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Romeo and Juliet

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Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story between two young star-crossed lovers from feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. The play revolves around the forbidden love shared by Romeo and Juliet, their struggles to be together, and the tragic consequences that arise from their love. The writing style of the play is described as beautiful and rich, with Shakespeare's trademark lyrical prose and impressive poetry shining through, making it a staple for romantic literature.

Characters:

The characters are deeply nuanced, with Romeo's impulsiveness and Juliet's intelligence contrasting with the comedic and conflict-driven roles of others like Mercutio and Tybalt.

Writing/Prose:

Shakespeare employs a poetic style filled with rich metaphors and humor, contrasting the themes of love and tragedy effectively.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around the intense love between two young individuals from feuding families, leading to tragic outcomes due to fate and miscommunication.

Setting:

The setting in Verona, Italy, enriched by the cultural backdrop of the Elizabethan era, serves as a critical component of the story.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, as key events unfold rapidly, creating an atmosphere of urgency and tension.
In recent years, ways of dealing with Shakespeare’s texts and with the interpretation of his plays have been undergoing significant change. This edition, while retaining many of the features that have...

Notes:

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet around 1595 and it was first published in 1597.
The play is set in Verona, Italy, involving two feuding families: the Montagues and the Capulets.
Romeo and Juliet meet at a masquerade ball, and their love is described as "star-crossed" from the start.
The entire story unfolds over the span of just four days, from Sunday to Thursday.
The characters of Romeo and Juliet are only teenagers, making their impulsive love and decisions relatable to young audiences.
Mercutio, a friend of Romeo's, is notable for his witty wordplay and humor, often providing comic relief.
The play features a prologue written in the form of a sonnet, which sets the stage for the tragedy that unfolds.
Despite being one of Shakespeare's most performed plays, it was not his best work, according to literary critics.
The dramatic irony of the story highlights the unfortunate misunderstandings between Romeo and Juliet, leading to their tragic end.
Shakespeare's original text includes many bawdy puns, showcasing the humor of the era alongside its tragic elements.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The play contains themes of death, suicide, and violence, which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

The romance between Romeo and Juliet is intense and central to the play, embodying both deep affection and tragic implications.

From The Publisher:

Set in a city torn apart by feuds and gang warfare, Romeo and Juliet is a dazzling combination of passion and hatred, bawdy comedy and high tragedy.

A young man and woman meet by chance and instantly fall in love. But their families are bitter enemies, and in order to be together the two lovers must be prepared to risk everything. Undoubtedly the greatest love story ever written, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has spawned a host of imitators on stage and screen and been adapted countless times.

Ratings (165)

Incredible (17)
Loved It (42)
Liked It (38)
It Was OK (34)
Did Not Like (31)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (220):

Read It (190)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (17)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (11)

4 comment(s)

It Was OK
5 days

My second time reading this play but I have known about it for so long so it feels like Ive read it a bunch of times. Interesting story but it agree with my last review. Not my cup of tea. Not what I would call romantic even if it's a romantic tragedy

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The play about Romeo and Juliet is by far the Shakespeare play I have heard the most about and definitely disliked the most without reading the original play. But common two young teens having so much drama and sucides over love? It never compelled me. But to my surprise the play was better then I thought, but it didn't redeem the ridiculousness of it all. A good play overall just not my cup of tea

 
Loved It
1 year

It’s an excellent romantic story that will appeal to young readers. It is wonderfully written with plot twists, love, tragedy and drama.

 
Loved It
1 year

Romeo and Juliet dreamed about being together for an eternity even if they have to die for their souls to achieve that goal. tragic but glorious, ironic but a truth

 
Incredible
1 year

This is an intense love story. Romeo and Juliet make the classical ultimate lovers. They are ready to face any consequences, but they are not willing to live a life without one another.

 

About the Author:

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1564. The date of his birth is not known but is traditionally 23 April, St George's Day. Aged 18, he married a Stratford farmer's daughter, Anne Hathaway. They had three children. Around 1585 William joined an acting troupe on tour in Stratford from London, and thereafter spent much of his life in the capital. A member of the leading theatre group in London, the Chamberlain's Men, which built the Globe Theatre and frequently performed in front of Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare wrote 36 plays and much poetry besides. He died in 1616.

 
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