Throughout Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare expresses his belief that love forces one to

choose between individual and group identities through both character actions and
interactions. For example, Romeo said,” Then move not while my prayer’s effect, I take
[he kisses her] Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.” This phrase helps helps
express Shakespeare’s belief that love forces one to choose between individual and
group identity through Romeo’s first interaction with Juliet. In addition, Juliet said,” ‘Tis
by thy name that is my enemy thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s a
Montague? It is nor a hand, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part of a man.” This helps
express Shakespeare’s belief by showing how Romeo chose to disregard their families
in order to be together.
Furthermore, Romeo says,”Here’s to my love [drinks] O true apothecary thy drugs are
quick. Thus, with a kiss, I die [falls, dies]” this helps express Shakespeare’s belief by
showing Romeo’s choice to stay with Juliet even if she did or did not truly die. Also,
Romeo said,” ‘Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here where Juliet lives, and every
cat and little mouse, every unworthy thing, Live here in heaven and may look at her But
Romeo may not.” Romeo is explaining that despite being from a rival family, he’d chose
to stay with Juliet, this helps further express Shakespeare’s belief that because Romeo
& Juliet were in love they were forced to choose between each other or their families.
In addition, Juliet says,”​Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger! [Takes Romeo’s
dagger.] This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. She stabs herself; falls [and dies].”​ ​This
shows Juliet is willing to do anything just to stay with Romeo. This also helps express
Shakespeare’s belief that loves forces one to choose between their group and individual
identities. Also Romeo says,”With love’s light wings did I climb these walls.” This proves that just
like Juliet, he’d do anything to stay with her. In this scene, after he climbed the wall, he was
aware that he could be killed but he didn’t care, he explained to Juliet that the night would be
enough to hide and protect him. This helps further express Shakespeare’s belief because
Romeo and Juliet would purposefully put themselves in danger in order to stay together.
Shakespeare expresses his belief that love forces one to choose between their individual and
their group identities through Romeo and Juliet’s actions, and interactions with each other and
other characters. They both chose to stay together despite the rivalry and Juliet’s forced
marriage.