William Shakespea

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Soleil M. Pérez ENGL 3222

Prof. Mara Luna

Historical Context Historical Context

Cultural:Cultural:

1594 & 15951594 & 1595

escrita

Leonardo da Vinci starts working on his painting Mona Lisa.Leonardo da Vinci starts working on his painting Mona Lisa.

Looks for inspiration in a personal interpretation of classical art.Looks for inspiration in a personal interpretation of classical art.

Isabeline TheaterIsabeline Theater

Poems were written to be musicalizedPoems were written to be musicalized

Political:

The monarchy

Foundation of the Tudor dynasty

Wars of the Roses

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 1564-1616

He was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.

He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".

His extent works, include about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses.

He was born and died on April 23 in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Shakespeare wrote:

*TRAGEDIES:

*OTHELLO*ROMEO & JULIET*HAMLET*MACBETH*KING LEAR 

*COMEDIES

*MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM*THE TAMING OF THE SHREW*THE MERCHANT OF VENICE*MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

HISTORICAL CREATIONS:*HENRY V*RICHARD III*KING JOHN

PLOT

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families.

ROMEO & JULIETGALLERY IN THE

CAPULETS’ PALACE First Act :

Capulets, nobles of Verona

Juliet is turning fifteen

Romeo & various friends are masked

They are looking at the magnificent feast

Second Act :GARDEN IN

JULIET’S HOUSE

Romeo isn’t scared about his enemies hatred

Juliet appears & the youngsters meet

The hatred of their families is dwelling over their heads

Romeo has been recognized by the young Capulet

The revelation unsettles the lovers that ignore their

identities

Third Act:

CLOISTER IN A MONASTERY

Posterior Front of the Capulets’ palace

Romeo visits Friar Laurence

Lovers’ encounter

Hope of putting an end to the families’ brawl

The fight immediately starts and Mercutio joins

in.

Tybalt sings an offensive song

The hostilities are resumed

Juliet’s Bedroom

Fourth Act :

Romeo must abandon Verona

He must obtain his pardon for Tybalt’s death.

Capulet and Friar Laurence appear.

Friar Laurence comforts Juliet and gives her a narcotic.

The beverage will give her the appearance of death.

The Capulet’s crypt

Juliet lies in slumber on a luxurious burial chamber

Romeo arrives to the crypt and hugs her with

an immense pain

Romeo kills himself and Juliet wakes up from her

slumber

Juliet takes Romeo’s dagger and kills herself

FIFTH ACT:

The playwright divided the play in five acts

• In the first act we see a confrontation between the families and the birth of Romeo & Juliet’s love.

• In the second act we see the frenetic love of the young lovers and their secret marriage.

• In the third act the tragedy begins with Mercutio’s death, we also see their wedding night.

• In the forth act Fray Laurence’s fateful plan is executed and the Capulet’s believe Juliet is dead.

• In the fifth act the tragedy reaches its climax with the confusion that results in Romeo & Juliet’s suicide, but this also brings peace between the two families.

STRUCTURE

Presentation: Dispute between Gregory and Sampson and Abram and Balthasar, then Romeo appears whines from a non-reciprocated love, that of Rosaline. Romeo’s friends learn about a feast at the Capulet’s house where he meets Juliet.

Climax: Romeo sends communication to his beloved Juliet of the wedding date which is performed by Friar Laurence. After a second dispute between the two families, Romeo is exiled from Verona. Conclusion: Juliet’s father forces his daughter to marry Count Paris. Juliet, thinks of a plan and makes everyone believe she is dead. The friar sends a letter to Romeo but he doesn’t receive it. This is why Romeo drinks some poison and when Juliet realizes what has happened, kills herself with his dagger.

STRUCTURE

Love is stronger than anything, even death itself.

THEMESMain Theme

Secondary Themes

First love

Falling in love

Tragic love

Hatred, violence, and animosity

Death

ROMEO JULIET

*Pacific in the beginning*Vengative when he kills Tybalt*Daring*Immature

*Quiet and obedient in the beginning*Decided to challenge destiny & hatred between families*At the same time, somewhat of a coward*Very much in love

MAIN CHARACTERS

CAPULET FAMILY*Mr. Capulet: Patriarch of Capulet family.*Mrs. Capulet: Matriarch of Capulet family.*Juliet: Capulets’ daughter and play’s protagonist.*Tybalt: Juliet cousin and nephew of Mrs. Capulet.*The nurse: Juliet’s confidant.*Peter, Sampson & Gregory: Servants at the Capulet’s house.

MONTAGUE FAMILY*Mr. Montague: Patriarch of the Montague family.*Mrs. Montague: Matriarch of the Montague family.*Romeo: Montagues’ son and play’s protagonist.*Benvolio: Romeo’s cousin and friend.*Abram & Balthasar: Servants at the Montagues’ house.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

VERONA’S GOVERNMENT*Prince Escalus: Prince of Verona.*Count Paris: Kinsman of Prince Escalus who wishes to marry Juliet.*Mercutio: Cousin of Prince Escalus and Romeo’s friend.

*Friar Laurence: Franciscan friar and Romeo’s friend.*The chorus: They read the beginning prologue and one other speech.*Friar John: Is sent to give Friar Laurence’s letter to Romeo.*Apothecary: Reluctantly sells Romeo the poison.*Rosaline: Woman with whom Romeo had a relationship before meeting Juliet.

PLAY SEGMENT• O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy;Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLVlajiihI

MOVIE VERSIONS

Director:Franco Zefirelli, 1968Actors: Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting

Director:Baz Luhrmann, 1996

Actors: Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHfIzTSUpz4

Director:Carlo Carlie, 2013

Actors: Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GDd83IQDxw

This is a beautiful play by William Shakespeare that shows us how true

love is stronger than anything, no matter the obstacles and adversities. Although Romeo and Juliet couldn’t be together in the end, they at least

had the satisfaction of dying together knowing that they did everything they could to fulfill the immense

passion they shared.

MY OPINION