Shakespeare, William: 1564-1616

Romeo and Juliet, 1597 - Information about the Book

General Information | Facts | Commentary | Articles | Podcasts

General Information
- Good for Discussing:
  Consequences of Impulsive Love
  Family Conflict
  Tension Between Fate and Free Will
- "Romeo and Juliet" tells the tragic story of two young lovers from feuding families in Verona whose secret romance ends in their untimely deaths, ultimately reconciling their warring households. See Summary.
- Information from Dramatica
- Information from Wikipedia
- Information from StageAgent
Facts
- The play can be plausibly dated to 1595. Shakespeare must have written the play between 1591 and 1596. It is based on real lovers who lived in Verona, Italy, and died for each other in the year 1303. At that time the Capulets and Montagues were among the inhabitants of the town. Shakespeare found the tale in Arthur Brooke's poem 'The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Juliet' (1562). The play has inspired other works, such as Berlioz's dramatic symphony (1839), Tchaikovsky's fantasy-overture (1869-80), and Prokofiev's full-length ballet (1938).
- Topics
  
  Love vs. Lust/Infatuation
  The play contrasts true love with superficial lust and infatuation. Romeo's initial obsession with Rosaline is portrayed as immature infatuation, while his love for Juliet is deeper and more genuine, though still passionate and intense. Their love transcends the hatred between their feuding families, highlighting the redemptive power of true love.
  Fate vs. Free Will
  The opening prologue refers to Romeo and Juliet as "star-crossed lovers," suggesting their relationship is doomed by fate and destiny from the start. However, their choices and actions, such as secretly marrying and taking drastic measures, also contribute to the tragic outcome, raising questions about the extent of free will.
  
  Light vs. Dark Imagery
  The play frequently uses contrasting imagery of light and dark to represent the love between Romeo and Juliet versus the hatred and violence surrounding them. Their love is portrayed through light metaphors like "sun" and "brightness," while the feud is depicted through darkness and night.
  
  Violence and Conflict
  The long-standing feud between the Montague and Capulet families provides the backdrop of violence and conflict in which the love story unfolds. The play explores how this cycle of violence leads to tragic consequences, despite the efforts of the young lovers to find peace.
- General Perception
  
  "Romeo and Juliet" was likely quite popular among Elizabethan audiences. Shakespeare's works were known for their broad appeal, attracting both the nobility and commoners. The themes of passionate love and tragic fate resonated widely.
  While we lack detailed contemporary reviews, we know that Shakespeare's works often received mixed responses from literary critics. Some might have considered the play's focus on intense, youthful passion as overly dramatic or unrealistic, while others would have appreciated its poetic language and emotional depth.
  
  In summary, while direct evidence from 1597 is sparse, "Romeo and Juliet" was likely a popular and significant play in its time, appreciated for its emotional intensity, poetic language, and exploration of timeless human themes.
- Reader Rating:
Commentary
- William Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet" is a timeless tragedy exploring themes of love, fate, and the destructive nature of family feuds. Set in Verona, the play portrays the intense, passionate love between Romeo and Juliet, two young lovers from rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Their romance is as fleeting as it is profound, symbolizing the duality of beauty and tragedy in human experience.
  The play critiques the blind loyalty to familial honor, as the feud drives the lovers to secrecy and ultimately leads to their untimely deaths. Shakespeare masterfully balances poetic language, including the iconic sonnets and metaphors, with raw human emotion, making the story resonate across generations. The characters, from the fiery Tybalt to the well-meaning Friar Laurence, embody a range of human traits, adding depth and complexity.
  
  "Romeo and Juliet" remains a poignant reminder of how love and hatred can shape destinies, urging audiences to reflect on the consequences of conflict and the power of reconciliation.
Articles: General Information | Detailed/Scholarly Information
- General Information:
- Review: "The article gives a basic, very brief mention of Romeo and Juliet’s status as a timeless tragic love story but lacks depth in analyzing themes, characters, or Shakespeare’s writing." The New Times; January 15, 2025
- Audio (4:34)
  'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It: "The analysis weaves scholarly and cultural commentary about Romeo and Juliet with reflections on how the play has evolved in interpretation over time, offering useful context and insights into themes, performance history, and changing audience perceptions". NPR Radio; December 29, 2009
  Transcript
- The issue of the spoiler-chorus. Emma Smith; Oxford University
- Romeo and Juliet: themes lesson: "The slideshow covers key themes and characters but provides a general overview rather than a deep textual or critical analysis."
- Romeo and Juliet social and historical context : "The slideshow gives a basic overview of the social and historical context of Romeo and Juliet but lacks in-depth literary analysis."
- Collection of Research Paper: "A list of Romeo and Juliet‑related research papers with a brief description of the play."
- Detailed/Scholarly Information:
- A guide through the stage history: "The article gives a clear, well‑structured overview of Romeo and Juliet’s performance history from Shakespeare’s original staging in 1597 through later adaptations, highlighting how productions and interpretations have evolved over time." Royal Shakespeare Company;
Podcasts:
- Shakespeare created a work so powerful and timeless that his play has shaped the way we talk of love, especially young love, ever since.
  "The podcast gives a thoughtful, expert discussion of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with historical and thematic context, but isn’t a full detailed literary analysis"
- The language of the play and how it reflects the English of Elizabethan England, and how the emerging pronunciations would become common over the following centuries.
  "The podcast provides a thoughtful and detailed linguistic look at the play’s Elizabethan English and pronunciation"