How does Shakespeare present teenage experience in Romeo and Juliet?
How does Shakespeare present teenage experience in Romeo and Juliet? 'Romeo and Juliet' is perhaps one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, with many of its themes still relevant in todays society. Its popularity is shown through an abundance of reinacted plays and films released based on the main story line of the hardship and struggle two teenagers undergo because of their love for eachother. Shakespeare was born in mid to late 16th century England and was brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon. He moved to London sometime between 1585 and 1592 and began a successful career as an actor, writer, and part owner of the playing company the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Romeo and Juliet has inspired many filmakers and works as the themes used in this play; whilst being somewhat exagerated, are still very relevent and present the good and bad times teenagers experience in love. One of the most important themes portrayed from the very beginning of the play, is that of conflict. The opening scene shows two members of the Capulet family as they encounter two from the Montegue household. The rivalry between the families is shown straight away, but in a light-hearted, comic manner. Benvolio, Romeo's cousin attempts to stop the fight, as he is a peaceful man, "Part fools! Put up your swords." The comic value quickly changes as they are quickly presented with the threat of death, which shows the
How does Shakespeare show development of Romeo and Juliet's characters and encouraged the audience to feel sympathy for them?
English Coursework No. 4: How does Shakespeare show development of Romeo and Juliet's characters and encouraged the audience to feel sympathy for them? It is important for the audience to feel sympathy for the main characters of the play because it helps them interested in the play. It is also important dramatically for the characters to develop as to create tension within the play. As for Romeo's development for example at the beginning of the play, Romeo is obsessed with his love of Rosaline (Act 1, Scene 1), whom we never meet but then his love suddenly switches to Juliet when he sees her at the Masked Ball (Act 2, Scene 4). This show that Romeo is very fickle in his love and will switch from one girl for another if he thinks she is more beautiful in his opinion. In Act 1 Scene 1, Montague gives a speech about Romeo and his love sickness and mentions how he (Romeo) likes to keep himself to himself, preferring night to day. This helps to build up sympathy after leaving that he is in love with a girl named Rosaline because of his love that he never meets. We also feel sympathy for Juliet because she is a young girl of thirteen and that she is unable to make decisions for herself because her parents would not allow her to get married to the man that she wants (Romeo) and against her own wish her father is talking to County Paris about marriage. This males us feel
How Shakespeare creates tension In Romeo and Juliet
How Shakespeare creates tension In Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare cleverly keeps tension in Romeo and Juliet by going immediately into the play, in the prologue he summarises the whole play, including the fact that Juliet a Capulet and Romeo a Montague are the lovers and that they die but the tension is kept because he does not say how the lovers die and that keeps the audience in suspense because they would want to know how the lovers die. He also keeps the tension in the play by bringing in comedy characters for example the nurse. The nurse is one of the main comedy characters she keeps the tension in the play by delaying important for Juliet; the nurse says teasing Juliet "Henceforward do your messages yourself" which shows how Shakespeare is making the nurse keep the tension. Shakespeare also creates tension in the play by presenting Romeo as inconsistent. All his friends tease him about how easily he falls in love; they do not take him seriously for his love for Rosaline. For example Romeo's own best friend teases: "Romeo, humours, madman, passion lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh". Mercutio evidently sees Romeos love as fleeting. Friar Lawrence calls him a "young waverer" when he hears that Romeo is in love with Juliet, he was shocked when he first heard about Romeo's love for Juliet , he says "Holy Saint Frances, what a change is here!, is
Analyse the role of Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet, Act three scene one'
Analyse the role of Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet, Act three scene one' Mercutio is a close friend and companion of Romeo's. He enjoys joking with Romeo and seeks Romeo's attention. Shakespeare included Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet' as he entertains the audience with his eccentric and witty speeches. Throughout the pain, love and suffering Mercutio provides a humorous break from the emotional tragedy. Mercutio is a catalyst in the play: he convinces Romeo to go to the Capulet's party, where he meets Juliet; Mercutio's death sets off the chain of events leading to Romeo's banishment, and turns the play into a tragedy. Mercutio also reveals some of Romeo's character and thoughts when they speak. Mercutio is not a typical young man of the sixteenth century, he is unique and complex. He is disrespectful of his elders and women, and does not believe in 'courtly love.' An audience would like Mercutio. He is witty and comical- entertaining the audience. They would enjoy his dynamic, flamboyant, dramatic, strong character and would be shocked by his disgust for dreams and disrespect for Juliet's nurse. The audience would be astonished by Mercutio's intelligence and ability to manipulate attention to him. They would admire his faithfulness towards Romeo; his bravery and courage and the amount of energy he puts into the things he says and does. Mercutio sounds a bit
How effectively has the exposition of 'Romeo and Juliet' been transformed for a modern audience?
How effectively has the exposition of 'Romeo and Juliet' been transformed for a modern audience? Richard Eyre has aimed to engage with a modern audience in this production. The subject matter (love) suits all audiences. It is something we can all relate to - any age, any culture, any period. However, Richard Eyre has tried to make this play appeal more to a modern audience in this audio-tape prduction. There are several ways in which he has tried to do this. It was probably meant to be played in schools, with most rude lines missed out. The fact that there is no visual image means that pupils can concentrate more on the words of the play, and understand their meaning, rather than just watching the actions of the play. The first thing we hear on the tape, before the prologue, is people coughing. This implies that somebody is in trouble, and creates a sense of violence and also a bit of mysters - why are people coughing? Then we hear the words of the prologue. The man speaking is a Londoner. People would have wanted to speak like the capital of their country in these days. The accent was more American-sounding than our English accents today. However, it is shown that the production is being brought staight upto the 21st century by the elimination of Elizabethan accents. In the first scene, a lot of puns were used in the original play. However, in the Richard Eyre production,
Show how Shakespeare portrays the characters in Act 3 Scene 1 and discuss how the Zefferili film version portrays these characters.
Show how Shakespeare portrays the characters in Act 3 Scene 1 and discuss how the Zefferili film version portrays these characters My task is to summarize the 4 main characters in Act 3 scene 1 in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The first character introduced in this scene is Benvolio he is perceived as a passive character because when he is with Mercutio he wants to stay out of trouble by saying, "I pray thee good Mercutio, lets retire. The day is hot, the Capels (Capulets) are abroad, And if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl". In the text where Benvolio speaks, he tries discourage Mercutio from trying to commence a fight he keeps his sentences fairly short. This suggests that he has no seniority over Mercutio and it also makes him look somewhat reclusive. When the Capulets are near approaching the Montagues Benvolio seems a little apprehensive by saying, "By my head, here comes the Capulets". Benvolio tries to play the peacemaker by saying " Either withdraw into some private place, And reason coldly of your grievances. By saying that Benvolio separates him self from the families this makes him seem neutral and this also highlights his reclusive ness again. In the Zefferelli version Benvolio is even more timid and frail than in text; Because this is a film version you can see the movements and facial expressions of a character. In the opening of the scene
How should a modern audience respond to Capulet and his treatment of Juliet? How might an understanding of cultural and historical context affect the audience's response to him?
How should a modern audience respond to Capulet and his treatment of Juliet? How might an understanding of cultural and historical context affect the audience's response to him? During the time that Shakespeare was writing Romeo and Juliet, the roles of people in society and the family were very different. Men were superior to women in every way; the father had full control over every aspect of his marriage and family. Children, especially girls, would have been expected to everything their father bid them - from chores to marrying a suitable husband. Men controlled every aspect of his family. He also owned everything his wife owned. Legally women had the legal status of a modern infant - it was practically impossible for a women to get a divorce since the Church also favoured men, plus it was practically unheard of in them times. This is far different from a modern Western society, where all people's opinions and social wealth are considered equally valuable; and everyone has freedom of speech and choice, even children (though to a lesser extent.) The principles of marriage are also far different now than in Shakespearian times. Now, the man and woman have equal say in marriage but in back then, as in some modern Eastern cultures, the father decide if the woman would marry, and who to. They were more interested in the wealth and respectability of a husband than the
In the Prologue, Romeo and Juliet are Described as "a pair of star-crossed lovers". To what extent are they victims of events outside their control, and to what extent do they cause their own downfall?
In the Prologue, Romeo and Juliet are Described as "a pair of star-crossed lovers". To what extent are they victims of events outside their control, and to what extent do they cause their own downfall? In 1597 William Shakespeare wrote the tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare uses imagery to show the positive and negative sides to life. He has a contrast between them and even if something may look beautiful, there may still be evil within it. The play explores the meeting of two children both from feuding families who fall in love, get separated, meet with each other again and eventually commit suicide. In my essay, I will describe how Romeo and Juliet were destined to have an unhappy ending from the start and whether it was all to do with fate and whether or not it could have been avoided. Was it fate and predestination that made them meet together and was it a coincidence that they just happened to be from rival families? The play is a tragedy and so it will have a fatal outcome involving death and shows fate is malevolent. In the prologue, Romeo and Juliet are described as 'A pair of star-crossed lovers', which shows that they are 'meant to be', from the start and fate will make them meet. It is in the stars and God will make sure they come in contact. The 'crossed' part shows that fate has a flaw in it because stars usually aren't crossed so it may not be perfect.
How important is the rôle of The Nurse in the first two acts of Romeo and Juliet?
How important is the rôle of The Nurse in the first two acts of Romeo and Juliet? We are introduced to the Nurse in Act 1, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet. This is also the first time that we are introduced to Juliet, and the fact that we meet both characters simultaneously represents how closely linked they are. This in itself is a significant factor when considering the importance of the Nurse's role in the play, as she has such close proximity to one of the lead characters. It is therefore to be expected that the Nurse will have a reasonably important role to play. The Nurse is a distinct mother figure to Juliet, and the pair have a very intimate relationship. It is perhaps fair to say that this bond is closer than that between Juliet and her actual mother. Lady Capulet, Juliet's mother, restricts her own relationship with her daughter to a certain degree of formality. She does not express any amount of affection towards her daughter in the first two acts of the play. Juliet refers to her mother as "Madam", a rather official term that represents the distant relationship between mother and daughter. Lady Capulet seems almost incapable of relating to her daughter at all. This is shown when she endeavours to ask Juliet whether she would consider marrying Paris. She asks the Nurse to "give leave awhile" to allow her to talk to Juliet in private, although seconds later, she
Shakespeare's version also has a lot of differences. Tybalt, who is only mentioned once in Arthur Brooke's poem, plays a very important part in Shakespeare's where he helps keep the feud going between the two households
Romeo and Juliet Coursework Essay In Shakespeare's plays he very rarely used original ideas. Most of the plays he wrote, such as "Romeo and Juliet," were adapted from other people's stories. Shakespeare used these ideas as basic outlines for his plays. The story of "Romeo and Juliet" had been around for hundreds of years before Shakespeare created his own version. The most recent was a poem by Arthur Brooke. His version was called Romeo and Julietta; this play was over 3000 lines long and written in rhyming couplets. There are lots of parts of Brooke's poem that Shakespeare has used in his play such as the characters Mercutio, Tybalt and Paris. Although Shakespeare's play has a lot of similarities to Arthur Brooke's poem, Shakespeare's version also has a lot of differences. Tybalt, who is only mentioned once in Arthur Brooke's poem, plays a very important part in Shakespeare's where he helps keep the feud going between the two households. Also Brooke's version takes place over months whereas Shakespeare's only takes place over a few days, this adds greater interest to the play because so much happens so fast. Arthur Brooke's poem is also less interesting compared to Shakespeare's because Shakespeare exploits the use of unusual contrasts such as action and comedy, intimate romance and public spectacle. In addition, Shakespeare adds a large number of new features to the story
