Romeo
and Juliet, and more recently Hazel and Augustus, literature and movies love to
play around with what are known as “star-crossed lovers”. What does that even
mean? Star-crossed lovers are basically defined as two people who want to be
together, but can’t, because of fate, or family, or disease, or whatever is
pushing them apart. We just love them for some odd reason. Why is it?
I feel
like part of the reason people love the idea of star-crossed lovers is because
it gives them hope that they can find their “soul mate”, the person that is
fated for them. Star-crossed lovers show people this and give them they idea
that can find their Romeo or Hazel Grace. People think that just because a few
unlucky couples couldn't make it that they will be able to. Sure maybe they’re
single now or in a relationship that is just “average” and isn't like what they've
seen in the movies or TV shows that they love. A lot of girls what love like
Romeo and Juliet (you know, minus all the dying and stuff.), a love that would
be worth risking what anyone thought about you so that you could have that
wonderful movie love. Unfortunately (or fortunately if you really think about
it.) this does not exist.
When I
first read Romeo and Juliet in ninth grade I thought it was the stupidest thing
ever. Why would two teenagers ever think that they could be together forever
when they had so much life ahead of them? Now, thinking back to when I read The
Fault in Our Stars in seventh grade, I thought Hazel and Augustus’s romance was
riveting and perfect and that would have been together forever, even though
they were also only teenagers. The difference between Romeo and Juliet and
Hazel and Augustus is that they were star-crossed by something that couldn't be
controlled, cancer. With Romeo and Juliet you can say that they were stupid and
ignorant, but you can’t say that about kids with cancer.
We all
the magically excitement of the movies, even when we know it doesn't exist.
Word count: 354
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