The concept of fate - Romeo and Juliet
The concept of fate functions as a central theme in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In the opening prologue of the play, the Chorus informs the audience that Romeo and Juliet are "Star ñ cross'd Lovers" (Prologue l.6). In other words, the Chorus states that Romeo and Juliet are governed by fate, a force often linked to the movements of the stars. Fate manifests itself in all the events surrounding the young lovers: the ancient and inexplicable feud between their families, the catastrophic series of mishaps which ruin Friar Lawrence's plans, and the tragic timing of Romeo's suicide and Juliet's awakening. The structure of the play itself rests upon the fate from which the two lovers cannot escape. The play opens with a brawl which erupts between servants of the Montague and Capulet families. This initial quarrel illustrates that the "ancient Grudge" between the two families runs so deep that it extends to the servants (Prologue l. 3). Upon their first encounter, Romeo and Juliet remain ignorant to the fact that they are the children of feuding families. Actually, the lovers meet by coincidence. Romeo agrees to attend the Capulet ball because he hopes to see Rosaline, and he consistently claims that no other woman can impress him. On the other hand, Juliet attends the ball to meet Count Paris and to see if she can love him. Before entering the ball, Romeo experiences a sense
Discuss the different types of love shown in romeo and juliet.
Discuss the different types of love shown in the play Romeo and Juliet In the play Romeo and Juliet many different types of love are shown. Love is displayed in many ways through friendship family and the love you have for a girlfriend or boyfriend. The first and probably most well known type of love is the passionate sexual and romantic love that is shown by the characters Romeo and Juliet. This type of love is unconditional and lasts forever as Romeo and Juliet would rather die than be without each other. Ironically Romeo and Juliet's love is everlasting as they have not had enough time to find faults with each other or to start to dislike one another's qualities in any way. They are still very much in love with each other on the day they die and so there was no time for their love to fade. Throughout the whole play, there are constant reminders to the audience how very much in love Romeo and Juliet are with each other. They are reminded how very much Romeo values Juliet as he is constantly referring to her as the light in darkness, that she stands out from everyone else. He sees her as the guiding light, her beauty standing out from everything else in his life. 'Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright!' Here Romeo is describing Juliet as light in darkness. It makes her sound more beautiful than anyone else in the play. It gives the impression that when he sees her
I intend to analyse and describe how Baz Luhrmann has converted William Shakespeare's written play of 'Romeo & Juliet' into a modern play.
INTRODUCTION In this essay I intend to analyse and describe how Baz Luhrmann has converted William Shakespeare's written play of 'Romeo & Juliet' into a modern play, I will show proof and understanding of how he has succeeded in bringing the play into the modern world. The play 'Romeo & Juliet' is known as a legendary romantic play written by a well-known writer named 'William Shakespeare'. This writer reformed the interest in poetry and plays, by experimenting with words and making his own technique of back-to-front words to mystify and play with the reader's mind and thoughts, which made his plays interesting for readers, this is how he changed English history and people appreciate his plays. William Shakespeare was born in 1564, the time when the famous scientist named 'Galileo' was experimenting with modernism. At the time of this famous writers birth, after a few years the 'Battle of Lepanto' started. During the birth of the writer in China the Ming Dynasty's pottery work was taking place. Shakespeare's birth was at a famous time as this was the time when the 'Renaissance' was occurring. The Renaissance was the rebirth of ancient culture and the period of when the European history had a renewed interest in arts. Literally the term renaissance means 'the rebirth', and this rebirth started in the 14th century and started spreading till the 17th century. From all
What different types of love are represented in the play, and how is Shakespeare and drawing on historical, social and cultural features of Medieval and Elizabethan England in the ways that he represents these types of love?
James Clark December 22, 2001 GCSE English / English Literature Band Z set 1 2001-2003 Pre-1914 Drama Coursework: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare What different types of love are represented in the play, and how is Shakespeare and drawing on historical, social and cultural features of Medieval and Elizabethan England in the ways that he represents these types of love? The theme of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is love. The main love in the play is between Romeo and Juliet who belong to families that are feuding. There are many different types of love in the play including unrequited love, love in friendship, parental love and tragic love. At the beginning of the play the most obvious love is unrequited love. This is Romeo's unreturned infatuation for Rosaline. He is suffering from depression and is cutting himself off from friends and family. Benvolio records: "So early walking did I see your son /towards him I made, but he was ware of me, / and stole into the covert of the wood" (Act 1 scene 1) and Romeo's father agrees that Romeo is reclusive: "Away from light steals home my heavy son, / shuts up his windows locks fair daylight out" (Act 1 scene 1). When he makes Romeo behave like this Shakespeare is using a popular convention where love was thought to be an
Romeo and Juliet - a simplified version of the classic love story by Charles and Mary Lamb
Romeo and Juliet - a simplified version of the classic love story by Charles and Mary Lamb The two chief families in Verona were the rich Capulets and the Montagues. There had been an old quarrel between these families, which was grown to such a height, and so deadly was the enmity between them, that it extended to the remotest kindred, to the followers and retainers of both sides, in so much that a servant of the house of Montague could not meet a servant of the house of Capulet, nor a Capulet encounter with a Montague by chance, but fierce words and sometimes bloodshed ensued; and frequent were the brawls from such accidental meetings, which disturbed the happy quiet of Verona's streets. Old Lord Capulet made a great supper, to which many fair ladies and many noble guests were invited. All the admired beauties of Verona were present, and all comers were made welcome if they were not of the house of Montague. At this feast of Capulets, Rosaline, beloved of Romeo, son to the old Lord Montague, was present; and though it was dangerous for a Montague to be seen in this assembly, yet Benvolio, a friend of Romeo, persuaded the young lord to go to this assembly in the disguise of a mask, that he might see his Rosaline, and, seeing her, compare her with some choice beauties of Verona, who (he said) would make him think his swan a crow. Romeo had small faith in Benvolio's words;
At the end of act II, Romeo and Juliet are married and unaware of the trouble to come. What evidence can you find in the play, which gives clues to the tragedy, which lies ahead?
Sarah Lancaster At the end of act II, Romeo and Juliet are married and unaware of the trouble to come. What evidence can you find in the play, which gives clues to the tragedy, which lies ahead? In the modern world, most people choose to believe that they have a sense of responsibility and can control their own lives. They suppose that their problems are caused by the actions of themselves or those influencing them. From one viewpoint, it is true to say that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet were caused by the mistakes made by themselves and others; the influence of fate was almost nonexistent. Four characters in the play intensely manipulate the tragic path of the young couple; (apart from Romeo and Juliet themselves) Mercutio, the Nurse, Tybalt and the Friar. Mercutio, one of Romeo's friends and a supporter of the Montague household, changed the course of events by encouraging Romeo to go the Capulet's masquerade and duelling with Tybalt in town. If Mercutio had not encouraged Romeo to go to the Capulet's dance, the couple would never have met and their deaths would have been averted. But was Romeo destined to meet Juliet, regardless of the actions of others? If Mercutio had not taunted Tybalt in town whilst out with Romeo and Benvolio, Romeo would never have got into his fight with Tybalt and therefore would not have been banished. Perhaps, however, the fight initiated by
Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth is a weak man who is easily influenced by other characters. Discuss with reference to the whole text. Shakespeare's play Macbeth was written in the 1600's. Macbeth is the sole figure and the play outlines his rise to glory, then fall to demise because the power was too much of a burden to control. He is a weak man whose decisions were based on other peoples influence. It is unlikely that without being told the prophecies by the witches and encouraged by his wife that he would have killed Duncan and betrayed many. Shakespeare took facts and made it into his own more entertaining, imaginative story. These historical facts were taken from the book (Chronicles of England and Scotland) and his creativity was combined with factual knowledge to create an amazingly interesting play. Duncan was king from 1001 to 1040, but was killed by Macbeth. In real life Duncan was not popular or a good king, however Macbeth enjoyed a successful spell as tyrant. He was killed by Malcolm after 17 years of reigning in 1057. Malcolm succeeded Macbeth. Thanes are Scottish version of Lords. Each of them have an area where they own power. The more land they own, the more powerful a Thane is. Duncan was King but he also shared power with Lords and nobles. To become a Thane it is useful to impress in a battle and serve the king respectfully. Another key theme is the Supernatural as they were very
How does Shakespeare show conflict, violence and build tension in act 1 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet?
How does Shakespeare show conflict, violence and build tension in act 1 scene 1 and act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet? Romeo and Juliet believed to be a play which uncloaks the true emotion of love. A play which portrays the tragedies, tensions and disagreements that arise between the families of two lovers, and how platonic love can be mitigated with loathsome feelings resulting in death. Is it fair for a feeling like love, so pure to result in death? Before act 1 scene 1 starts, the opening lines of the prologue are salient because they tell the audience of what could be and what should be fairness and dignity, the words 'ancient grudge break to new mutiny' sets up a powerful contrast to what is the violence, hatred and bloodshed to be shown in the first scene. Also Shakespeare refers to historical context by using the word 'ancient' and how an ancient grudge evolves into new mutiny, this shows that an old disagreement is now a fight which is characterized by the animosity of the citizens, this is stated by the phrase 'civil blood makes civil hands unclean' which further suggests that even the ordinary citizens who have nothing to do with the grudge of the two families are becoming murderers. Adding on, the audience become aware and realise the fact that violence will definitely occur. Due to this fact the tension begins to build right from the start. In addition to this,
To what extent do you consider Friar Laurence to be responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet?
To what extent do you consider Friar Laurence to be responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet? I consider Friar Laurence to be quite heavily responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet, however I do not think that he is solely responsible. Other foremost causes which are of equal accountability, are the quarrel between the families and fate. There are numerous other reasons such as other characters, the Nurse, Lord and Lady Capulet, and Romeo and Juliet. Finally, the period of the play including the male dominant society as well as other roles and stereotypical characters should accept some liability. In particular the factor-involving fate can be linked to the function that minor characters play and how this correlates with misinterpretations. Friar Laurence speaks in blank verse (used to heighten severe emotions) and this demonstrates that he is a well-respected man with prestige. Although other key characters use blank verse, it is most concentrated here and this helps to set the Friar apart. This is evident when the Friar speaks in his soliloquy in Act two scene three. This scene creates a sense of foreboding and has a portentous effect. Within this soliloquy is a significant amount of symbolism as it accentuates the extreme opposites with references to virtue and vice amongst others. Further symbolism is evident when the Friar places flowers and
'How is Love Presented in Romeo and Juliet in Acts - 1 Sc 5; 2 Sc 2 and 3 Sc 5.
"Romeo and Juliet" By -William Shakespeare In this essay I will concentrate on the love aspect in one of William Shakespeare's most popular tragedies, written during the 16th century - Romeo and Juliet. This essay will mainly concentrate on three key scenes and these are as follows - Act 1 Sc 5; Act 2 Sc 2 and Act 3 Sc 5. In these scenes I will show how Shakespeare portrays the love aspect in Romeo and Juliet - and in these scenes it is shown in a clear, clever and coherent way. Shakespeare shows this cleverly by the use of stage-craft and dramatic irony to show clear organisation of characters on stage when the play is being acted to a large number of audience. Even the structure in which the scenes are organised can be interpreted,noticed and referred to by the audience as the play graduates. Not only this; the ingenious linguistic features that Shakespeare uses can be used to show tension,timidness, love and even happiness. This essay will give a thorough analysis of the three ways in which Shakespeare portrays the love aspect. Structure, stage-craft, language and some cultural issues that might can show this. During Act 1 Sc 5, in terms of structure, Shakespeare has the audience waiting until this scene to introduce Juliet and the two lovers together. Shakespeare does this in order to inform us, the audience, about the history of both the Montagues and Capulets
