispute can be traced back to the mid-1970’s, when video games were still in their commercial infancy. The game Death Race featured the player runni ng over as many gremlins as they could in order to get a high score, and protests against the game brought more publicity to the subject (Walker). Though there was no direct link to real world events inspired by that game, it nonetheless showed that the medium was just as susceptible to controversy as films and music are. The first major event thought to be inspired by video games was the Columbine high school shooting in 1999. The shooters were known to have been fans of particularly violent games fromShow MoreRelatedDo Violent Video Games Affect Real World Aggression And Violence?1727 Words   |  7 PagesDo violent video games influence real world aggression and violence, among other harmful behaviors, within children and young teens? Yes, they do, without a doubt. Children and teens that extensively play violent games tend to be less stressed, but are also more prone to stealing, over-eating, and acting out in minor rages when playing violent video games for long extensions of time. Though most of the side effects do not damage a young child or teen physically, the effects can result in social problemsRead MoreThe Real-World Effects of Virtual Violence: Perspectives on Video Games and Mass Media1507 Words   |  7 Pagesof the fact that video games are becoming more realistic and violent, nor that they are becoming much more beautiful and engaging in the way they look. What many people doubt, though, is whether they have a profound effect on a person’s character or not. Aggression as a result of video games seems to be a nebulous issue among much of the public. The research is there, but it is fragmented and covers many different issues that could (and are) problematic as far as video games go. This paper willRead MoreNegative Effects Of Violent Video Games712 Words   |  3 PagesHave you heard? Many people are debating whether or not Violent Video Games cause kids to be aggressive and violent. While others, like myself agree violent video games aren’t the problem of violence, real-life violence is. And therefore, you should to why, because Violent Video games allow kids especially boys to let out anger and relax themselves from emotions. It also helps entertain kids. And creates less real-world aggression. Kids already know the difference between virtual and reality byRead MoreVideo Games And Its Effects On Children1519 Words   |  7 PagesVideo games in the 21st century have transformed from friendly competing into guns, explosions, and major violence. Video games are getting away with more violence every year and the games are becoming more extreme. The consistence and severity of violence is at an all-time high leading the most popular games in the gaming co mmunity to have a ‘mature’ rating due to the considerable amount of violence involved. For example, one of the highest selling video games of all time grossing one billion itsRead More Video Games Violence Essay1580 Words   |  7 Pagesplayed video games once in their lives. There are various genres and types of video games such as action, first person shooters, adventure, education, role-playing, strategy, and many more. 89% of video games contain some violent content (Slife, 2008). The most addictive, common, and popular video games among children are the violent video games (Slife, 2008). A lot of video games these days depict â€Å"real-life violence† meaning that the settings and plots of these video games are taken from real-lifeRead MoreGaming Effect . Violence In Gaming Can Spark Interest In1544 Words   |  7 PagesGaming Effect Violence in gaming can spark interest in humans minds today. Lately around the world, there has been an increase in violence, and one reason seems to be the result of playing video games. Many children, teenagers, and even grown adults are stuck indoors staring at a screen for hours; this lifestyle can become unhealthy. Video games embed violent inclinations and mental pictures into players heads, which takes a toll on their physical activity. Terrifying images can be depictedRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Violence In Video Games1145 Words   |  5 PagesSince the beginning of the video game industry, violence has been a huge factor in the entertainment aspect. Even the more subtle, friendly games like Super Mario Bros. are full of underlying violence such as having to kill small and sometimes large creatures to advance the game. The most popular games among children and teens today happen to be the more gory, dark, and killing heavy games. These games almost always have very toxic communities full of people who love to scream at other players forRead MoreVideo Game Violence : Virtual Violence1512 Words   |  7 Pages Video Game Violence: Virtual violence v. Real-world violence Miguel Rodriguez Holguin Southern New Hampshire University The video game industry has grown to gigantic proportions; it’s a medium of entertainment that has great influence over the youth and adults globally. As with any media channel it is diverse in its content from childish themes to more mature topics. The industry’s success has been plagued by many critics and sociology experts all whom criticize the library of violentRead MoreEssay on Positive Influence of Violence in Video Games832 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Violent video games make kids more violent†. Video games affecting youth is a very debatable topic. Most people just come to that conclusion without acquiring any evidence or reason, but there are some reasons why this is a wrong assumption. I believe that violent video games are actually good for people. They allow them to have an escape from real life which is positive, the violence allows people (young people in particular) to think morally about what they are doing, and most violent games letRead MoreEssay about Do Video Games really Cause Violence?1028 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"No one is suggesting that [violent video games are] the only reason they went out and committed those horrific acts, but was it a tipping point? Was it something that push ed them over the edge? Was it a factor in that? Perhaps. That’s a really big deal,† This is a really controversial subject amongst gamers and parents, on whether violent video games cause real-life violence. Lots of people think they do, while lots of people think they don’t. There is research that points both ways in the subject

Racism in the 1930s Essay - 1135 Words

Racism in the 1930s The 1930s was a time of change for the blacks of the United States of America. However, this change was not all for the better. The main change for blacks during this period was that many of them migrated to the North, which in turn, caused many other situations, which included the election of President Roosevelt. This was a positive, as was the improvement from the de jure segregation, when laws allow segregation, of the South to the less harsh segregation of the North. The blacks made advancements during this time, yet there were still many more to make. Before and during some of the thirties, America was a completely segregated society, which was supported by both the law and the police who enforced it.†¦show more content†¦This was a time in which numerous amounts of blacks moved from the Southern states, to the Northern and Western states in search of better jobs, better schools and less racism (Segregation in the United States 5-9). Between 1910 and 1930 alone, 1 million blacks moved to the North. Because of the great number of blacks in the North, they still did not find many open jobs and, and lived in dirty and run-down places. Crime, despair and poverty all became normal to the black community (African Americans 2). Because many of the black people had moved to cities, it made the number of blacks grow in certain areas, giving them the amount of power needed to elect officials. The blacks influence on the outcome of the political races were realized by the politicians, who began to support civil rights and oppose segregation. Blacks began to win many votes as well, which quickened the the pace of civil rights and changed the political landscape (Segregation in the United States 10). The blacks migrating to the North did not have all positive results though. Most of the blacks looking for jobs were under-qualified, leaving only such jobs as laborers or servants open, which was much like th eir jobs in the South. And those who found a job were lucky to have a job at all, because many blacks could find no job, leaving them to live with other job-less blacks in unsanitary and run-down housing. This type of housing grew, creating black slums, or ghettos,Show MoreRelatedPrejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pagesto learn about society as illustrated in her novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ set in 1930’s America. In this essay I will give my opinions on why in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, Harper Lee included a lot of prejudice and controversial issues in the 1930’s. Also I will explore the ideas of why she would want the readers of the book in future generations to learn about the kinds of society in America in the 1930’s. I feel that the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ has many different ways of showing prejudiceRead MoreEffects Of Segregation In The 1930s737 Words   |  3 PagesRights Denied to African Americans in the 1930s What is segregation? Segregation is set apart or separation of people or things from others or from the main body or group. (dictionary.com) In the 1930s African Americans did not have the right to vote. The policy of segregation meant that blacks had their own churches, schools, football teams, and even their own cemeteries. The Great Depression also took place in the 1930s. The economic crisis of the 1930s, the Great Depression, is one of the mostRead MoreEffects Of Segregation In The 1930s728 Words   |  3 Pagescom) In the 1930s African Americans did not have the right to vote. The policy of segregation meant that blacks had their own churches, schools, football teams, and even their own cemeteries. The Great Depression also took place in the 1930s. The economic crisis of the 1930s, the Great Depression, is one of the most studied periods in American history. Racism was at a high point in the 1930s. The 1930s were a turbulent time for race relations in America. (xroads.virgina.edu) Racism was as strongRead MoreAtticus Finchs Parenting Style Essay1099 Words   |  5 Pageslawyers name is Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is not just an ordinary father. He teaches his children things no parent of the 1930s, or even the modern time period, would think of doing. His style parenting, compared to modern day parenting and parenting in the 1930s, is unique and is not traditionally the way a parent wants to raise their child. The parenting styles of the 1930’s are very different then the style’s now, especially that of Atticus Finch, who raises his children in a very distinct andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Color Purple 1393 Words   |  6 PagesEven though today s society tries to be just, that does not always happen. Learning the past injustice that has happened can help structure the way todays world is but history can repeat itself. Rape, racism and many more acts of hate are still not dealt with just like back in the 1930 s where both of these novels took place. Both of these novels conversant one of the most egregious injustices; rape. Rape has always been erroneous. In The Color Purple the novel begins with Celie describing beingRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Academic Analysis Essay1404 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The worst sin of all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The academic analysis of the discrimination, racism, and prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird. Extra, Extra, read all about it! Negro Tom Robinson get what he deserves! Now that peoples attention has been grabbed, lets talk about To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird (or TKAM) is set in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. It follows the adventures of Jean Louise ,or better known as Scout, and her older brother Jem. They encounter a boyRead MoreCritical Thinking Essay : Strange Fruit, By Billie Holiday769 Words   |  4 Pagesrecorded by Billie Holiday. Holiday was a jazz musician and song writer in the early 1900’s. Strange Fruit had a context that was relevant in the 1930s. Basically, in the 1930’s, white and black people did not get along or participate in anything together. In fact, black people were known to be inferior to white people. African Americans would be killed, hanged, and burned. Strange Fruit was based around protesting racism, in which African Americans were being traumatized because of the color of their skinR ead MoreRacism : An Integrated Part Of Modern Society1200 Words   |  5 PagesRacism is a belief that one race is superior to the other or the practice of treating a person or group of people differently on the basis of their race. Racism has been an integrated part of ancient world and is still vastly present in modern society. The ideas of racism are embedded into society, without fault it is part of our national character. Country’s deny their racism; however, views of racism are ingrained into every society. Racism is still largely prevalent in society. There is a constantRead MoreHow Does Harper Lee Present Racial Issues During the 1930s in the Novel ‚Äà ²to Kill a Mockingbird‚Äà ´?846 Words   |  4 PagesHarper lee has presented racism in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by describing how blacks live and are treated harshly. The court case of Tom Robinson, which is the main part of the story is a metaphor that Harper Lee has created of the situation in the 1960 s. Things were not stable at the time and Tom s case is just one example of the racial discrimination the blacks were facing during this time. The racial tension in the 1930s was so serious that even when blacks did do well, they wereRead MoreRacism, Racism And Discrimination1366 Words   |  6 PagesRacism and discrimination, with or without recognition or existence of the label that is tied to itself, has always been a large part of society that can be dated all the way back to the Fall of Man. It is apparent in books, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, and is expressed throughout the world today. In the early 1900s, racial discrimination was still very prominent, but has slowly digressed until recent years where it has taken new forms. The historical context, the distinguished novel To Kill a

Mental Health Project Free Essays

My initial reaction to the news would be one of worry and apprehension. I know that mentally ill people may be violent in some ways and that they may wander around the community and with my young child at home, the negative scenarios would be endless. On the other hand I know that mentally ill people can also be cured and they should be given the chance to have their lives back as fully functioning members of society. We will write a custom essay sample on Mental Health Project or any similar topic only for you Order Now With a halfway house as a neighbor, I would think that it would probably pose a threat to our way of life and the safety of my child. Its because the proximity of the center to us would disrupt our way of life for example I would not have peace of mind knowing that mentally-ill people are beside us, thus it would possibly lead to over protectiveness. I would also be overly concerned of who my child interacts with especially if the mentally-ill residents are allowed to roam the premises. I would also probably think that the neighborhood is not a safe and healthy community to raise my child. The stigma and the negative attitudes of people to the half-way house is also not far from reality and maybe as neighbors people would think of us differently also. Having a half-way house for mentally-ill people as a neighbor brings mixed emotions, fear, anxiety, pity and generally I would be upset. I would fear that the residents in the facility would harm us and especially harm my child. I would be anxious of the stress of having mentally-ill neighbors, that I might always be thinking of how they would affect our daily lives. I would also feel pity for those mentally-ill people because they do deserve a place to stay where they can get better before being institutionalized. And in all honesty, I would be upset by the fact  that as a health care provider, I should not be feeling and thinking this because I know that they can do get better and I should not be too narrow minded about it. Based on my feelings and thoughts about the halfway house, I would probably wait and see whether what the conditions are in the facility is and how it impacts the community before I decide to leave the community. Since I don’t want to be consumed by my irrational thoughts about the matter and I also don’t want to risk the safety of my child, then I would try my best to be objective in the decisions that I would make. Bibliography Atkinson, R. et.al (1998). Hilgard’s Introduction to Psychology 8th ed. New York, Prentice-Hall    How to cite Mental Health Project, Essay examples

 In how far do the views of love presented in the play reflect 19 the attitude towards love the Elizabethan audience had Essay Example For Students

  In how far do the views of love presented in the play reflect 19 the attitude towards love the Elizabethan audience had? Essay William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet has the high profile as the love-tragedy everybody knows1. Although it is regarded as the ideal of romantic love there are many other (quite unromantic) views represented in the play, too. In this term paper I will try to give a survey of the different views of love in Romeo and Juliet. First of all there are Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossd lovers (Prologue) who establish a quality of love, of life intensively lived, that becomes its own value 2. Apart from these two main characters and their view of love there are in general five other attitudes towards love: to the servants of the house of Capulet, the Nurse and Mercutio love means nothing else than sex, to Romeos friend Benvolio the most important thing about love is not only sex but that love makes you happy, Juliets parents Capulet and Lady Capulet together with the Prince and Paris share an Elizabethan view of love and marriage, Romeos parents Montague and Lady Montague in contrast to Juliets parents have a relationship full of love, and last but not least there is Friar Laurence who is afraid that Romeos and Juliets passion will lead to a bitter end but nevertheless shows a big sympathy for the young lovers and wants to make their love holy by marriage. In the following part of this term paper I will have a more detailed look on these shortly sketched views of love, dealing with them in the order just named above and laying great stress on Romeo and Juliet and the way they deal with their feelings. Finally Id like to take a short look on the question in how far the views of love presented in the play reflect the attitude towards love the Elizabethan audience had. 2. Main part: Views of love in Romeo and Juliet 2.1. Romeos and Juliets view of love: Love as the reason for living The star-crossd lovers Romeo and Juliet both fall in love at first sight and are determined to marry just after their first encounter. Their love is the most precious thing Romeo and Juliet have in their lives so both are ready to die for each other and chose to die in the end because each knows that he or she cannot live without the other, and knows this as a simple, literal truth to be acted on at the first opportunity3. Romeo as well as Juliet regards his banishment as death. Although the lovers are hoping to see each other again they are willing to die after Tybalts death/their wedding night. After their separation due to the banishment both kill themselves in order to be together again: Juliet drinks Friar Laurence sleeping potion in order to die and be with Romeo again when she awakes, and Romeo drinks the poison to be reunited with Juliet, whom he thinks lifeless, in death. When waking up in the monument and finding her love having committed suicide, Juliet kills herself for the reason of a reunion after death, too. The lovers even drink to each other when they drink their potions. Up to here Romeo and Juliet seem to share the same view of love but on having a closer look there are some differences in their ways to deal with their feelings. So Ill characterize both separated from each other in detail. 2.1.1. Romeo From the beginning of the play, where Romeo is introduced as being lovesick, till the end of the action, where he takes the poison and commands himself to die quickly (V, iii, 117-118), Romeo is a Petrarchan lover. In the beginning he indulges himself in eloquent images and enjoys his role as the rejected lover. He pities himself and says that he feels heavy and burdened with his love for Rosaline (I, iv, 12; I, iv, 20-22). This is the Elizabethan lover, expressing himself in wild antitheses which are a sort of verbal equivalent for his distracted state balanced between two extremes ( feather of lead, cold fire , etc.), and in conceits ( Love is a smoke the fume of sighs ) which serve to represent the pleasing anguish of the lover, the grief of unrequited love which is yet happier than not loving at all would be.4 But as soon as Romeo lays eyes on Juliet he is so overwhelmed by her beauty that his unhappy love for Rosaline is forgotten at that instant: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright. It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiops ear Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I neer saw true beauty till this night. (I, v, 44-53) He gets to know Juliet after the dance and from the first moment their love is so right and true that their conversation effortlessly forms a sonnet. Romeo uses Petrarchan images in that first conversation (e.g. calling Juliet a saint that he is unworthy to touch) and goes on with this when he watches and describes Juliet in the orchard after the party. She is his sun (II, ii, 2 and 3), her eyes are even brighter than the stars (cf. II, ii, 15-22) and she is a bright angel. When talking to her Romeo wants to swear how much he loves her but she doesnt want to hear his oaths. Although in II, ii Romeos language is not different from the Petrarchan language he used to describe Rosaline and the love he felt for her, Romeos love for Juliet is much different from the love he bore for Rosaline. When loving Rosaline, Romeo was in love with love and unable to act. But now he has found a purpose for living in Juliet and in the fact that his new love doth grace for grace and love for love allow (II, iii, 82). Romeo is so much changed by this experience that for a short time he is able to be the old Romeo, the Romeo his friends are missing, again. He jests with Mercutio and wins their battle of wits which makes Mercutio cry out: Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature. For this drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. (II, iv, 88-92) Romeo gets more mature by his marriage to Juliet, too. When he comes back from the wedding, he is so full of peace and love that Tybalts insults cannot hurt him. Moreover he calls Tybalt cousin and tells him love thee better than thou canst devise Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. (III, i, 68-69) But when Tybalt stabs Mercutio, Romeo accuses Juliet of having made him act so peacefully: O, sweet Juliet, Thy beauty has made me effeminate And in my temper softend valours steel. (III, I, 115-117) In a fury he takes revenge for Mercutios death and kills Tybalt. This action throws him back in the role the feud forces him to play but at the same time it hinders him to be what he intends to be a peaceful young man enjoying his happiness as a freshly-made bridegroom. Romeo seems to realize this, crying out that he is Fortunes fool. He flies to Friar Laurence cell and bursts out in tears. When the clergyman informs him that the Princes doom is not death but banishment, Romeo moans about this banishment because it means that he has to leave Juliet whereas every cat and dog And little mouse, every unworthy thing, Live here in heaven and may look on her, But Romeo may not. (III, iii, 30-33) This clearly shows that Romeo is himself only in his Juliet; she is his only reality, his hearts true home and idol5 and this strong and passionate love he feels for her makes him able to face death in the end of the play. To Romeo love is the most important thing in life. He has the blessing and the curse to feel things deeply6 so being banished from his Juliet after having killed Tybalt really is purgatory, torture, hell itself (III, iii, 18) to him. He doesnt want to live like this, so he denies to hide himself hearing someone (the Nurse) knocking at the door. Learning from the Nurse then that Juliet is in the same state of mind, Romeo is so afraid that Juliet might not love him anymore that he offers to stab himself. But Friar Laurence makes him go to his wife and after having spent the night with her Romeo is so absolute happy that death doesnt give him a fright anymore; he would die at that instant if it pleased Juliet: Let me be taen, let me be put to death, I am content, so thou wilt have it so. I have more care to stay than will to go. Come death, and welcome. Juliet wills it so. (III, v, 17-25) But she makes him leave her at dawn. Bidding her farewell Romeo shows himself certain that they will see each other again and that makes him accept his banishment. Just before he learns about Juliets death in V, i, he is happy having had a dream of Juliet which he takes as the harbinger of joyful news (V, i, 2). Hearing of his wifes death then he is at once determined to lie with thee tonight (V, i, 34) and gets to Verona to commit suicide at his ladys side. He is possessed by this idea and cannot be stopped by Paris who gets in his way. Romeo does not want to put another sin upon his head (cf. V, iii, 62) and beseeches Paris to leave him alone. But Paris refuses to go, so they fight and the County gets killed. Romeo promises to fulfil his last wish to lay him next to Juliet in the tomb. Noticing that the man he just killed is Paris, the man who should have been Juliets bridegroom, he pities him for being writ with him in sour misfortunes book (cf. V, iii, 82) and lays the corpse in to the grave. Inside the tomb Romeo feels merry; he is with his beloved Juliet again, he will remain at her side and no one will ever separate them again. After having praised Juliets beauty, having taken her in his arms and kissed her once again, Romeo drinks the poison to his love and hus with a kiss (V, iii, 120) he dies. 2.1.2. Juliet Juliets attitude towards love is a bit different to that of her lover Romeo. In this couple, Romeo is the romantic one, and Juliet is the practical one7. Whereas Romeo indulges himself in Petrarchan images she discourages Romeo from stereotyped love-vows, and spurs him to make arrangements for their wedding8. In the beginning of the play Juliet is a child, not yet fourteen. To her marriage is an honour that I dream not of (I, iii, 66). This changes when she meets Romeo at the party and falls in love with him. To her as well as to Romeo this is love at first sight and right from the beginning her feelings for him are very deep: If he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding bed. (I, v, 134-135) After the party, Juliet as well as Romeo seems to be too excited to go to bed at once. Instead she is talking to herself in the orchard lamenting about Romeos name. If he were not a Montague and by this her enemy, she could be in love with him so she bids him to doff thy name, And for thy name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself (II, ii, 47-49) Juliet is as well happy as taken by surprise when Romeo disturbs her. She knows that he has overheard her private counsel and that is why she doesnt want to frown or play around. In her practical mind that would make no sense. Juliet is confused by this unexpected meeting, she is a bit shy. She is very young so this is probably her first love and first secret date. She wants a bit more time to make up her mind about all that has happened so far: Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight: It is to rash, too unadvisd, too sudden, Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½It lightensà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. Sweet, good night. This bud of love, by summers ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest Come to thy heart as that within my breast. (II, ii, 117-124) However, at her re-entering Juliet has worked out a plan: if Romeo does honestly love her, he shall marry her the next day, otherwise he shall leave her to her grief (cf. II, ii, 143-148 and II, ii, 150-154). In II, ii Juliet presents herself rather as a child than a young women. This can be seen in the metaphors she uses to describe her love for Romeo, e.g.: Juliet: I would have thee gone, And yet no farther than a wantons bird, That lets it hop a little from his hand Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silken thread pulls it back again, So loving-jealous of his liberty. Romeo: I would I were thy bird. Juliet: Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. (II, ii, 176-183) However, her marriage makes her become a young woman waiting impatiently for her wedding night: Come gentle night, come loving black-browd night, Give me my Romeo (III, ii, 17) She wants the night to learn me how to lose a winning match Playd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks, With thy black mantle, till strange love grow bold, Think true love acted simple modesty. (III, ii, 12-16) But before she can enjoy her wedding night, Juliet is informed about Tybalts murder committed by her bridegroom. Although she calls Romeo a despised substance of divinest show (III, ii, 77), she repents her words a minute later when the Nurse joins in her laments. If not hers what tongue shall smooth thy name When I thy three-hours wife have mangled it? (III, ii, 98-99) Romeos banishment is worse to her than Tybalts death, she even mourns more over the lost wedding night than over her cousin: Take up those cords. Poor ropes, you are beguild, Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled. He made you for a highway to my bed, But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed. Come, cords, come, Nurse, Ill to my wedding bed, And death, not Romeo take my maidenhead. (III, ii, 132-137) When the Nurse promises to find Romeo for her, she bids her to bring him to her to take his last farewell (III, ii, 143). The next morning Juliet seems to have enjoyed her wedding night and doesnt want Romeo to leave at dawn. She pretends that It is not yet near day. It was the nightingale and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. (III, v, 1-3) Nevertheless she makes Romeo go when he agrees to stay willing to die in case he should be found there. When Romeo descends from her balcony, Juliet is haunted by an evil fore-shadowing. She sees him as one dead in the bottom of a tomb (III, v, 56) and bids fortune to bring him back to her quickly. After this parting Juliet is forced to get more and more mature. Things happen very quickly. Her mother enters telling her that she shall marry Paris, her father threatens her to throw her out on the street to starve if she doesnt agree to this marriage and she hasnt got a single friend in her household anymore since the Nurse advices her to forget Romeo and to marry the County. But to Juliet her marriage to Romeo and her love for him are holy and she will not betray those. So she turns from the obedient daughter she was in the beginning of the play into a woman who takes charge of her own life. She already showed her loyalty to Romeo when talking to her mother. There she speaks so ambiguo usly that she appears to be loyal to her family although she speaks well of Romeo, too. Now Juliet turns entirely against her familys will and seeks help in Friar Laurence. She is even ready to die: Write a magazine article for a film magazine commenting on how Baz Luhrmann makes Shakespeare appealing to a young, modern audience EssayNonetheless Capulet might have been different in the past when love (or better sex) might have been of a bigger value to him since his wife describes him as having been a mouse-hunt (IV, iv, 11) in his youth. He says so himself at the party in his house: I have seen the day That I could tell A whispering tale in a fair ladys ear, Such as would please. (I, iv, 22-25) All in all this makes it quite difficult in my opinion to understand Capulet. His behaviour becomes even more strange when he learns of Juliets death. Partly he returns into the loving father whom we know from the beginning and who mourns deeply about his dead daughter. But the other part of him seems to be more sad about the murder our solemnity (IV, v, 61) and about the loss of an heir than about the loss of someone he, referring to what he said in I, ii, loved well. However, this state of mixed emotions is eliminated in the end when Capulet really seems to be hurt seeing his daughter stabbed (cf. V, iii, 201). 2.4.2. Lady Capulet What kind of woman is Juliets mother? She does neither speak of love nor does she appear to love or even like her husband. She makes satirical remarks to hurt his feelings right from the beginning of the play (I, i, 75) where she says that a crutch is fitting Capulet better than a sword. Nevertheless Lady Capulet shows herself as a typical Elizabethan wife; she is obedient to her husband and does whatever he wants her to do, e.g. go to Juliet in the middle of the night to tell her that she has to marry the County Paris two days later. Moreover she expects to cheer her daughter up by this news which is really ridiculous because Paris has never wooed Juliet before as she says in III, v, 118-119. In my opinion, Lady Capulet is not at all emotional. She tells Juliet to stop grieving so much about her cousin Tybalt advicing her that Some grief shows much of love, But much of grief shows still some want of wit. (III, v, 72-73) Furthermore she shows no sympathy for her daughters denial to a marriage with Paris: I would the fool were married to her grave. (III, v, 140) Lady Capulet does not even agree to delay the marriage with the County, instead she tells her unhappy daughter Talk not to me, for Ill not speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. (III, v, 202-203) To her a marriage with Paris seems to be paradise. Hes not only wealthy, but young and attractive: everything in a husband she might have wished for herself but doesnt have21. I hold the opinion that this attitude derives from her unhappiness in her own marriage. As already mentioned above, I suppose that the marriage of Juliets parents was an arranged one due to the fact that Lady Capulet tells Juliet I was your mother much upon these years That you are now a maid. (I, iii, 72-73) So she is not yet thirty. Her husband is probably much older than her as one learns at the party where he talks to his cousin about the time when they used to go in masks, which is already thirty years ago (I, v, 31-42). It might be that Lady Capulet hopes that Juliets marriage to Paris, although being an arranged one, will turn out well in the end by believing in the Elizabethan way of thinking: love must come after marriage22 . Although Lady Capulets behaviour up to III, v appears as if she does not bear love or care for anybody except herself, she seems to be fond of her daughter for she mourns her very deeply when Juliet appears to be dead in IV, v and in the end when Juliet is really dead. 2.4.3. Prince Escalus The Princes view of love is the most Elizabethan one. In the last act, the Prince asks Montague and Capulet to See what a scrouge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. (V, iii, 291-292) By this sentence the whole world view of Elizabethan times is represented. The people living in that time had a very strong feeling that God ordered the universe in a specific way. When something evil, like the feud among the Capulets and Montagues, broke the laws of this order, that evil had to be checked.23 This means that to the Prince the love of Romeo and Juliet had to find such a bitter end because their fathers acted against the heavenly will to keep the peace. From his point of view there could have been no other way out, even the young peoples falling in love was planned by God to take vengeance for his disregarded laws. Hence the Princes view of love could be described as a religious one; when you fall in love that is part of Gods big plan and you can do nothing against it. 2.4.4. Paris Paris is the perfect Elizabethan suitor who woos not his future bride but his future parents-in-law. From Paris point of view he acts absolutely normal. He is in love with Juliet (although he doesnt seem to have told her about it as she remarks in III, v, 118-119), so he asks her father for her hand for marriage. With his gentleman-like behaviour, Paris wins the love of Capulet (who calls him son in III, iv, 15 and friend in III, v, 191) and especially that of Lady Capulet (whose enthusiasm about Paris makes her say about him that Veronas summer hath not such a flower ) but not Juliets love which can clearly be seen in IV, i, when they meet by accident in Friar Laurence cell. Paris, who probably knows that he is a good catch, being not only rich but also a kinsman to the king, is sure that Juliet loves him: Do not deny to him that you love me. (IV, i, 24) And: I am sure that you love me. (IV, i, 26) He wouldnt dream of it that it could be different. Since everything is settled between Capulet and Paris, the latter treats Juliet as if she (already) were his property when they meet at Friar Laurence cell (IV, i): Thy face is mine, and thou hast slanderd it. (IV, i, 35) Nevertheless Paris must really have been in love with Juliet because he mourns for her very deeply and wants to keep obsequies at her grave every night. He also wants Romeo to stop thy unhallowd toil (V, iii, 54) in front of the grave and when he dies he asks Romeo to lay him next to Juliet in the tomb. I suppose that by being buried next to her that should have been his wife Paris intends to stay at her side for eternity. So even if it had not been possible for him to get together with Juliet in life he could at least be together with her in death. All in all Paris view of love is a quite romantic one with respect to the Elizabethan age and the conditions of love and marriage which are linked with that era. 2.5. Romeos parents: A relationship full of love Although there is not much that could be said about Romeos parents and particularly about their views of love I would like to put down here what I read out of that little bit. After all, the Montagues seem to be much more close-knit and loving24 as Juliets family. 2.5.1. Montague The only time Montague talks about his relation to his wife is in the last act, when he tells the Prince that his wife died that night. He is very sad about that and asks What further woe conspires against mine age? (V, iii, 211) as if there could be no bigger grief in the whole world. I took this utterance as an indicator for the love he has felt for his wife. Montagues relation to his wife seems to be very different to that of the Capulet-couple. While in the Capulet household the father makes up plans all alone, the Montagues seem to talk about their problems with each other and make up decisions together: Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow, We would as willingly give cure as know. (I, i, 153-154) Besides, Montague shows more respect to his wife, whom he entitles with madam (I, i, 158) when he is talking to her, than Capulet who addresses Lady Capulet only with wife all the time (e.g. in III, iv, 15; 32). Apart from that Montague shows himself a loving father who cares much about the welfare of his son. He is worried about Romeos behaviour while his son is in love with Rosaline and therefore asks his nephew Benvolio to get to know the cause of Romeos grievance. Here it is once more shown that the Montagues are somewhat nicer to each other than the Capulets Montague and his nephew Benvolio have a relationship of a totally different kind in comparison to that of Capulet and his nephew Tybalt. 2.5.2. Lady Montague Of Lady Montague we learn even less than of her husband. As one can take from her utterances in I, i she seems to be a peace-loving woman, who tries to stop her husband from fighting (I, i, 79) and who is very worried about her son, she is right glad he was not at this fray. (I, i, 115-116) As we learn from Montague in the last act Lady Montague dies of grief when Romeo is banished from Verona. This includes that she must have felt a deep love for her son. 2.6. Friar Laurence view of love: Violent delights have violent ends To Friar Laurence love is a serious thing. He gets angry when he learns from Romeo that the young man is no longer in love with Rosaline, for whom he cried many a tear, but with Capulets daughter Juliet. The Friar tells Romeo off saying that Young mens love then lies Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes. (II, iii, 63-64) He cannot understand that sudden change in his young friend who wailed so much over his unrequited love for Rosaline before. Nevertheless Friar Laurence promises to marry Romeo and Juliet to turn your households rancour to pure love (II, iii, 88). The Friar likes Juliet when he gets to know her later on and he wants to help the lovers to get happy. In his opinion the first step to achieve this is their marriage to prevent them from committing a sin by having sexual intercourse before being married. Their passion seems to be so deep that he dares not to leave them alone: Come, come with me and we will make short work For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone Till holy church incorporate two in one. (II, iv, 35-37) Friar Laurence regards this passion as dangerous (These violent delights have violent ends ), according to him love shouldnt be a quick and overwhelming desire so he warns Romeo: The sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness, And in the taste confounds the appetite. Therefore love moderately; long love doth so. Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. (II, vi, 11- 15) Nevertheless, Friar Laurence shows a quite romantic view of love in III, iii where he scolds Romeo who offers to kill himself. His friend shall not do so because by killing himself, he would kill Juliet, too, who lives only for him: Wilt thou slay thyself? And slay thy lady that in thy life lives ? Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury, Killing that love which thou hast vowd to cherish (III, iii, 116-129) Furthermore it is the Friar who works out a plan to get everything in order again after Romeos banishment and it is him, too, who sends Romeo to get thee to thy love as was decreed, Ascend her chamber hence, and comfort her. (III, iii, 146-147) When Juliet comes to ask for his help in order to rescue her from a marriage with Paris, the Friar makes the quick decision to give her a sleeping potion to make her appear dead for forty-two hours. In the meantime he wants to give note to Romeo who is supposed to come and take her to Mantua with him where she shall be rescued from this present shame (IV, i, 118). Friar Laurence knows about the risks of his plan but nevertheless decides to act upon it. Unfortunately the plan fails and Romeo, not knowing that his beloved Juliet is not really dead, stabs himself before the Friar gets to the monument. In the last act it turns out that Friar Laurence, who showed so much sympathy for the lovers and who tried hard to find a solution for their desperate situation, cannot understand the depth of their feelings just as Romeo accused him in III, ii: Thou canst not speak of what thou dost not feel (III, ii, 65) Realizing that his plan has failed and that Romeo is dead, Friar Laurence urges Juliet to leave the tomb where Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead, And Paris, too. Come, Ill dispose of thee Among a sisterhood of holy nuns. (V, iii, 155-157) Although he should know that life is meaningless to Juliet after having lost her husband, and that she is probably not interested in spending the rest of her life in a nunnery, he is so afraid of being caught in the tomb that he finally leaves without her, leaving her to her fate. Although Friar Laurence held the opinion that violent delights have violent ends he tried to make the best out of Romeos and Juliets passion. In the end he does not seem to understand that their suicides were the lovers only solution to their desperate situation and were committed out of love instead of being a work of heaven as he calls it (V, iii, 260). 3. Conclusion: In how far do the views of love presented in the play reflect the attitude towards love the Elizabethan audience had? To an Elizabethan audience the most tragic thing about Romeo and Juliet was not so much their ill-starred romance but the way the lovers brought destruction upon themselves by violating the norms of the society in which they lived25. The lovers behaviour turns all norms upside down. Romeo and Juliet are the children of parents who live in a feud and normally there is a fight whenever two people from the different households meet. But between Romeo and Juliet this is different. Bewitched by the charm of looks (2nd Prologue) they fall in love with each other and misfortune takes its course. They withdraw more and more from the norms of society, they marry secretly and Juliet disregards her parents will. Moreover she gives her loyalty to Romeo over her family, even after hes killed her cousin26. Besides, the lovers understanding of their roles stands in strong contrast to that of the surrounding characters. Romeo as a man should normally be like Mercutio and Tybalt, always ready to fight and lose his live for the sake of the family honour. Instead he is suffering from his unrequited love for Rosaline, he is peaceful after the marriage with Juliet and doesnt want to fight which makes him womanish in Mercutios eyes. Romeo even cries in Friar Laurence cell which makes the Friar call him womanish (III, iii, 110 and 112), too. Juliet on the contrary appears very practical, preferring to find means to realize a love affair with Romeo instead of making flowery Petrarchan promises like Romeo does. In the end she kills herself with a dagger (which has a male connotation) whereas her lover takes poison (which has a female connotation). To an Elizabethan play-goer this is too much. Although an Elizabethan courtier would be familiar enough with the bewitching passion of love to feel sympathy for the couple, he would clearly see where duty lay27 and act on this instead of acting the way Romeo and Juliet do.