The Tragedy of Romeo The Tragedy of Romeo and Julietand Juliet

By: William ShakespeareBy: William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s TimeShakespeare’s Time

Elizabethan England Elizabethan England 1564- 16161564- 1616

Elizabeth I was 25 years Elizabeth I was 25 years old when she became the old when she became the Queen of England in 1558Queen of England in 1558

Reigned for 45 years until Reigned for 45 years until her death in 1603her death in 1603

During this time, England During this time, England emerged as a political emerged as a political power and made many power and made many cultural achievementscultural achievements

Last half of the century Last half of the century became known as the became known as the

“Elizabethan Era”“Elizabethan Era”

SocietySociety

Very class consciousVery class consciousBelieved in the ‘Great Chain of Being”Believed in the ‘Great Chain of Being”

GodGodMonarchMonarchAristocracy – land ownersAristocracy – land ownersProfessional – priests, lawyers etc.Professional – priests, lawyers etc.Merchants – shop ownersMerchants – shop ownersTrades men – blacksmithsTrades men – blacksmithsPeasantsPeasants

WomenWomen

Formal education Formal education of girls was not of girls was not encouragedencouraged

Those who were Those who were educated focused educated focused on chastity and the on chastity and the skills of skills of housewiferyhousewifery

Would assume the Would assume the social class of her social class of her husbandhusband

WomenWomen

Women must obey Women must obey their fathers and their fathers and then their then their husbandshusbands

Rarely left their Rarely left their homes, except to homes, except to go to churchgo to church

MarriageMarriage With parental With parental

permission, boys are permission, boys are legal to marry at 14, legal to marry at 14, girls at 12girls at 12

Marriage contracts Marriage contracts were usually providedwere usually provided Includes brides dowry Includes brides dowry

and settlement of cash and settlement of cash and/or property by and/or property by husbands familyhusbands family

It was generally It was generally considered foolish to considered foolish to marry for lovemarry for love

Wives are the Wives are the propertyproperty of their husbandsof their husbands

‘‘Billy’ and his TheatreBilly’ and his Theatre

Born in 1564 in Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon

Was well established Was well established in the theatre by the in the theatre by the time that he was 20time that he was 20

Became famous as Became famous as an actor and authoran actor and author

Became part owner Became part owner of the Globe Theatre of the Globe Theatre in 1599in 1599

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Where Where Shakespeare’s plays Shakespeare’s plays were performedwere performed

Plays performed Plays performed during the day during the day because there was because there was not lightingnot lighting

No scenery on the No scenery on the stage except for a stage except for a balcony balcony

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Plays were always about the rich and Plays were always about the rich and included a ‘party scene’included a ‘party scene’

Poor people sat in the front in the ‘pit’, Poor people sat in the front in the ‘pit’, rich people had seats around the siderich people had seats around the side

People brought their own foodPeople brought their own foodFavorite food was HazelnutsFavorite food was Hazelnuts

Women were not allowed to perform on Women were not allowed to perform on stage; female roles were played by menstage; female roles were played by men

The PlayThe PlayTermsTerms

Blank VerseBlank Verse: unrhymed iambic : unrhymed iambic pentameter, used when nobles speakpentameter, used when nobles speak

Rhyming VerseRhyming Verse: used when : used when something emotional or highly something emotional or highly important is happeningimportant is happening

ProseProse: everyday language used : everyday language used when the commoners are speakingwhen the commoners are speaking

The PlayThe PlayTermsTerms

AsideAside: Character talks directly to the : Character talks directly to the audience while the cast ‘doesn’t’ audience while the cast ‘doesn’t’ hear ithear it

Dramatic FoilDramatic Foil: A character that is : A character that is present to bring out the present to bring out the characteristics of another charactercharacteristics of another characterBenvolio – Brings out Tybalt’s angerBenvolio – Brings out Tybalt’s angerNurse – is ‘dirty’, brings out Juliet’s Nurse – is ‘dirty’, brings out Juliet’s

innocenceinnocence

The Play The Play TermsTerms

Dramatic Irony:Dramatic Irony: When the audience When the audience knows more than the charactersknows more than the characters

Soliloquy:Soliloquy: When the character is When the character is alone on stage talking to the alone on stage talking to the audienceaudience

Monologue:Monologue: A long speech given A long speech given from one character to anotherfrom one character to another

TermsTerms

Fatal Flaw- Main Fatal Flaw- Main characters in all of characters in all of Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s tragedies have one—tragedies have one—The big character The big character flaw that causes the flaw that causes the character’s downfallcharacter’s downfall

R&J’s flaw: R&J’s flaw: Impulsiveness—Impulsiveness—acting without acting without thinkingthinking

The PlayThe Play

Scene: Verona and Mantua, cities in Scene: Verona and Mantua, cities in northern Italynorthern Italy

Based around a feud between two Based around a feud between two families that has lasted for families that has lasted for generationsgenerations

The PlayThe PlayCharactersCharacters

THE MONTAGUESTHE MONTAGUESLord MontagueLord MontagueLady MontagueLady MontagueRomeo – Son of MontagueRomeo – Son of MontagueBenvolio – nephew of Montague and Benvolio – nephew of Montague and

friend of Romeofriend of RomeoBalthasar – Servant of RomeoBalthasar – Servant of RomeoAbram – servant of MontagueAbram – servant of Montague

The PlayThe PlayCharactersCharacters

THE CAPULETSTHE CAPULETSLord CapuletLord CapuletLady CapuletLady CapuletJuliet – daughter of CapuletJuliet – daughter of CapuletTybalt – nephew of Lady CapuletTybalt – nephew of Lady CapuletNurse – to JulietNurse – to JulietPeter – servant to the NursePeter – servant to the NurseSampson and Gregory – servants of Sampson and Gregory – servants of

CapuletCapulet

The PlayThe PlayCharactersCharacters

THE OTHERSTHE OTHERSPrince Escalus – ruler of VeronaPrince Escalus – ruler of VeronaMercutio – relative of the Prince and Mercutio – relative of the Prince and

friend of Romeofriend of RomeoFriar Laurence – a Franciscan priestFriar Laurence – a Franciscan priestFriar John – a Franciscan priestFriar John – a Franciscan priestCount Paris – young nobleman, relative Count Paris – young nobleman, relative

of the Princeof the Prince

Act IAct I

The Prologue:The Prologue: Chorus: a tradition Chorus: a tradition

from Greek Theater, from Greek Theater, would come out in would come out in each act and each act and preview the act and preview the act and make sure make sure everyone got the everyone got the lesson.lesson.

Shakespeare uses it Shakespeare uses it in only two actsin only two acts

Act I cont…Act I cont…

The Houses of The Houses of Montague and Capulet Montague and Capulet have been feuding for have been feuding for years.years.

The employees of the The employees of the House of Capulet pick a House of Capulet pick a fight w/ employees of fight w/ employees of the House of Montague.the House of Montague.

It turns into a BrawlIt turns into a Brawl The Prince is furiousThe Prince is furious The next time there is a The next time there is a

fight, the participants fight, the participants will be put to deathwill be put to death

Act IAct I

Romeo is Romeo is depresseddepressed

He is in love with He is in love with Rosaline—who has Rosaline—who has vowed to live vowed to live chaste (no sex)chaste (no sex)

Juliet’s father is Juliet’s father is considering the considering the request for Juliet’s request for Juliet’s hand in Marriage hand in Marriage from Parisfrom Paris

Act I cont…Act I cont…

Lord Capulet is Lord Capulet is giving a partygiving a party

Juliet is to meet Juliet is to meet Paris thereParis there

Romeo’s friends Romeo’s friends take him to the take him to the party to cheer him party to cheer him upup

Tybalt sees Romeo Tybalt sees Romeo at the party and at the party and becomes enragedbecomes enraged

Act I cont…Act I cont… Tybalt vows to get Tybalt vows to get

Romeo laterRomeo later Romeo and Juliet fall in Romeo and Juliet fall in

love immediatelylove immediately They, then, realize that They, then, realize that

they have fallen for their they have fallen for their parents “great enemy”parents “great enemy”

Poetic term: OxymoronPoetic term: Oxymoron—a statement that —a statement that contradicts itself. Ex: contradicts itself. Ex: Loving hate, sick healthLoving hate, sick health

Act IIAct II

Romeo climbs into Romeo climbs into Juliet’s orchardJuliet’s orchard

He overhears her He overhears her on the balcony on the balcony (extremely famous (extremely famous scene)scene)

She finds out he is She finds out he is therethere

They talk and They talk and agree to marryagree to marry

Act II cont…Act II cont…

Romeo goes to his Romeo goes to his priest, Friar priest, Friar Lawrence, and asks Lawrence, and asks him to perform the him to perform the ceremonyceremony

The Friar agreesThe Friar agrees Tybalt has Tybalt has

challenged Romeo challenged Romeo to a fightto a fight

Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet marrymarry

Act IIIAct III

Mercutio and Mercutio and Benvolio meet Benvolio meet Tybalt in the street Tybalt in the street and a fight beginsand a fight begins

Romeo shows up Romeo shows up and Tybalt tries to and Tybalt tries to fight Romeo—fight Romeo—Romeo refuses.Romeo refuses.

Mercutio fights and Mercutio fights and is killedis killed

Act IIIAct III

Romeo becomes Romeo becomes enraged and kills enraged and kills TybaltTybalt

The Prince The Prince banishes Romeobanishes Romeo

Juliet is crushed by Juliet is crushed by Tybalt’s death and Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s Romeo’s banishmentbanishment

Act IIIAct III

The Friar arranges The Friar arranges for Romeo and for Romeo and Juliet to have their Juliet to have their wedding nightwedding night

Romeo goes to live Romeo goes to live in Mantua until the in Mantua until the Friar can work Friar can work something outsomething out

The lovers have The lovers have their wedding nighttheir wedding night

Act IIIAct III

Romeo leaves for Romeo leaves for MantuaMantua

Lord Capulet Lord Capulet agrees to have agrees to have Paris marry Juliet Paris marry Juliet

Juliet begs her Juliet begs her parents to change parents to change their minds—they their minds—they refuserefuse

Act IVAct IV

Juliet goes to the Juliet goes to the Friar and tells him Friar and tells him she will commit she will commit suicide before she suicide before she will marry Pariswill marry Paris

The Friar gives Juliet The Friar gives Juliet a potion that will a potion that will put her into such a put her into such a deep sleep that she deep sleep that she will appear to be will appear to be deaddead

Act IVAct IV

The friar will send The friar will send for Romeo to come for Romeo to come and get Juliet in the and get Juliet in the tombtomb

Juliet takes the Juliet takes the potionpotion

Her parents find Her parents find her “dead” and her “dead” and they bury her.they bury her.

Act VAct V

Balthasar tells Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is Romeo that Juliet is deaddead

The messenger the The messenger the Friar sent is unable Friar sent is unable to deliver the to deliver the messagemessage

Romeo buys poison Romeo buys poison and rushes to Juliet’s and rushes to Juliet’s tombtomb

He meets Paris in He meets Paris in the graveyardthe graveyard

Act VAct V

Paris tries to arrest Paris tries to arrest RomeoRomeo

Romeo kills himRomeo kills him Romeo goes into Romeo goes into

the tomb and the tomb and kisses Juliet kisses Juliet goodbye and goodbye and drinks the poisondrinks the poison

The Friar shows up The Friar shows up at the tombat the tomb

Act VAct V

Juliet wakes upJuliet wakes up The police comeThe police come The Friar tries to The Friar tries to

get Juliet to leave get Juliet to leave the tomb with himthe tomb with him

She refusesShe refuses He leavesHe leaves She stabs herselfShe stabs herself

Act VAct V

The Prince shows The Prince shows up and asks for an up and asks for an explanation explanation

The Capulets and The Capulets and Lord Montague Lord Montague show upshow up

Lady Montague has Lady Montague has died of a broken died of a broken heartheart

The friar tells the The friar tells the whole storywhole story

Act VAct V

The Montagues and The Montagues and Capulets make upCapulets make up

Capulet will have Capulet will have Romeo buried next Romeo buried next to Julietto Juliet

Montaque will build Montaque will build a statue of Juliet in a statue of Juliet in pure goldpure gold

The EndThe End

““Never has there been a story of such Never has there been a story of such woe/ As that of Juliet and her Romeo” woe/ As that of Juliet and her Romeo” (V,iii,309-310).(V,iii,309-310).

ThemeTheme

““Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of The Tragedy of Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet demonstrates how demonstrates how dangerous acting dangerous acting impulsively is.impulsively is.

ThemeTheme

Shakespeare Shakespeare poignantly poignantly illustrates how illustrates how destructive destructive prejudice can be in prejudice can be in his play his play The The Tragedy of Romeo Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.and Juliet.

Movie Comparison:Movie Comparison:Which do you Prefer?Which do you Prefer?

The Modern Version’s First FightThe Modern Version’s First Fight

Musical Balcony SceneMusical Balcony Scene

Modern Balcony SceneModern Balcony Scene