Tone

The tone of Romeo and Juliet is presented to be sympathetic towards the plight of the two doomed lovers. At the time the play was composed the viewing of on-stage affection such as kissing was controversial and rarely executed. However, there are numerous times where this does occur during the play. The open nature of Juliet’s sexual desires would have been equally as shocking to the Shakespearean audience, and the fact that she is only thirteen can make this play somewhat problematic for modern audiences too. Juliet is very comfortable in expressing her utmost desire to be with Romeo in a physical way, asking to “learn me how to lose a winning match played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.” The play’s tone simply suggests that sex is an inevitable and natural part of life for all of the characters irrespective of their age and gender. The play continues to be non-judgmental about the characters sexual desires and instead is celebratory of the love that is shared between Romeo and Juliet, this is emphasised through the intensely poetic language that is used throughout the love scenes.