“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
This clever quote from Romeo and Juliet sums up the drama in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
But if you’re struggling to find a topic for your Romeo and Juliet essay, you might feel the following quote sums up your own struggles: “For never was a story of more woe than this student trying to write a paper about Juliet and her Romeo.”
I get it. Sometimes the biggest challenge in writing a paper is choosing a topic.
If you’re fresh out of ideas for your paper, check out these 10 heart-stopping topics for your Romeo and Juliet essay.
Before You Pick a Topic for Your Romeo and Juliet Essay …
A quick piece of advice: Before you choose a topic, make sure you re-read your assignment.
Do you have to write a literary analysis, a character analysis, an argument essay, or another type of essay?
Trust me, it makes a difference.
If you’re supposed to write a compare and contrast essay about the Capulets and Montagues and you end up writing a character analysis of Romeo, chances are your professor will notice. You also probably won’t be too happy with your grade.
Now that you’re sure of what kind of essay you’re writing, you can work on picking the perfect topic.
10 Heart-Stopping Topics for Your Romeo and Juliet Essay
Topic #1: Fate—Romeo and Juliet as star-crossed lovers
Because the Capulets and Montagues (the families of Romeo and Juliet) are enemies, the stars are not aligned for Romeo and Juliet. Their relationship is doomed to fail.
- Analyze the role of fate (or destiny) in Romeo and Juliet.
Topic #2: Feminism
Women in the time of Romeo and Juliet are expected to follow orders. Men control society. Juliet, however, defies this role. She is flirtatious with Romeo, and the two even kiss. Juliet proposes marriage to Romeo and defies her parents’ wishes to marry another.
- Explain Juliet’s role as a feminist.
Topic #3: Character analysis of Tybalt
Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, kills Romeo’s friend, Mercutio. Tybalt is an expert swordsman, full of machismo. He is violent, loves a good fight, and is filled with anger and hate.
- Write an in-depth character analysis of Tybalt.
Topic #4: Romeo and Juliet as romance or tragedy
There is plenty of evidence that the play is a romance. Romeo and Juliet fall in love and pine for each other. Both Romeo and Juliet will do whatever it takes to be together. They’re even willing to die for their love. This tragic ending, of course, makes a compelling case that this play is more tragedy than romance.
- Argue whether Romeo and Juliet is a romance or a tragedy.
Topic #5: Comparison of love
At first, Romeo is in love with Rosaline, but Rosaline wants nothing to do with Romeo. She is simply unattainable, and in many ways, this makes her even more attractive to Romeo. When Romeo meets Juliet, though, he forgets about Rosaline and falls head over heels in love with Juliet. (Obviously, Juliet feels the same about Romeo.)
- Compare the love Romeo has for Rosaline to the love he has for Juliet.
Topic #6: Young love
If you’ve ever been in love as a teenager (or thought you were in love), then you can relate to the young couple.
When Romeo and Juliet meet, they can think of nothing else. They defy their parents, ignore the age-old feud between the families, and do anything to be with each other. Teens today aren’t much different.
- Compare and contrast the timeless, universal theme of young love in Romeo and Juliet to today’s teen relationships.
Topic #7: Parenting styles
The relationship between Romeo and his parents and Juliet and her parents is prominent throughout the play. Both sets of parents have strong opinions on how to raise children and believe their children should follow the rules they establish.
- Explain the type of parenting style of either Romeo or Juliet’s parents, and explain the impact this has on the family and the child.
Topic #8: Romeo and Juliet as reality TV
Let’s face it, this play has the makings of an awesome reality TV show (except, of course, without that whole suicide scene at the end). Like any good reality show, Romeo and Juliet has fighting families, love triangles, male bravado, lies, deception, and police involvement.
- Explain why Romeo and Juliet would make a good reality TV show.
- Rewrite a scene of Romeo and Juliet to update it to a scene from a reality TV show.
Topic #9: Who is to blame?
You can argue that many people are to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Mercutio convinces Romeo to go to the ball. If Romeo didn’t attend the ball, he might not have met Juliet.
The Capulet and Montague families continue their bitter feud, forcing the young lovers to keep their relationship a secret.
Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet, keeps the relationship a secret, and offers the poison to Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet are at fault for their own deaths as they ultimately make their own decisions.
- Argue who is most at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Topic #10: Analyze important scenes or quotes
There are plenty of memorable (and significant) scenes and quotes in Romeo and Juliet.
For example, the opening scenes demonstrate the long-standing feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. In the balcony scene, Romeo and Juliet profess their love to each other. Juliet states, “O Romeo, Romeo! — wherefore art thou Romeo?” and asks why Romeo has to be Romeo and why he has to be a Montague.
- Choose an important scene or quote and analyze its significance.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow”
Alas, good people, we have reached the end of our discussion of topics for thy Romeo and Juliet essay. But do not fear. If thou requires more assistance, the Kibin editors can help thee.
Need to get more inspired before you start your own Romeo and Juliet essay? You might find How to Spot Personification in Romeo and Juliet helpful for other paper themes and ideas as well. Or check out these Romeo and Juliet essay examples:
- Recklessness in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
- Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: Juliet as a Victim
- Prejudice in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Our blog also has posts about other literary masterpieces, such as The Great Gatsby, Othello, and The Scarlet Letter.
If you need more writing help, check out these articles about prewriting, writing in third person, and how to write an awesome opening to your paper.
Good luck!
