What famous fictional couple comes to mind when you think of love?
Right. Romeo and Juliet.
Star-crossed lovers whose great love was not hindered even by the hatred between their families. Two young people who loved each other to the grave. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is often called the most romantic story of all times, and lovers from all around the world travel to Verona to get married on the so-called Juliet’s balcony. Romeo and Juliet is a key symbol of romance.
I approached Shakespeare's play with this in mind, although I'd also heard opinions about it being a stupid story about people dying for stupid reasons. However, it's still a love story, right? So I cut it some slack.
Well, I was disappointed.
Why anyone who possesses reasonable emotional intelligence and observational skills would consider Romeo and Juliet a romance, escapes me. It should escape you, too. And perhaps, it would escape even Shakespeare himself. Here's why, along with some musings on the nature of love as compared to lust, infatuation, and the follow your hormones... er, I meant to say, heart, philosophy.
Click here to read this Vocal top story I published a while ago but haven't posted about on my BuyMeACactus: https://vocal.media/fiction/why-i-hate-romeo-and-juliet-sorry-shakespeare
