Summer Sparks

Ms.Anderson
English 9C 1st Hour
May 14th 2012
LOVE IN THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET vs. LOVE IN TITANIC
Forbidden first love. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare; and
Titanic, directed by James Cameron, tells the story of two pairs of star crossed lovers, families at
war. Both women set up for different marriages, find their true lovers unexpectedly. All separated
by fate or circumstances beyond their control. Romeo banished, Jack framed for thief. Both men
sacrifice themselves for their women. First and foremost, I will be explaining The Tragedy of
Romeo and Juliet. Afterward, I will be explaining The Titanic. In addition, I will be comparing
and contrasting the two tragic love stories.
In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, this is a situation of
families at war. Capulets vs. Montagues. Before fate has met him, Romeo, a Montague, is head
over heels in love with Rosaline. Like any normal teenager, the break up caused Romeo to
believe his life is over. After nearly hours of moping, his good friend, Benvolio, convinces
Romeo to attend the Capulet party. This was a bad idea, Montagues at a Capulet party? Risky.
When the disguised Montagues arrive at the party, Romeo sees Juliet, a Capulet, and says that it
was the first time he has seen true beauty. But, Tybalt, the cousin of Juliet, spots the Montagues,
and states that he will make Romeo pay. With only a kiss, Romeo and Juliet fall in love. As they
are both called away, they learn the true names of one another, and proclaim that fate has made

them fall in love with their enemy. The following hour, Romeo sneaks over the Capulet wall to
Juliets balcony. They confess their love for each other, and plan to get married. Little do they
know, Lord Capulet has arranged a different marriage for Juliet? County Paris. In the meantime,
Friar Lawrence agrees to join Romeo and Juliet in marriage yet criticizes him for jumping to
conclusions and getting over Rosaline in a matter of hours. He figures that it would possibly put
an end to the feuds between the Capulets and Montagues. After while, Tybalt sends Romeo a
challenge to duel, but Romeo is nowhere to be found. Until, after Romeo and Juliet are secretly
married, is when Romeo shows up to find his good friend Mercutio, sword fighting with Tybalt.
He tries his best to stop it, but Mercutio is killed. Romeo needs vengeance. He chases after
Tybalt, and then sticks his sword into his chest. Tybalt is dead. When Romeo realizes what he has
done, he runs to Friar Lawrences cell. But it is too late. Romeo has been banished from his
hometown of Verona. Now, poor Juliet. She is finding out the news of her arranged marriage, her
cousin being killed by her newly wedded husband, and her one true love is banished from
Verona; never to be seen again. Meanwhile, Romeo has been convinced to go see Juliet to make
their marriage official. On sudden impulse, Capulet promises Paris that he will be married to
Juliet the day after tomorrow. As Juliet finds out this news, she runs to Friar Lawrence. Romeo
already banished to Mantua, Juliet and Friar Lawrence make a plan to fake Juliets death, then
when she is put into the Capulet tomb, Romeo will fetch her and the will live happily together.
The same night, Juliet drinks the potion that Friar Lawrence gives to her, debating whether or not
it will kill her. The following morning, the day of Juliets arranged marriage ceremony, the Nurse
finds Juliet dead. Juliet is put into her tomb. Now the plan was that a man named Friar John
would deliver a letter to Romeo, explaining the faked death and that Romeo must rescue her.
But, Friar John was stopped by an outbreak by the plague; Romeo never received that letter.

Instead, Romeo is told that Juliet is dead. Heartbroken, he travels back to the Capulet tomb. This
is where he runs into a distraught Paris. They duel, and Paris ends up dead. Romeo breaks into
the Capulet tomb, to find his wife dead. He has nothing to live for, he has been banished from
his family and his whole world is now gone. Next to Juliets body, Romeo drinks a poison that he
paid the Apothecary for, and dies on the ground. As fate would have it, Juliet wakes up from her
sleep expecting to find Romeo rescuing her. What she really finds is Romeos dead body on the
ground. Having no other option that would keep her satisfied; she takes Romeos dagger and
plunges it through her chest.
Rose DeWitt Bukater is on her way to marry the rich and snobby Caledon Hockley. They
set sail on the RMS Titanic. A young, poor, American named Jack Dawson has just won a ticket
on the ship with his best friend Fabrizio De Rossi in a card game. In Roses situation, she is being
forced to marry Caledon to cover her families debt. Thinking of suicide many times, and finally
attempting to on the top deck of the Titanic, Rose is saved by Jack. She feels obligated to invite
him to dinner with her. But of course, what snobby and classy family would ever accept a poor
American who is making his living by painting on the streets? Feeling tormented by the family,
Jack asks Rose to dance, giving her the night of her life. Rose in Jack fall in love instantly. Rose
asks Jack to paint her nude, wearing the incredibly beautiful and expensive diamond that
Caledon has gave her. When Cal finds out, he frames Jack for the thief of the diamond and has
him put away. Not too long after, the Titanic hits an iceberg. There is panic and worry upon the
ship. As the ship begins to sink, it is a fight for everyones life. Rose and Jack find their way to
each other, hopelessly trying to survive. Rose sacrifices her safety after she is put aboard a small
boat with all of the other upper class people, as she jumps back onto the boat and into Jacks
arms. The boat sinks, but Rose and Jack find a way to stay together. Left in the middle of the

Atlantic Ocean, with no hope left of surviving; Rose and Jack find their way to a big wooden
door. Only Rose can fit. Freezing to death, Jack says to Rose never let go. Waiting endless
hours, Rose is awoken by guards looking for any survivors of the tragedy. Happy that help has
come, Rose excitedly tries to wake up Jack from what she thinks is sleep. But it is no use, Jack
was gone. She lets his hand slip through hers as she watches his dead body fall to the bottom of
the Atlantic. Rose is rescued by the guards, and is one of few survivors of the Titanic. Eighty
four years after, Rose retells the story of the Titanic. Her love for Jack has lived on, from the day
she met him, till the day she died. On April 15, 1912; about 1523 people died, passengers and
crew.
Between these two stories, there are many similarities and differences. In my opinion,
The Titanic is another version of Romeo and Juliet. Some of the similarities of these two stories
are that Rose and Juliet are both beautiful girls with parents who do not accept the men they
love. Both of the girls are being forced to marry men they have no desire in and could never
picture loving. Juliet, being forced to marry Paris, who the Nurse says is a man of wax. And
Rose, being forced to marry Caledon, only because her family is in debt and Caledon is a very
rich man. The families did not like each other, so it would never be acceptable for anyone to be
together. The loves in both of the stories are secret, and they would do anything for each other.
Romeo and Jack somehow get into trouble to separate them from the people they love. Also,
Romeo and Jack both end up dying, sacrificing themselves for their women. Even the names of
the couples are similar! There are also differences, though. The stories take place at different
times. Also, Rose ended up surviving and Juliet did not. The Titanic took place over a longer
period of time, yet Romeo and Juliet took place over a course of three days.

Furthermore, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and The Titanic are very alike stories. I
think what you can get by them is that fate always gets its way. The love between two people is
incomparable to anything. People go to extreme measures for love, in all ways. Overall, these are
both amazing stories.