william shakespeare romeo and juliet. william shakespeare (1564-1616) died on his birthday, march 23...

William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

• Died on his birthday, March 23• Early years in Stratford-upon-Avon• Married Ann Hathaway• Left wife and children and moved to London• Worked as an actor and a playwright• Was prolific – 37 plays,154 sonnets++

Comedies, tragedies and historic plays

• The Merchant of Venice• A Midsummer Night’s Dream• Much Ado about Nothing• Hamlet• King Lear• Macbeth• HenryV• Othello• Richard III

The genious

In the words of his friend and rival playwright Ben Jonson,

“He was not of an age, but for all time.”

Love – a major theme in the play

• ”Here’s much to do with hate, but more to do with love”

• There are many kinds of love present in the play that often prove deadly.

• ” See what scourge is laid upon your hate, that Heaven finds means to kill your joy with love” (Prince)

Types of love in Romeo and Juliet

1. Unrequited love2. Romantic love3. Parental love4. Friendship5. Love of family honor6. Love of self

The star-crossed lovers

Shakespeare’s universe – disorder means trouble!

GODS

THE CHURCH

THE SUN AND THE MOON

KINGS AND QUEENSPRINCES AND PRINCESSES

FAIRIES AND ELVES

Shakespeare’s universe

• Romeo and Juliet were ’star-crossed lovers’– They were born under an unlucky star– Not favored by the stars– Had fate against them– Something wrong in the universe - their love was

not meant to be• Shakespeare:

”The Fault does not lay in the Stars, but in ourselves”.

Types of love in Romeo and Juliet• Unrequited love

– Romeo for Rosaline– Paris for Juliet– Juliet for parents?

• Romantic love– Romeo and Juliet

• Parental love– Lord and Lady Capulet for Juliet– Lord and Lady Montague for Romeo– Others?

• Friendship– Romeo and Benvolio– Romeo and Mercutio– Romeo and Friar Lawrence– Nurse and Juliet

• Love of family honor– Tybalt– Mercutio?– Romeo?

• Love of Self– Tybalt– Mercutio– Mother– Paris

Romeo and Juliet,Shakespeare’s universe

• Gods - The world is ruled by God ,Venus, Jupiter, Cupid..• The Church - Represented byFriar Lawrence• The Sun and the Moon – always there for you.• King and Queen, Prince and Princess – The Montagues and

the Capulets. Represents order but cause trouble!• Fairies - Represent the magic in life, the universe inside

ourselves. Queen Mab..

Who is to blame for the tragedy?• Romeo –Acted too hastily.• Juliet – Shouldn’t have deceived her parents.• The Capulets – Kept the feud going and disregarded.

Juliet’s wishes.• The Montagues – Kept the feud going.• Tybalt – Kept hatred alive between the families.• Mercutio – Saw the feud as a game.• Friar Lawrence – Agreed to marry R and J.• The Nurse – Encouraged Juliet’s romantic ideas.• Fate – The tragedy was not the fault of any one individual

– it happened because of bad luck.

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