What is William Shakespeare trying to say about love through the tragic relationship between Romeo and Juliet? The main themes in Romeo and Juliet are related to love and loyalty. See if you can identify and analyze those themes.

Step 1: What parts of the plot seem related to a possible theme in the play? (Think about the main conflict and how it get resolved or worked out.)

Step 2: Which characters seem related to a possible theme? Which characters change, and what do those changes suggest about the cruelty of the world, or true friendship?

Step 3: How does William Shakespeare utilize symbols to hint at the play’s themes? What objects, people, or places stand for something “bigger” in the story?

Step 4: What does the play’s title suggest about the play’s theme? Why do you think
Shakespeare named his play The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?

Step 5: Write about one or two of the play’s main themes in your own words