Background Notes

William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare: A brief biography

•  Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, England to an upper/middle class family.

Shakespeare: A brief biography

•  He learned Latin and Greek history in his grammar school as a child. This would explain the Latin and Greek references in his works.

•  There is not evidence that Shakespeare continued his schooling after elementary school.

Shakespeare: A Brief Biography

In 1582 at the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway who was 26. She was pregnant before they were married.

Shakespeare: A Brief Biography

•  After a few years of marriage, Shakespeare left Stratford-on-Avon and his family for London to pursue his career in acting and writing.

Shakespeare: A Brief Biography

•  Shakespeare wrote and acted with The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. This was an acting troupe that would perform during Shakespeare’s time.

Shakespeare: A Brief Biography

•  It is believed that Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616.

•  In his will, Shakespeare left his daughters the majority of his wealth and possessions. He left his wife his “second best bed”.

Shakespeare: A Brief Biography •  The inscription on his tomb states: "Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.” Shakespeare wrote this because in his time, old bodies were dug up and burned to make room for new burials. Shakespeare despised this treatment of bodies, so he wrote this.

Romeo and Juliet and Elizabethan Theater •  Shakespeare did not create the story of

Romeo and Juliet. In fact, it was done at least twice before.

•  The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet was written by Arthur Brooke in 1562. This is considered Shakespeare’s chief source for Romeo and Juliet.

•  However, the Roman myth, Thisbe and Pyramus, is also a story with the same plot as Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet and Elizabethan Theater

•  Much of Shakespeare’s wealth came from his investment in The Globe Theater.

•  The Globe Theater was the primary home of Shakespeare’s acting company beginning in late 1599.

Romeo and Juliet and Elizabethan Theater

•  Anyone could attend a performance at The Globe. However, where the person watched it from depended on how much he or she could afford.

•  Groundlings, or poor people, stood closest to the stage, which cost a penny.

•  People could pay a $.02 to sit in a seat and another penny for a cushion.

•  Queen Elizabeth also frequently attended the theater. This time was called The Elizabethan Era.

Romeo and Juliet and Elizabethan Theater

•  Because of the lack of special effects in the Elizabethan Era, the scenery, costumes, and language were used to set the mood for the play.

•  During the Elizabethan Era, all parts were played by males (even female parts).

Romeo and Juliet

By William Shakespeare

The Feud

Romeo’s family, the Montagues, have a long standing feud with Jul iet ’s family, the Capulets. While the audience never learns about the source of the ancient quarrel, we do learn that it has recently grown stronger.

Comedy and Tragedy

Elements of a tragedy

• Must have a tragic hero/heroine

• Ends in the death of many of the main characters

Romeo and Juliet begins as a comedy but ends as a tragedy.

Elements of a comedy

The shift from comedy to tragedy is what sets Romeo and Juliet apart from the rest of Shakespeare’s plays.

• A struggle of young lovers to overcome difficulty that is often presented by elders

• Separation and unification

• Heightened tensions, often within a family

Themes Love

• The power of love

• Love as a cause for violence

Fate

• The inevitability of fate

Hate

• Hate as a forced emotion

Interesting… “Star-crossed lovers” refers to two people who are in love but have conflicting astrological signs. In Shakespeare’s times, people believed the course of their lives was determined by the exact second they were born.

Romeo

-  Is a Montague -  16 years old -  Cute, smart,

sensitive and romantic

Lady Montague

• Romeo’s Mom

Lord Montague

•  Romeo’s dad •  Worries about

Romeo’s sadness

Balthasar

•  Romeo’s servant

Abram

•  Montague’s servant •  Fights Sampson and

Gregory in the beginning

Benvolio •  Romeo’s cousin & friend •  Tries to break-up fights

and keep the peace.

Juliet

•  is a Capulet, 13 yrs old •  Juliet is very close with

the nurse.

Lord Capulet •  Juliet’s dad

Lady Capulet

•  Juliet’s mom •  Ineffectual mother-

relies on the nurse to “mother” Juliet

Nurse

•  Has cared for Juliet since she was born

•  Vulgar, long-winded, loyal and a confidante to Juliet

Gregory & Sampson

•  Servants to the Capulets

•  Start a fight w/ Montagues at the beginning of the play

Tybalt

•  Juliet’s cousin •  Quick tempered

Mercutio

•  Related to the prince •  Good friends W/ Romeo •  Believes love is about the

physical contact and nothing else.

Prince Escalus

•  Prince of Verona •  Related to Mercutio

and Paris

Count Paris

•  Related to the prince •  Preferred by the

Capulets to marry Juliet

Rosaline

•  The woman who Romeo is obsessed with at the beginning of the play.

The Apothecary

•  Like a pharmacist •  He sells the poison

to Romeo. •  Values money more

than morals

Friar Lawrence •  Friend to Romeo and

Juliet •  Kind, civic-minded •  Secretly marries R & J in

hopes that their marriage will end the feud.

•  He is a Catholic holy man and also familiar with potions and herbs.

Friar John

•  A Catholic holy man

Setting The story is set in the late 1500s mostly in the town of Verona, Italy. However, there are a few acts set in Mantua, Italy a smaller town just a few miles away.

Timeline

Sunday – Act One

Monday – Act Two

Tuesday – Act Three

Wednesday – Act Four

Thursday – Act Five