CALEIGH GRAHAM
morning, I would have thee gone”, and, “ When the sun sets, the earth doth drizzle dow, but for the sunset of my brothers son it rains downright”. These quotes all suggest the tie of day and possibly the weather.
The time of day also puts out the mood. “For thou art as glorious as this night”. Daytimes are busy and are spent by Romeo and Juliet thinking about each other. Nights are spent dreaming about each other or as often as possible they are together being very romantic. The weather also had effect on the mood. Notice how there is no bad weather when Romeo and Juliet are together.
FATE- LIFE/DEATH
The play had a lot to do with fate. It is a coincidence that Romeo and Juliet fell so deeply in love. However, they are not allowed to be together. Fate was the blame of the play. It is stated in the beginning “a pair or star-crossed lovers” that the play was mainly based on fate. The belief that fate determines their lives echoes throughout the play. They’re first meeting, at the Capulet’s dinner. The servant guarding the door luckily couldn’t read the guest list, so anyone could have just walked in. Romeo did just that. When Romeo finally was caught Capulet happened to be in a good mood and let him off. “Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone”. This may have been because of the wine or Capulet in good spirit. Either way it was ever so coincidental that Romeo was not hurt or thrown out right then and there! Romeo fears that fate has terrible things in store for him before attending Capulet’s feast. “My mind misgives some consequence yet hanging on the stars”.
It just so happened that Juliet was in the garden when Romeo was so he could declare his love to her.
Romeo and Juliet struggle to break free of what fate threatens in dreams and premonitions. “Then I defy you, stars!” is Romeo’s defiant challenge when he hears of Juliet’s death.
Death is frequent in the city of Verona. The old citizens brood over it. “Well, death’s the end of all”…”We were born to die”. Young lives are often cut short. He most memorable of all is the vision that haunts the play, Death as Juliet’s bridegroom. “Death is my son-in-law, death is my heir”.
CALEIGH GRAHAM
Other unlucky coincidences of tie consist of Mercutio’s death (which is also the turning point). Tybalt being antagonised by Capulet. The bad timing Romeo had. The actual death of Romeo and Juliet was unfortunate. In my opinion the most unfortunate and even cruel part of the play was the fact that Friar Lawrence might have been about to save Juliet but hears the watch coming. Friar Lawrence may have lost his job but he may have been able to save both Juliet and Romeo’s lives in the long run and he would have had the comfort in his heart that he saved their lives. Shouldn’t that be more important to a priest?
YOUTH/AGE
Age in this play is all much too quick for any life today. In times of Shakespeare, girls were expected to be ready for marriage at fourteen years of age. Fourteen-year-olds today can hardly take care of themselves let alone be ready to start a family. However, life expectancy wasn’t as long then as it is now. Juliet is being prepared for marriage as the play begins. Her marriage is to be arranged and she is unhappy with who the arrangement is. “My grave is like to be my wedding bed”.
All old characters are considered wise. Especially Nurse. “Wisely and slow, they stumble those that run fast”. Capulet is ready to see his young daughter off into marriage. “She hath not seen the change of fourteen years”.
As people matured quicker in those days they rushed things too quickly. Maybe because it is a hurry because life was short then, or maybe because they just weren’t educated enough to live a less rushed life. People then were very impatient. As were Romeo and Juliet. It may have been true love, but they only knew each other for a few days before they started arranging marriage.
PACE/SUSPENSE
Even though the play is very predictable it is still a classic romantic story line that nobody gets bored of. The pace of the actual story seemed quite slow to me. However, there was always something interesting happening.
The slow pace made it slightly more dramatically effective as the story
CALEIGH GRAHAM
line when broken down completely is very basic. The suspense is quite typical but still very effective. From the beginning you can guess exactly what happens, but still there is something that I cant quite put my finger on that urges you to continue.
The dramatic effectiveness overall is huge. The impact of the play toys with your emotions whether you’re reading the book, watching the play, or watching the film. The internal picture is amazing. This is because everything had to be described in so much detail in the words
LOVE
As Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story in the English literary tradition, Love is naturally the most important theme. It focuses on romance, specifically the intense passion that arises at the first sight between Romeo and Juliet. In Romeo and Juliet, love is a violent, overpowering force that supersedes all other loyalties, values and emotions. In the course of the play the lovers are made to defy their entire social world “Deny thy father and refuse thy name,” Juliet asks, “Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and ill no longer be a Capulet”. They are also made to defy their friends. Romeo abandons Mercutio and Benvolio after the feast so he can go to Juliet’s garden. Love is the main theme of the play, but the reader should always remember that love in Romeo and Juliet is a brutal, powerful emotion that captures individuals and throws them against their world, and, against themselves.
MEMORIES
Most of the memories are from Acts 1-2. Shakespeare ensures the audience that the play is relating to time of youth, intensity, passion and honour. Nurse’s memories are very humorous. The part would never suit a man. Even though they seem funny at the beginning they are tragic at the end. “Such comfort as do lusty young men feel”. I see her cold humour is there as a reminder that not everything is negative in Shakespeare’s plays. I think that the humour is a major necessity.
CALEIGH GRAHAM
“Oh Tybalt, the best friend I had- we met, we wooed and made exchange of vow” When Tybalt is dead Nurse pines for him and remembers back when they first met and how the relationship was between them. From that quote we can guess that they were quite close.
Towards the end of the play the lovers remember the start of the love affair as if it was years ago. They feel as if they have known each other forever as they clicked as soon as they met because they were so right for each other.
