Figure 1.--The balcony scene in "Romeo and Juliet" may be the most painted scene in literature. The one here was painted by Ford Madox Brown (1867). There are many other 19th century examples. Sir Frank Bernard Dicksee (1884) painted another well known example. Brown (1821-93) and Dicksee (1853-1928) were both English historical painters who were strongly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite style in late-Victorian England. The star-crossed lovers are dressed in the Victorian conception of Elizabethan dress. They are both depicted as much older than conceived by Shakespeare in his play. The same is true for film versions of the play. The ages developed by Shakespeare would have been seen as scandolus even by romantically inclined 19th century artists.

'Romeo and Juliet' has to be Shakespeare's and the Renaissance best loved play. More than four centuries later trndy modern high schools continue to stage the play. And well produced movie versions priove to be blockbusters. No other play has that kind of longevity. Of course romance is a sure-fier seller across the ages. Shakespeare wrote it relatively early in his career, probably some time around 1594-95. Shakespeare scholars for a long time disparage the play, considering it a light piece of work in comparison to his four masterful tragedies ('Hamlet', 'King Lear', 'Macbeth', and 'Othello') that he wrote as a more mature playwrite. "Romeo and Juliet' however nerver losts its alure with general public. While students might be asigned to study 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth', and 'Merchant of Venice' in class, it was Romeo and Juliet that the students wanted to actually produce as a school play. Perhaps responding to public opinion, contemporary academics have begun to revise scholarly assessments of 'Romeo and Juliet'. The play is a love story set within a family feud between Montagues and Capulets. The two Verona families have been feuding so long that no ones rembers what started it. Romeo is the son of Lord Montague. He finds out about a ball given by Lord Capulet and not one to miss a good party decideds to attend desguised with friends. It is here thst Romeo for the first time sees the enchasnting Juliet and instantly falls in love. The famous scene seen herev on Juliet's balcony follows that evening (figure 1). One aspect of the play that is commonly incorectly presented, larfely because of changing social attitudes. Sharespeare's Juliet is a very young teenager. Romeo is a somewhat older teenager. But in the iconography that has developed around the two, they are both depicted as much older. The same is true for film versions of the play. The ages developed by Shakespeare would have been seen as scandolus even by romantically inclined 19th century artists.

Shakespeare

English poet and playwright William Shakespeare is generally considered to be the greatest writer in the English language and perhaps the most important dramatist. He played a major role in the development of the English language. A vast number of modern words and phrases first appeared in his 38 known plays in addition to 2 long narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and a variety of other poems. He was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. There are lots of speculations about Shakespeare's childhood in Stratford-upon-Avon, but there are no documentable facts beyond his baptism. We know that his father, John Shakespeare, was a glover and Alderman from Snitterfield and the family lived in comfortable circumstances. His mother was Mary Arden, the daughter of an affluent landowning family. William was the eldest surviving son. We assume that the young William went to the local grammar school--the King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford. King Edward was known for supporting education. Historians believe that the young William almost certainly was educated there. Given his father's status in the community and his literary accomplishments, he clearly had an education and the local grammar is the only place that he would have gotten his education. William lived close to the school and there were no other schools in that Warwickshire town. Shakesperian scholars speculate as to John's loss of possition as Alderman. Some believe it was because of Catholic sympathies and this would have significantly colored William's prospects. Our first documented knowledge of Shakespeare concerns his marriage to Anne Hathaway and his early career in London in connection with the theatre. He had three children, but these stayed behind with his wife in Stratford while Shakespeare lived a single life in London. Ironically, the great writer made no provision for his daughter's education. HBC has done some work on his plays in our Renaissance drama section.

The Play

'Romeo and Juliet' has to be Shakespeare's and the Renaissance best loved play. More than four centuries later trndy modern high schools continue to stage the play. And well produced movie versions priove to be blockbusters. No other play has that kind of longevity. Of course romance is a sure-fier seller across the ages.

Scholarly Assessment

Shakespeare wrote it relatively early in his career, probably some time around 1594-95. Shakespeare scholars for a long time disparage the play, considering it a light piece of work in comparison to his four masterful tragedies ('Hamlet', 'King Lear', 'Macbeth', and 'Othello') that he wrote as a more mature playwrite. "Romeo and Juliet' however nerver losts its alure with general public. While students might be asigned to study 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth', and 'Merchant of Venice' in class, it was Romeo and Juliet that the students wanted to actually produce as a school play. Perhaps responding to public opinion, contemporary academics have begun to revise scholarly assessments of 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Characters

The central characters are of course Romeo and Juliet. One aspect of the play that is commonly incorectly presented, larfely because of changing social attitudes. Sharespeare's Juliet is a very young teenager. Romeo is a somewhat older teenager. But in the iconography that has developed around the two, they are both depicted as much older. The same is true for film versions of the play. The ages developed by Shakespeare would have been seen as scandolus even by romantically inclined 19th century artists. The Victorian painters, such as Brown here, seem to have imagined Romeo and Juliet as young adults in their 20s, whereas the actual text by Shakespeare makes Juliet only 14 years old. Shakespeare doesn't give Romeo's age, but he is definitely portrayed as a teenager--probably about 17. The famous Zefferelli film made the star-crossed lovers look much younger--a lot closer to what Shakespeare had in mind. I think the reason for making the lovers older in later times was partly that the things they say in the text are so sophisticated and adult in content. Also, of course, there is the obvious sexuality of the relationship in the play. Victorians would have been horrified to think that a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy would be having passionate sex. Much of the imagery of the play is highly erotic of course, more so than Shakespeare's play.

Plot

The play is a love story set within a family feud between Montagues and Capulets. The two Verona families have been feuding so long that no ones rembers what started it. Romeo is the son of Lord Montague. He finds out about a ball given by Lord Capulet and not one to miss a good party decideds to attend desguised with friends. It is here thst Romeo for the first time sees the enchasnting Juliet and instantly falls in love. The famous scene seen herev on Juliet's balcony follows that evening (figure 1).

Movies

There are many film versions of 'Romeo and Juliet'. Some are billed as the Shakespeare play. Others like Bernsterin's 'Westside Story' (1957) are essentially a retelling of the Shakespeare story in modern garb. Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation (1996) transfers the setting from Verona to a South American city, perhapa Rio de Janeiro. Rapiers in the town square are substituted for handguns on a beach. Gary Winick’s 'Letters to Juliet' (2010) makes an even greater departure. Winick uses pieces of of narrative and other elemernts of the play, invents an entirely new plot that changes the whole trajectory from what one Shakespeare scholar calls 'circumstantial tragedy to sentimentalized, feel-good comedy'.

Created: 5:11 PM 7/8/2010
Last updated: 5:45 PM 7/8/2010