romeo and juliet commentary essay

A Summary and Analysis of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Although it was first performed in the 1590s, the first  documented  performance of Romeo and Juliet is from 1662. The diarist Samuel Pepys was in the audience, and recorded that he ‘saw “Romeo and Juliet,” the first time it was ever acted; but it is a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worst acted that ever I saw these people do.’

Despite Pepys’ dislike, the play is one of Shakespeare’s best-loved and most famous, and the story of Romeo and Juliet is well known. However, the play has become so embedded in the popular psyche that Shakespeare’s considerably more complex play has been reduced to a few key aspects: ‘star-cross’d lovers’, a teenage love story, and the suicide of the two protagonists.

In the summary and analysis that follow, we realise that Romeo and Juliet is much more than a tragic love story.

Romeo and Juliet : brief summary

After the Prologue has set the scene – we have two feuding households, Montagues and Capulets, in the city-state of Verona; and young Romeo is a Montague while Juliet, with whom Romeo is destined to fall in love, is from the Capulet family, sworn enemies of the Montagues – the play proper begins with servants of the two feuding households taunting each other in the street.

When Benvolio, a member of house Montague, arrives and clashes with Tybalt of house Capulet, a scuffle breaks out, and it is only when Capulet himself and his wife, Lady Capulet, appear that the fighting stops. Old Montague and his wife then show up, and the Prince of Verona, Escalus, arrives and chastises the people for fighting. Everyone leaves except Old Montague, his wife, and Benvolio, Montague’s nephew. Benvolio tells them that Romeo has locked himself away, but he doesn’t know why.

Romeo appears and Benvolio asks his cousin what is wrong, and Romeo starts speaking in paradoxes, a sure sign that he’s in love. He claims he loves Rosaline, but will not return any man’s love. A servant appears with a note, and Romeo and Benvolio learn that the Capulets are holding a masked ball.

Benvolio tells Romeo he should attend, even though he is a Montague, as he will find more beautiful women than Rosaline to fall in love with. Meanwhile, Lady Capulet asks her daughter Juliet whether she has given any thought to marriage, and tells Juliet that a man named Paris would make an excellent husband for her.

Romeo attends the Capulets’ masked ball, with his friend Mercutio. Mercutio tells Romeo about a fairy named Queen Mab who enters young men’s minds as they dream, and makes them dream of love and romance. At the masked ball, Romeo spies Juliet and instantly falls in love with her; she also falls for him.

They kiss, but then Tybalt, Juliet’s kinsman, spots Romeo and recognising him as a Montague, plans to confront him. Old Capulet tells him not to do so, and Tybalt reluctantly agrees. When Juliet enquires after who Romeo is, she is distraught to learn that he is a Montague and thus a member of the family that is her family’s sworn enemies.

Romeo breaks into the gardens of Juliet’s parents’ house and speaks to her at her bedroom window. The two of them pledge their love for each other, and arrange to be secretly married the following night. Romeo goes to see a churchman, Friar Laurence, who agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet.

After the wedding, the feud between the two families becomes violent again: Tybalt kills Mercutio in a fight, and Romeo kills Tybalt in retaliation. The Prince banishes Romeo from Verona for his crime.

Juliet is told by her father that she will marry Paris, so Juliet goes to seek Friar Laurence’s help in getting out of it. He tells her to take a sleeping potion which will make her appear to be dead for two nights; she will be laid to rest in the family vault, and Romeo (who will be informed of the plan) can secretly come to her there.

However, although that part of the plan goes fine, the message to Romeo doesn’t arrive; instead, he hears that Juliet has actually died. He secretly visits her at the family vault, but his grieving is interrupted by the arrival of Paris, who is there to lay flowers. The two of them fight, and Romeo kills him.

Convinced that Juliet is really dead, Romeo drinks poison in order to join Juliet in death. Juliet wakes from her slumber induced by the sleeping draught to find Romeo dead at her side. She stabs herself.

The play ends with Friar Laurence telling the story to the two feuding families. The Prince tells them to put their rivalry behind them and live in peace.

Romeo and Juliet : analysis

How should we analyse Romeo and Juliet , one of Shakespeare’s most famous and frequently studied, performed, and adapted plays? Is Romeo and Juliet the great love story that it’s often interpreted as, and what does it say about the play – if it is a celebration of young love – that it ends with the deaths of both romantic leads?

It’s worth bearing in mind that Romeo and Juliet do not kill themselves specifically because they are forbidden to be together, but rather because a chain of events (of which their families’ ongoing feud with each other is but one) and a message that never arrives lead to a misunderstanding which results in their suicides.

Romeo and Juliet is often read as both a tragedy and a great celebration of romantic love, but it clearly throws out some difficult questions about the nature of love, questions which are rendered even more pressing when we consider the headlong nature of the play’s action and the fact that Romeo and Juliet meet, marry, and die all within the space of a few days.

Below, we offer some notes towards an analysis of this classic Shakespeare play and explore some of the play’s most salient themes.

It’s worth starting with a consideration of just what Shakespeare did with his source material. Interestingly, two families known as the Montagues and Capulets appear to have actually existed in medieval Italy: the first reference to ‘Montagues and Capulets’ is, curiously, in the poetry of Dante (1265-1321), not Shakespeare.

In Dante’s early fourteenth-century epic poem, the  Divine Comedy , he makes reference to two warring Italian families: ‘Come and see, you who are negligent, / Montagues and Capulets, Monaldi and Filippeschi / One lot already grieving, the other in fear’ ( Purgatorio , canto VI). Precisely why the families are in a feud with one another is never revealed in Shakespeare’s play, so we are encouraged to take this at face value.

The play’s most famous line references the feud between the two families, which means Romeo and Juliet cannot be together. And the line, when we stop and consider it, is more than a little baffling. The line is spoken by Juliet: ‘Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?’ Of course, ‘wherefore’ doesn’t mean ‘where’ – it means ‘why’.

But that doesn’t exactly clear up the whys and the wherefores. The question still doesn’t appear to make any sense: Romeo’s problem isn’t his first name, but his family name, Montague. Surely, since she fancies him, Juliet is quite pleased with ‘Romeo’ as he is – it’s his family that are the problem. Solutions  have been proposed to this conundrum , but none is completely satisfying.

There are a number of notable things Shakespeare did with his source material. The Italian story ‘Mariotto and Gianozza’, printed in 1476, contained many of the plot elements of Shakespeare’s  Romeo and Juliet . Shakespeare’s source for the play’s story was Arthur Brooke’s  The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet  (1562), an English verse translation of this Italian tale.

The moral of Brooke’s tale is that young love ends in disaster for their elders, and is best reined in; Shakespeare changed that. In Romeo and Juliet , the headlong passion and excitement of young love is celebrated, even though confusion leads to the deaths of the young lovers. But through their deaths, and the example their love set for their parents, the two families vow to be reconciled to each other.

Shakespeare also makes Juliet a thirteen-year-old girl in his play, which is odd for a number of reasons. We know that  Romeo and Juliet  is about young love – the ‘pair of star-cross’d lovers’, who belong to rival families in Verona – but what is odd about Shakespeare’s play is how young he makes Juliet.

In Brooke’s verse rendition of the story, Juliet is sixteen. But when Shakespeare dramatised the story, he made Juliet several years younger, with Romeo’s age unspecified. As Lady Capulet reveals, Juliet is ‘not [yet] fourteen’, and this point is made to us several times, as if Shakespeare wishes to draw attention to it and make sure we don’t forget it.

This makes sense in so far as Juliet represents young love, but what makes it unsettling – particularly for modern audiences – is the fact that this makes Juliet a girl of thirteen when she enjoys her night of wedded bliss with Romeo. As John Sutherland puts it in his (and Cedric Watts’) engaging  Oxford World’s Classics: Henry V, War Criminal?: and Other Shakespeare Puzzles , ‘In a contemporary court of law [Romeo] would receive a longer sentence for what he does to Juliet than for what he does to Tybalt.’

There appears to be no satisfactory answer to this question, but one possible explanation lies in one of the play’s recurring themes: bawdiness and sexual familiarity. Perhaps surprisingly given the youthfulness of its tragic heroine, Romeo and Juliet is shot through with bawdy jokes, double entendres, and allusions to sex, made by a number of the characters.

These references to physical love serve to make Juliet’s innocence, and subsequent passionate romance with Romeo, even more noticeable: the journey both Romeo and Juliet undertake is one from innocence (Romeo pointlessly and naively pursuing Rosaline; Juliet unversed in the ways of love) to experience.

In the last analysis, Romeo and Juliet is a classic depiction of forbidden love, but it is also far more sexually aware, more ‘adult’, than many people realise.

4 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet”

Modern reading of the play’s opening dialogue among the brawlers fails to parse the ribaldry. Sex scares the bejeepers out of us. Why? Confer “R&J.”

It’s all that damn padre’s fault!

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Romeo And Juliet Commentary

The sample paper on Romeo And Juliet Commentary familiarizes the reader with the topic-related facts, theories, and approaches. Scroll down to read the entire paper.

There are different aspects in Romeo and Juliet, which have to be covered in a creative writing theme. One of the main factors, which needs to be illustrated in whatever form, is the fate of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship which had uncertainty surrounding it from their first meeting. No matter how many steps they take to aid their relationship, it seems that the sinister air, which has been present between the two families for years, will shroud Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.

I tried to express this point in my creative writing by emphasising Romeo’s disbelief in the situation, however also stressing the strength of his love for Juliet. We are the most unlikely people to ever have feelings for one another I do realise that, but whoever rules this planet wants to detach Juliet from my grasp, heart and whatever is connected to my heritage.

This quote reflects Romeo’s understanding of the whole situation and how he falters under the pressure of the environment that he is in.

He accepts the circumstances in the diary entry and seems to be apprehensive about pursuing the relationship with the knowledge of his family. This idea of secrecy seems to be apparent throughout his relationship with Juliet, however it is an idea that turns out to have lethal consequences. Juliet’s elegance is the character, which manipulated Romeo’s mind into an odyssey.

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In the script the use of the light in dancehall is used to express Romeo’s thoughts about Juliet. In my diary, Romeo talks about Juliet’s beauty shaping it into a detailed account on paper.

Two Blushing Pilgrims Meaning

It seems as though the world has relented allowing Romeo to study Juliet for a short time. I feel it was essential to use such vivid detail about Juliet’s beauty for Romeo would not have wanted the moment to endure if the woman had the looks of a crow. At this point in my diary, I relate back to the act of true fate, therefore I feel that it is necessary for Romeo to comprehend his fortune once he has met Juliet and perhaps thank the stars for their work, which would contrast with his sudden death. ‘My mind misgives Some consequences yet hanging in the stars.

Shall bitterly forgive his fearful date With this night revels’ This quote relates back to how the stars seem to control our destiny in life, however it depends on your belief in this theory. The planetary aura is felt throughout the script of Romeo and Juliet and the great faith in the theory is a downfall for Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. In my diary entry Romeo does not compare what consequences the stars might hold to the idea of a relationship with Juliet, however he constantly refers back to the hatred between the two families which will be a constant burden upon their relationship.

He also refers to a ruling spirit who wants to detach Juliet from him in every possible way. The fact that Romeo senses a being that does not want him to form a relationship with Juliet should cause concern for him for the spirit who he is aware of is possibly having preconceptions of a unexpected ending for both of them. The last two lines of the quote that I am writing seem to understand the importance of Romeo’s endearment for Juliet, however they are still shrouded with confusion by the star theory.

The last two lines translate in my eyes as the stars will bitterly give way to Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other, however they will have to live with the outcome of not being conscious of this warning. ‘So show a snowy dove trooping with crows’ The quote emphasises diverse appearances and how the two combined show opposite qualities. The idiosyncrasy and purity of a doves features is compared with Juliet’s beauty and the mass number of trooping crows are compared with the women in the hall. I notice how Shakespeare stresses that the crows are in a group where as the dove is solitary in beauty.

This quote describes feelings for Juliet for he seems to filter out any other disturbances in the room and manages to concentrate on only Juliet. In my diary entry, Romeo commits his writing to Juliet and becomes annoyed if any other object gets in his way; therefore his actions are somehow dividing the two groups apart from one another. This relates to the quote that I have presented and my diary entry has expressed its meaning in another form. Juliet’s elegance is the character, which manipulated Romeo’s mind into an odyssey.

In the script the use of the light in dancehall is used to express Romeo’s thoughts about Juliet. In my diary, Romeo talks about Juliet’s beauty shaping it into a detailed account on paper. It seems as though the world has relented allowing Romeo to study Juliet for a short time. At this point in my diary, I relate back to the act of true fate, therefore I feel that it is necessary for Romeo to comprehend his fortune once he has met Juliet and perhaps thank the stars for their work. ‘My lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss’.

Romeo describes his lips as ‘two blushing pilgrims,’ A pilgrim is the word used to describe a person that visits a holy place to worship. For example, pilgrims visit Bethlehem to worship Jesus. So in this quote, Romeo is the pilgrim who is devoted to Juliet. By saying that his lips are ‘two blushing pilgrims,’ Romeo is using a metaphor. In my diary Romeo is desperate to touch Juliet, as if he is insecure of how her heart is going to dictate, therefore Romeo feels that he needs to place his mark on he, like any sick catholic pilgrim would thirst for the holy water in Lourdes.

It is simply a passion and many pilgrims feel they need to manipulate and contribute to this certain sacred place. ‘ You kiss by the book’ Juliet expresses this poetic emotion after their first kiss at the dance. The quote ‘ You kiss by the book’ means expertly as though the person in question has studied the subject in a book, yet she maybe implying that while proficient, his kissing lacks originality Finally I will discuss the background of the play. The play is a tragedy. The idea of tragedy originates in Greek drama.

For such a play to fulfil its definition it must have a tragic hero who is of high but not perfect standing. In the Romeo and Juliet script, Romeo is from a high calibre family, however he is not the highest member in his family. A tragic flaw leads to a downfall. Juliet drinks a time delaying poison, which Friar Laurence has given her, however due to the untimely arrival of a letter informing Romeo of the situation. Romeo does not know about the plan for them to spend their lives together therefore when Romeo finds her body entombed he too drinks a poison and kills himself.

When Juliet’s potion wears off, she awakens to find her lover’s corpse. She then proceeds to stab herself with Romeo’s dagger. The tragedy was a defect sparked off by their sentimentality for one another. The two deaths led to their families collapsing with sadness for the losses however I fear that it was a rectified solution for the two lovers. For the Capulet and Montague families the tragedy acted as a cleansing of emotions and they managed to share their sorrow, which leads them to make peace with one another.

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The prologue of Romeo and Juliet calls the title characters “star-crossed lovers”—and the stars do seem to conspire against these young lovers.

Romeo is a Montague, and Juliet a Capulet. Their families are enmeshed in a feud, but the moment they meet—when Romeo and his friends attend a party at Juliet’s house in disguise—the two fall in love and quickly decide that they want to be married.

A friar secretly marries them, hoping to end the feud. Romeo and his companions almost immediately encounter Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, who challenges Romeo. When Romeo refuses to fight, Romeo’s friend Mercutio accepts the challenge and is killed. Romeo then kills Tybalt and is banished. He spends that night with Juliet and then leaves for Mantua.

Juliet’s father forces her into a marriage with Count Paris. To avoid this marriage, Juliet takes a potion, given her by the friar, that makes her appear dead. The friar will send Romeo word to be at her family tomb when she awakes. The plan goes awry, and Romeo learns instead that she is dead. In the tomb, Romeo kills himself. Juliet wakes, sees his body, and commits suicide. Their deaths appear finally to end the feud.

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Romeo and Juliet

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Love in Romeo and Juliet

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Romeo and Juliet

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Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Mercutio has many clever and joking lines. He often wants to cheer up Romeo and make others laugh.

• How does the tone of the play change when Mercutio is killed? ( topic sentence )
• How do events in the rest of the play show that Mercutio’s death is an important turning point in the plot? Name at least three events and use details from the text to support your ideas.
• Finally, discuss in your concluding sentence or sentences how Mercutio’s death connects to the theme of feuds and rivalry .

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Current Trends and Topics in Pop Culture: a 2024 Perspective

This essay about pop culture explores the significant role that popular culture plays in reflecting and shaping societal norms and values. It discusses how various elements of pop culture, such as films, television, and music, serve as mirrors to societal changes and forums for addressing complex social issues like gender, race, and morality. The essay highlights the transformative impact of digital culture, particularly through social media, which has democratized the creation and dissemination of cultural content, allowing users and influencers to shape cultural narratives alongside traditional media. It also touches on the real-world influence of pop culture, exemplified by its effect on fashion trends and tourism. Overall, the essay argues that pop culture is not only a reflection of current societal dynamics but also a powerful force in driving societal change and understanding, making its study essential for comprehending modern social trends and behaviors.

How it works

Pop culture, a truncation for mainstream culture, denotes the extensive assortment of attitudes, ideologies, visuals, perspectives, and other phenomena within the hegemony of a given culture, particularly Western culture during the belated 20th and premature 21st centuries. Profoundly influenced by mass media, this compendium of notions saturates the quotidian lives of individuals in society. Presently, mainstream culture is frequently articulated and disseminated via commercial media channels such as periodicals, journals, television, cinema, melodies, and online content. Comprehending the profundity and expansiveness of mainstream culture can furnish us with insights into communal norms, ethics, and the collective fascinations of diverse factions.

One pivotal facet of mainstream culture is its function in signifying societal metamorphoses and mirroring modern apprehensions, frequently acting as a gauge for societal quandaries. For instance, cinematographic productions and television series can echo or confront societal standards, tendering commentary on matters such as gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. The surge of superhero cinematography over the bygone two decades, for instance, not solely denotes a change in recreational predilections but also reflects deeper societal quandaries concerning integrity, morality, and individual versus communal responsibility.

Melody, another momentous domain of mainstream culture, functions as a potent mode of articulation and a utensil for cultural identity amid juveniles. From the inception of rock and roll in the 1950s to present-day hip-hop, the metamorphosis of musical genres is intimately interwoven with civic movements and the evolving principles of society. Artisans frequently employ their platform to draw attention to political predicaments, influence communal sentiment, and galvanize aficionados. The sway of musical carnivals and live performances also highlights the communal facet of music in shaping cultures and subcultures.

Cybernetic culture, predominantly the ascension of social media, has metamorphosed the panorama of mainstream culture by amplifying trends and erecting platforms where virtually anyone can partake in cultural origination and diffusion. Memes, viral videos, and trending hashtags can now proliferate across the globe in a matter of hours, engendering instantaneous, albeit sometimes ephemeral, cultural phenomena. This egalitarianism of content production has transmuted the dynamics of who is deemed a ‘cultural arbiter’. Influencers and ordinary users can now attain a level of influence that was once reserved for prominent media channels and luminaries.

Furthermore, the repercussion of mainstream culture extends beyond mere amusement; it shapes real-world behaviors and perspectives. For instance, vogue trends can emanate from a solitary influential luminary appearance and promptly become mainstream, impacting sartorial preferences globally. Similarly, prevalent television series like “Game of Thrones” can profoundly sway tourism, with aficionados voyaging to shooting locales, underscoring mainstream culture’s capacity to sway economies.

In summation, mainstream culture subjects are not solely reflections of present communal principles and norms but are also momentous catalysts of metamorphosis. They furnish a framework through which we discern the progression of society and tender a medium for individuals to articulate themselves, commune with others, and mold their milieu. Grasping mainstream culture is imperative for anyone seeking to comprehend the intricacies of contemporary societal dynamics and the forces shaping communal sentiment and consumer demeanor today. Through its scrutiny, we can better discern the zeitgeist of disparate epochs and prognosticate future trends in our expeditiously evolving world.

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Helen mirren, pierce brosnan & ben kingsley cast in ‘the thursday murder club’, chris columbus set to direct, ‘homeland’ star david harewood makes case for white actors being able to “black up” for roles: “the name of the game is acting”.

By Jake Kanter

Jake Kanter

International Investigations Editor

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Homeland star David Harewood has said he is worried about the creep of identity politics in acting and argued that white performers should be able to “black up.”

In an interview with The Guardian to mark his appointment as president of British drama school RADA , Harewood made the case for controversial casting decisions on the proviso that performers deliver.

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“Yes, we’ve got to be representative, but I do think we have to be careful … That even extends to Othello in blackface. I say, if you want to black up, have at it, man. It’d better be f***ing good, or else you’re gonna get laughed off the stage. But knock yourself out! Anybody should be able to do anything.”

Harewood said he had experience of being cast against type. He told The Guardian that he got “slaughtered” for playing Romeo in an all-Black 1988 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet . More recently, he starred as white conservative William F Buckley in the play Best of Enemies .

Harewood said the Romeo and Juliet experience took him to a dark place after he was heavily questioned about his participation and compared to Mike Tyson in reviews.

“Literally the only way I could go on stage was to get hammered. I really didn’t enjoy my experience: I hated acting, hated the profession, hated what I was doing, totally lost my confidence,” Harewood recalled.

Harewood said he was overwhelmed and proud of the response to becoming the first person of color to lead RADA , but he also received hate mail. “It was all wonderful and complimentary … except the second to last one that began: ‘The true patriots of England will be turning in their grave at your appointment …’ I didn’t read on, but I could see it was full of the usual,” he said.

Harewood starred as CIA agent David Estes in Homeland . More recently, he played J’onn J’onzz in CBS series Supergirl .

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Romeo and Juliet Commentary

                                        Romeo and Juliet Commentary

There are different aspects in Romeo and Juliet, which have to be covered in a creative writing theme. One of the main factors, which needs to be illustrated in whatever form, is the fate of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship which had uncertainty surrounding it from their first meeting. No matter how many steps they take to aid their relationship, it seems that the sinister air, which has been present between the two families for years, will shroud Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. I tried to express this point in my creative writing by emphasising Romeo’s disbelief in the situation, however also stressing the strength of his love for Juliet.

 We are the most unlikely people to ever have feelings for one another I do realise that, but whoever rules this planet wants to detach Juliet from my grasp, heart and whatever is connected to my heritage.

This quote reflects Romeo’s understanding of the whole situation and how he falters under the pressure of the environment that he is in. He accepts the circumstances in the diary entry and seems to be apprehensive about pursuing the relationship with the knowledge of his family. This idea of secrecy seems to be apparent throughout his relationship with Juliet, however it is an idea that turns out to have lethal consequences.

Juliet’s elegance is the character, which manipulated Romeo’s mind into an odyssey. In the script the use of the light in dancehall is used to express Romeo’s thoughts about Juliet. In my diary, Romeo talks about Juliet’s beauty shaping it into a detailed account on paper. It seems as though the world has relented allowing Romeo to study Juliet for a short time. I feel it was essential to use such vivid detail about Juliet’s beauty for Romeo would not have wanted the moment to endure if the woman had the looks of a crow. At this point in my diary, I relate back to the act of true fate, therefore I feel that it is necessary for Romeo to comprehend his fortune once he has met Juliet and perhaps thank the stars for their work, which would contrast with his sudden death.

‘My mind misgives

Some consequences yet hanging in the stars

Shall bitterly forgive his fearful date

With this night revels’

This is a preview of the whole essay

This quote relates back to how the stars seem to control our destiny in life, however it depends on your belief in this theory. The planetary aura is felt throughout the script of Romeo and Juliet and the great faith in the theory is a downfall for Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. In my diary entry Romeo does not compare what consequences the stars might hold to the idea of a relationship with Juliet, however he constantly refers back to the hatred between the two families which will be a constant burden upon their relationship. He also refers to a ruling spirit who wants to detach Juliet from him in every possible way. The fact that Romeo senses a being that does not want him to form a relationship with Juliet should cause concern for him for the spirit who he is aware of is possibly having preconceptions of a unexpected ending for both of them. The last two lines of the quote that I am writing seem to understand the importance of Romeo’s endearment for Juliet, however they are still shrouded with confusion by the star theory. The last two lines translate in my eyes as the stars will bitterly give way to Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other, however they will have to live with the outcome of not being conscious of this warning.

‘So show a snowy dove trooping with crows’

The quote emphasises diverse appearances and how the two combined show opposite qualities. The idiosyncrasy and purity of a doves features is compared with Juliet’s beauty and the mass number of trooping crows are compared with the women in the hall. I notice how Shakespeare stresses that the crows are in a group where as the dove is solitary in beauty. This quote describes feelings for Juliet for he seems to filter out any other disturbances in the room and manages to concentrate on only Juliet. In my diary entry, Romeo commits his writing to Juliet and becomes annoyed if any other object gets in his way; therefore his actions are somehow dividing the two groups apart from one another. This relates to the quote that I have presented and my diary entry has expressed its meaning in another form.

Juliet’s elegance is the character, which manipulated Romeo’s mind into an odyssey. In the script the use of the light in dancehall is used to express Romeo’s thoughts about Juliet. In my diary, Romeo talks about Juliet’s beauty shaping it into a detailed account on paper. It seems as though the world has relented allowing Romeo to study Juliet for a short time. At this point in my diary, I relate back to the act of true fate, therefore I feel that it is necessary for Romeo to comprehend his fortune once he has met Juliet and perhaps thank the stars for their work.

‘My lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss’

Romeo describes his lips as 'two blushing pilgrims,’ A pilgrim is the word used to describe a person that visits a holy place to worship. For example, pilgrims visit Bethlehem to worship Jesus. So in this quote, Romeo is the pilgrim who is devoted to Juliet. By saying that his lips are 'two blushing pilgrims,' Romeo is using a metaphor. In my diary Romeo is desperate to touch Juliet, as if he is insecure of how her heart is going to dictate, therefore Romeo feels that he needs to place his mark on he, like any sick catholic pilgrim would thirst for the holy water in Lourdes. It is simply a passion and many pilgrims feel they need to manipulate and contribute to this certain sacred place.

‘ You kiss by the book’

Juliet expresses this poetic emotion after their first kiss at the dance. The quote ‘ You kiss by the book’ means expertly as though the person in question has studied the subject in a book, yet she maybe implying that while proficient, his kissing lacks originality

Finally I will discuss the background of the play. The play is a tragedy. The idea of tragedy originates in Greek drama. For such a play to fulfil its definition it must have a tragic hero who is of high but not perfect standing. In the Romeo and Juliet script, Romeo is from a high calibre family, however he is not the highest member in his family. A tragic flaw leads to a downfall. Juliet drinks a time delaying poison, which Friar Laurence has given her, however due to the untimely arrival of a letter informing Romeo of the situation. Romeo does not know about the plan for them to spend their lives together therefore when Romeo finds her body entombed he too drinks a poison and kills himself. When Juliet's potion wears off, she awakens to find her lover's corpse. She then proceeds to stab herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy was a defect sparked off by their sentimentality for one another. The two deaths led to their families collapsing with sadness for the losses however I fear that it was a rectified solution for the two lovers. For the Capulet and Montague families the tragedy acted as a cleansing of emotions and they managed to share their sorrow, which leads them to make peace with one another.

Document Details

• Word Count 1293
• Page Count 4
• Level AS and A Level
• Subject English

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‘Romeo & Juliet’ Star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers Backed by Over 800 Black Actors in Open Letter Condemning ‘Racist and Misogynistic Abuse’

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Over 800 Black women and non-binary actors have signed an open letter condemning the online racial abuse of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who was recently cast as Juliet in a London West End production of “Romeo & Juliet” alongside Tom Holland .

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Among the 883 signatories are Lashana Lynch (“No Time to Die”), Sheila Atim (“The Woman King”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Secrets & Lies”), Lolly Adefope (“Ghosts”), Freema Agyeman (“Doctor Who”), Wunmi Mosaku (“His House”) and Tamara Lawrance (“The Silent Twins”).

The letter comes after “Romeo & Juliet” producer Jamie Lloyd Company issued a statement last week saying: “Following the announcement of our ‘Romeo & Juliet’ cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop.” The statement did not name Amewudah-Rivers.

The Jamie Lloyd Company statement was welcomed by the letter signatories, who said they hoped it would “extend to committed emotional support for Francesca on her journey with the production.”

Amewudah-Rivers previously starred in “Bad Education” and her theater credits include “Macbeth” (Shakespeare’s Globe), “Antigone” (Colchester Mercury), “Othello” (National Youth Theatre REP Company), “Animal Farm” (National Youth Theatre REP Company) and “Ordinary Miracle” (National Youth Theatre REP Company).

“Romeo & Juliet,” directed by Jamie Lloyd (“Sunset Boulevard”), stars “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star Holland as Romeo, and is due to play at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre May 23 through Aug. 3. The run is already sold out.

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