ROMEO AND JULIET
Rhys Buckley 10F
How does Shakespeare introduce themes that are not only relevant in his own day, but also in our own? Say what these are, and how we learn of them in the early part of the play.
I have been studying Romeo and Juliet in class and I have watched a production on television. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet for an audience used to sixteenth century stage conventions, we must appreciate that these conventions are very different from our own. The Elizabethan theatre was very distinctive, when a play was performed thousands of people would pack inside the theatre, the rich would be able to pay for seats in the stand sheltered from the wind and rain, while the poor had to stand and brave the elements as the theatre had no roof.
One advantage of standing was that you would have been very near the stage and almost feel as if you were part of the performance.
The original theatre was made out of wood and eventually it was destroyed by fire, nowadays a replica of the theatre has been built and it is the only wooden building in London, it is called The Globe.
In Elizabethan days the words were as important as the acting and many people went to listen rather than watch plays. Shakespeare was aware of this and used words to create images, to describe his characters and to express feelings to the audience.
The plays were held during the day, as there were no lights to perform under at night. Shakespeare's words would transport his audience to other lands and imaginary places away from the dreary lives that most people had at that time.
Shakespeare wrote in iambic rhythm which is based on ten syllables to a line, this poetry does not normally rhyme it is called blank verse. The use of this rhythm in presenting the play is similar to modern day rap.
As we can see the production is quite different, but I shall show that the actual subject matter of Shakespeare's play is still very relevant to us today and these themes still surround us.
Romeo and Juliet is a love story and we are first introduced to their characters by the other characters, we are told ...
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Shakespeare wrote in iambic rhythm which is based on ten syllables to a line, this poetry does not normally rhyme it is called blank verse. The use of this rhythm in presenting the play is similar to modern day rap.
As we can see the production is quite different, but I shall show that the actual subject matter of Shakespeare's play is still very relevant to us today and these themes still surround us.
Romeo and Juliet is a love story and we are first introduced to their characters by the other characters, we are told Romeo is dreamy and unsure of life while Juliet wants to please her parents especially her father, to do this she must marry Paris. When Romeo and Juliet meet it is love at first sight, the scene is set by Shakespeare with lovely images connected with religion as Romeo compares his lips to two pilgrims ready to kiss Juliet,
"My lips two blushing Pilgrims ready stand".
They kiss and Juliet is called away, Romeo asks the nurse who she is and is saddened when he finds out she is a Capulet,
" O dear account! My life is my foe's debt".
We are given the impression by Shakespeare that Romeo and Juliet's love is something special by the wonderful language he uses to bring their love to life. He compares Juliet to the Sun,
" But soft what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the Sun."
The audience is drawn into the tragedy of the affair as they know that the Capulets and the Montagues hate each other and would never allow the pair to be together.
It is as obvious that violence was as much a problem in Elizabethan days as it is today. Weapons on the street in Shakespeare's time were not guns as nowadays but swords and daggers. Many young men lost their lives, as even the smallest argument would result in a duel and death or serious injury. We are made aware of violence in Act One when Sampson and an other Capulet worker are talking very aggressively about the Montagues,
" A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's."
Sampson and Gregory enter a simple argument with the Capulet men and it ends with Sampson saying,
" Draw if you be men, Gregory, remember thy washing blow."
And they have to be parted by Benvolio.
Like today weapons cause problems, at Christmas two friends were shot dead when the party they were at irrupted into fighting as they ran for cover they were caught in the fire and died. They were innocent bystanders and in The Prince's speech he confirms that this was the same in Shakespeare's time.
" Rebellious subjects enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,
Will they not hear?"
Shakespeare brings gangs and feuds into the play in The Prologue and we are as concerned with this today as he was then. Today we have weapons of mass destruction and terrorists who care for no one, Alciheader being the best known due to the twin tower crashes.
Shakespeare uses the chorus unusually as one of the characters speaks to the audience before the play starts. It is pointed out to the audience that both families are rich and well known and that they have an ancient grudge, which has been going on too long. He says
"From ancient grudge, break new munity.
Where civil bloodmakes civil hands unclean."
The first characters we meet in the play are Capulet staff, minor characters in the play, but the family feud is emphasised with their aggression towards Montague staff they meet thus setting the troubled atmosphere of the play.
The Prologue introduces the idea of Fate, we know what is going to happen to Romeo and Juliet and as the play unfolds we can see the other characters trying to help the young lovers knowing that nothing can help them.
The Friar tries to help them by marrying them in secret
"So smile the heavens upon this holy act
That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!"
Mercutio and the Nurse also try to help by arranging meetings and keeping guard. Romeo and Juliet have premonitions as Act one develops Juliet says
"It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden;"
Parent Child relationships feature in Romeo and Juliet, as the main characters are Children under the influence of their parents. The Montagues are worried about Romeo at the start of the play because of his love for Rosaline causing him to have mood swings. The Capulets are keen for Juliet to marry Paris who they see as a good match. Juliet does not want to marry Paris, then later she cannot marry as she has secretly married Romeo. When her father finds out he his not happy
" But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next,
To go with Paris to St Peter's Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither."
Nowadays most television channels have programmes that contain parent child relationships. "My Wife and Kids" is one of these, we can see from the play that this relationship was very important and is still very important today.
To keep interest in the play Shakespeare created several strong characters, one of these is Tybalt, he is one of the Capulet household.
Tybalt is involved in two of the themes 'feuds between gangs' and ' weapons on the streets'. When he kills Mercutio he shows no mercy or sadness at what he has done,
"this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me". This shows how evil he is and demonstrates how the use of weapons on the street makes even a simple argument dangerous. The other characters respect him and he makes people turn and look when he walks down the street.
These themes and characters are responsible for the way in which Romeo and Juliet is still as famous today as it was then. The exotic setting,Verona, adds to the glamour and modern films try to copy this in their settings. I will remember the violence and street fights and hope that they do not become as common now as they were in Shakespeare's time. Shakespeare's plays are timeless, with the themes he used being relevant themes of modern times. Love, violence, feuds between families or religions all these are as common now as they were in the Sixteenth Century. We should all enjoy the play for what it is, as we enjoy other types of film or play such as Science Fiction or Horror.