Reading Romeo & Juliet in High School was a fun, albeit, eye-opening experience for a lot of students I know. I remember not being totally thrilled when our teacher brought up that we’d be diving into our first Shakespeare and then struggling through the text (at the time No Fear Shakespeare wasn’t really a thing...I hope that doesn’t date me).
At first, the love story seems kinda cute- you know, the two of them meeting each other and falling in love at first sight...even against the backdrop of their family feud (wow, can it get any more romantic?). Eventually, though, the story becomes less of a romantic tale...and more of a cautionary one; we learn what becomes of passions that run too hot, both in the extreme of love (the young, wildly passionate couple) and in the extreme of hate (the raging families).
That being said, Romeo & Juliet has its moments, some adorable...and some SUPER cringey. And that’s what I wanted to focus on today...those moments that make you want to hide your face even just while reading. These are those moments in my eyes:
1. Romeo’s immediate change of heart at the dance
“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.” Act 1, Scene 5
Oh, Romeo, Romeo. Literally a day ago he had professed he would never love anyone besides Rosaline. Mercutio TOLD him before the dance that it would just be a matter of time before he found someone else, and he rejected it flat out...that is, until a few moments later when he saw Juliet for the first time. Cue, “Oh swoon, I’ve never loved anyone until this moment,” and the dramatic obsession that ends up taking both of their lives.
2. Pretty much any time the Nurse speaks
“I swear to you by my virginity at age twelve, I already told her to come. Come on!
Where is she? What is she doing? What, Juliet!” Act 1, Scene 3
Gotta love the Nurse. Just going ahead and doing Juliet’s bidding without telling anyone. If that wasn’t enough, her monologues make me CRINGE. Sometimes, I find myself saying OUT LOUD, “agggh, stop talking!” and others I’m dying laughing at the wild tale she has fabricated this time. She definitely has a lot of love for Juliet...so that’s sweet! But sometimes I think it’s a misplaced love...one that seeks to satisfy Juliet...whether it be for a good or bad reason...which is, in the end, not totally healthy when it comes to a parental figure. But, ah well, here we are.
3. When Romeo kills Tybalt, and then Juliet gets mad at herself for being upset about it
“Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name,
When I, thy three hours' wife, have mangled it?” Act 3, Scene 2
This scene has always bugged me. Juliet has a right to be confused and kind of angry. This was her cousin, after all. But, almost immediately, she chooses the side of Romeo, her husband of a few hours. I understand it’s meant to be a moment of hardship, where we see her struggling between her old family and new family, but it has always bugged me that she’s all the sudden, totally fine with the fact that her VERY new husband took the life of her cousin. Yikes.
4. After their “wedding night”, Romeo makes like 100 prophetic references to their death
“Let me be ta'en. 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.—” Act 3, Scene 5
Yeah, we all knew they were going to have a “wedding night” scene...and I almost chose that for one of these moments, in itself. However, something even more noticeable, when we see Romeo and Juliet the next day, is Romeo’s references to their day-of-doom ending coming up later that day. Obviously, they don’t know about it, but Romeo references it like a buncha times. Shakespeare is IN LOVE with bringing up ironically prophetic speech...so much so that he even begins the play with a rundown of what’s about to occur, but hearing it from Romeo and Juliet’s mouths in the play adds layers to it...that I found kinda cliche.
5. Obviously, their untimely...or is it super timely?...end
“Thus with a kiss I die.” Act 5, Scene 3
Had to mention this as my last cringe-y moment. The way Romeo and Juliet’s deaths are contrived and concocted to the very moment that each chooses to die...one right after the other, it feels VERY cringe-worthy. But this is, perhaps, part of the cheesiness that makes us keep coming back to this tale.
And there you have it, the most cringe-worthy moments in one of the classic tales of our time! Don’t take this as dissing...we send major props to Shakespeare...and obviously very much appreciate the story that changed our culture so heavily; however, c’mon, you know there are moments that bring out the cringe!
What are your thoughts? For more on our thoughts and feelings on Romeo & Juliet, take a listen to our first podcast episode with the We Ship It Podcast...or write to us at weshipitpodcast@gmail.com.
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