Romeo & Juliet: A Suicide 'Teaching Opportunity'
Romeo and Juliet is often a student’s first Shakespeare play and for some the acts of suicide in the play can be viewed as “real love”. Interestingly, Romeo and Juliet don’t initially intend to commit suicide; their goal it to fake their deaths so they can run away and continue their married lives (the marriage happens in Act 2). It is important to have an open discussion about suicide and to share that suicide is never a way to solve a problem. It is also important to emphasize that mistakes can happen and that “faking a suicide” can have unintended fatal results. It would be useful to lead a discussion about what they think might be a better ending – in which Romeo and Juliet do not have to die. Always let them know that suicide can be a difficult subject to talk about and tell them that you and/or the school counselor are available to talk privately. Another theme to think about with this play is the battle of responsibilities and actions demanded by social institutions (i.e., families or schools) and those demanded by one’s own private desires. This could lead to a very dynamic discussion with students.
