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Romeo and Juliet is undoubtedly one of the greatest romances of all time, the play crafted with such genius that the authorship has been doubted even till this day. It is a work of the English language that transcends time, and is constantly used as a trope of current pop culture. Here is where I object however, this masterpiece of tragic love has been misconstrued to the masses as nothing more than prototype romantic of characters we are encouraged to emulate. To simplify the complexity of this drama to nothing but their naive love is a great disservice to Shakespeare’s play, and removes the very element that makes it great.

I wonder if all the references in music and pop culture are wholly familiar with the tragic elements of the play they are using as a generic example of profound love, had they even read the play? then would they truly encourage such a fate to young lovers? The fate of death at fourteen? I speak to the Summer Set, We the Kings, even the wonderful Taylor Swift is guilty of using this terrible misappropriation of innocent love. Juliet is a mere child and Romeo not much older, scarcely are they able to even comprehend the feelings of love, their exclamations so beautifully exaggerated, so dramatic, it is what makes them incredible, but not realistic. To profess love and marriage on the very first meeting of a family enemy? Even the Friar thinks it foolish, he tells Romeo, who had not the day before professed love to Rosaline not Juliet, that he was full of doting not of love. The wills of teenage boys and girls are ever changing in drastic measures, from one extreme to the next, without maturity.

I do not denounce the exquisite words of Shakespeare, I have performed the play and love it dearly, but the play is not without knowledge of its naivety. Even the parents who’s bitter feud was the cause of all strife and to the end to their children’s lives are not without blame and blindness. No one in the play is really praised with the best of decision making, much the opposite. So why then has then pop culture turned it into the cliche love affair? We romanticize the idea of being Romeo and Juliet when truly that is to wish to send someone to an early grave. I personally see it is as a lack of originality more than the use of history, especially when the example is being used so poorly. It is my sincere hope that the works of Shakespeare do continue to live on, but in a much more true light to their actual intent than is currently being syndicated.

I will leave you with the last line of my favorite play, which does not encapsulate innocence and love, but heartache and remorse which is the true nature of this misinterpreted masterpiece.

“Never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo”