Relating To Romeo And Juliet

     It is somewhat difficult for me to connect to any of the characters in Romeo and Juliet. I would assume that most people would choose one of the two protagonists, simply because they have been developed more than any of the other characters and are therefore the easiest to write about. However, I feel that I have nothing in common with either Romeo or Juliet. I am very decisive and do my best not to keep wavering back and forth when I make decisions in my life, be they significant or otherwise. I don't see anything wrong with changing my mind for a good reason, but I am unlike Romeo in that when I make a decision I am careful to make sure that it is what I really want and I never change my mind without good reason. Additionally, I feel that I can not relate to Juliet, for if I would start an all out war if I felt that my future was out of my control, and instead in the hands of my family. As a result, I feel like I can relate the most to Mercutio, even though he has only been present in one small section of the play so far. Like Mercutio, I have the capacity for critical thought, and I use it often. I have very little patience for the romantics in life, and dealing with people who tend to be more whimsical just exasperates me. I also feel like I can relate to how Mercutio handles people like this. When he makes fun of Romeo for setting so much store by is dreams he does a good job of using satire. Instead of telling someonw "you're wrong, and here's why" I like to use satire and sarcasm to get my point across.
     I feel that reading in class, as well as at home is beneficial. Personally, I don't have a lot of trouble understanding what is going on because most of the unusual words and phrasings make sense in context. Even though the meanings of some of the words have changed, they still make sense in the sentences. I think the biggest thing reading in class does for me is make the jokes more obvious. At home, I notice most of the jokes, but there is something about reading aloud that really makes them stand out. Often, when we are reading in class simply hearing the words spoken aloud helps me to notice passages that are intended to be funny. Additionally, reading everything for a second time helps to convey meaning, and I always pick up on things that I didn't the night before.