Romeo and Juliet, The Hero and The Soldier Essay Example

to vanish. In contrast, Siegfried Sassoon's poem "The Hero" contradicts Brooke's sentiment, suggesting that the fallen soldiers will not be remembered or loved by the nation, but instead forgotten. Sassoon's line, "no one seemed to care, except that lonely woman with white hair," highlights that only a soldier's mother will mourn their death while society sees it as just another loss in a remote conflict.

Love can have negative effects, as seen in various examples. In the play "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare, the theme of love is portrayed as a disaster from beginning to end, whether it be for one's partner or family. The play begins with a fight between the Montagues and Capulets in Act 1 Scene 1, which serves as a catalyst for two families to enter into a war fueled by their respective loves for their families. This hatred increases when Romeo attends an uninvited Capulet party in Act 1 Scene 5 and unexpectedly falls in love with Juliet.

Upon seeing Romeo at the party, Tybalt Capulet desired revenge for the audacity of a Montague attending a Capulet event. It appears that when love is introduced, negative emotions escalate, forming a pattern. The families' love for one another causes greater animosity during conflicts, and tension rises as Romeo and Juliet must conceal their love. In these situations, love becomes a negative emotion, overwhelming any enjoyment as hate and sadness overshadow it.

In the texts I have examined, I have identified various forms of hatred. Although these expressions differ, they all have a similar result: someone inevitably suffers. One instance of this is seen in Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

wherein physical hatred is demonstrated. In this case, the hostility arises from taunting words and gestures triggered by the Capulet household, such as "I do not bite my thumb at you sir, but I do bite my thumb".

During the time period of Romeo and Juliet, making the gesture of biting your thumb was considered a form of swearing, similar to giving someone the middle finger today. Additionally, the use of the word "Sir" by the Capulets towards Old Montague was intended to be sarcastic and disrespectful, despite their pretense of respect. Although these actions were intended as a private joke between the Capulet family, they were interpreted as insults by the Montagues and led to a public brawl. This event provided an opportunity for both households to display their intense hatred for one another through violent means.

There was an instance where someone was hurt during a fight, as expected. The poem "The Hero" by Sassoon depicts an example of indirect hatred behind someone's back which leads to uncomfortable situations. Sassoon uses insulting imagery to describe Jack as a "Useless Swine," indicating that he did not like Jack. While Sassoon fought bravely, Jack attempted to get injured and return home. However, Jack was killed and brought home in a coffin. Sassoon believes that the brother officer should inform Jack's mother of the truth behind his death instead of telling her "Gallant Lies" to make her son appear heroic. Sassoon despises Jack because he is made out to be a hero when, in reality, he was a coward.

Jack's mother was hurt by her son's death, but what made it awkward was that everyone knew he was a

coward except for her. This reminded me of a similar instance of hate in Romeo and Juliet. In Act 3 Scene 5, Juliet has a heated argument with her father, Lord Capulet. He uses insulting language and says hateful things to her, resulting in a barrage of mental abuse and hatred. His words, such as "you green sickness carrion" and "Hang, beg, starve, die in the streets," would undoubtedly have a negative effect on anyone, especially his daughter.

Lord Capulet's anger in Romeo and Juliet stems from his daughter's disobedience, a behavior that was considered unprecedented during the play's setting. Being disrespected by his daughter could damage Lord Capulet's reputation and cause him to lose respect from those he is associated with. Although a negative emotion, this shows the love-hate relationship between father and daughter. In "The Hero," negative emotions such as hatred and lies lead to hurtful outcomes, as seen with Jack's mom experiencing prolonged grief due to her son's death and potentially facing judgment for her son's perceived cowardice. Lies, although sometimes used with good intentions, can also have negative consequences such as in "The Hero" where Jack's brother falsely tells their mother that he is still alive.

Sassoon refers to the officer's declaration to Jack's mother that her son was a hero as a "Gallant Lie". The paradox lies in the fact that lies cannot be gallant. This refers specifically to the officer's lie as gallant, as it presents a heroic story of Jack, while in reality, he was a coward. While initially, the lie helps maintain morale on the home front and assures Jack's mother of his heroism, the officer may eventually

feel guilty for deceiving not just Jack's mother but possibly others as well in their belief that their sons are heroes.

The officer may feel a sense of guilt as a mother undoubtedly deserves to know the truth about her son's death, even if it is a brutal reality, rather than being told a fabricated heroic story. This weight of unspoken words will persistently trouble the officer until his last breath. Although there is no concrete evidence stating the extent of guilt that the officer may feel, Sassoon describes him as informing Jack's mother of the news "quietly," insinuating that he may be reserved and contemplative, causing him to ruminate over the deceitful accounts he conveyed. The play "Romeo and Juliet" also showcases examples of untruths. In the beginning of Act 3 Scene 5, the morning after Romeo and Juliet's last night together, Juliet pleads for Romeo to stay despite his exile.

Romeo and Juliet are talking, and Juliet thinks she hears a nightingale, but Romeo says it was a lark announcing the morning. This means he has to leave immediately. Even though Juliet has lied before to spend more time with Romeo, he sees through it. It's a risky strategy, as they could easily be caught, especially now that the nurse is warning them that Juliet's mother is coming. Soon after Romeo leaves, Juliet's mother enters her room thinking that Juliet is crying for her dead cousin Tybalt. But in reality, she's crying for Romeo. Her mother vows to seek revenge for Tybalt's death, but Juliet says she will never be satisfied until Romeo- not Tybalt- is dead.

This passage illustrates Juliet's deception and

use of dramatic irony in Shakespeare's play. When she states "till I behold him...dead," the audience understands that she actually desires to embrace Romeo, despite the word "dead" being used. However, Juliet's mother is unaware of this pause and mistakenly believes that Juliet wants Romeo to die. Later in the scene, Juliet's mother announces that she will be wed to Paris, but Juliet protests and declares her love for Romeo. This announcement causes tension with Lord Capulet, who has just entered with the nurse.

It is uncertain why Juliet's parents are angry, whether it is due to her deceiving her mother by claiming to hate Romeo but now declaring love for him, or because she shows disrespect towards her authoritative father. The consequences of lying are unfavorable in both texts, leading to misinterpretations by a mother about her son and feelings of guilt for a military officer. Ultimately, lying generates negativity and damages relationships as demonstrated in Romeo and Juliet where it results in tearing apart a family. Thus, the narrative of Romeo and Juliet illustrates not only romance but also falsehoods and animosity. It serves as an excellent depiction of both "The Hero" and "The Soldier".

It is my conviction that negative emotions are evident in all three texts and that how individuals respond to circumstances may be influenced by their era, culture, and social position.