Romeo and Juliet

  • William Shakespeare
  • English

William Shakespeare (1564 –1616) English playwright, poet and actor wrote the tragedy early in his career, most probably between 1591 and 1595. Set in Verona, Italy, it is about two young lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families, the House of Capulet and the House of Montague. The plot is based on the story of the Italian poet Matteo Bandello. Shakespeare expanded the plot by developing a number of supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. The play switches between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension and different poetic forms are used by different characters, sometimes changing the form as the character develops.

 

Image picture is a photo of Juliet’s balcony in Verona by Andrea Bertozzi.

Tip!

In the famous sonnet that appears in Act I Scene 5, Romeo and Juliet meet, express their interest and desire for one another, and seal their fates. It is unusual as it contains dialogue from two characters, Romeo and Juliet, and is split up according to their lines. The sonnet can be read separately or can be used to prepare the discussion. See text below.

Romeo:

If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

Juliet:

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.

Romeo:

Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

Juliet:

Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

Romeo:

O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;

They pray — grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

Juliet:

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

Romeo:

Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.

Source:

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html