Which theme of Romeo and Juliet is reflected in this excerpt?

A. Hatred is born when people give up what they love.

B. Hatred is not as powerful a force as love.

C. Hatred causes people to lose what they love.

D. Hatred cannot be dissolved with forgiveness.

Answer:

C. Hatred causes people to lose what they love.

Explanation:

In Romeo and Juliet, one of the central themes is how the ongoing feud between the Montagues and Capulets causes immense personal loss for both families. Hatred and violence between these two families lead to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, who are deeply in love but are torn apart by the enmity between their families. The tragedy shows how hatred causes people to lose what they love.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Hatred is born when people give up what they love.

This is not accurate. The hatred in the play stems from the feud, not from giving up love.

B. Hatred is not as powerful a force as love.

While love is a central theme, the play shows that hatred is a powerful force that leads to tragic outcomes, even overshadowing love at times.

D. Hatred cannot be dissolved with forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not explicitly addressed as a solution in the play. The families’ hatred leads to the tragedy, and it's only after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet that the families consider reconciliation.

So, C. Hatred causes people to lose what they love is the most accurate reflection of the theme in the excerpt.