Scarica Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare. e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! Romeo and Juliet. key idea: Romeo and Juliet is characterized by elements both of comedy and tragedy. In this play elements of comedy are the instant attraction, the masked balls, comic servants, while elements of tragedy are the large amount of deaths, the difficulty of their relationship. plot: The background of Shakespear’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet is the quarrel between the Montague and the Capulet. The first act opens in a Verona street. Here Romeo tells his cousin Benvolio that he is in love with Rosalie without being returned. Romeo’s friends after learning the presence of Rosalie to a party in Capulet’s house persuade him to attend in disguise. There Romeo meets Juliet for the first time and falls in love with her at first sight. It’s during the party the two lovers find out that their families are professed enemies. The second act opens with the balcony scene, when Romeo hears Juliet expressing her love for him. He answers her and declares his desire to marry her. This act ends with their secret wedding by the friendly priest Friar Laurence. The third act is the longest one and it can be divided in two part: public events and private events. During this act Mercutio, Romeo’s cousin, is killed by Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin and in revenge Romeo kills him and this is the reason why he will be banished from Verona. The act ends with Romeo and Juliet’s wedding night at Capulet’s house. In the fourth act Juliet takes a drug given by Friar Laurence in order to avoid the marriage with Count Paris arranged by his father. This potion makes appear her dead so Romeo returns to Verona because he thinks that Juliet is really dead. The fifth act begins with the arrival of Romeo at Juliet’s tomb. He decides to take some poison dying next to her. When Juliet wakes up seeing Romeo dead besides her, she stabs herself with his dagger. settings: Shakespeare chose Verona as the setting of this play because Italians had characteristics, such as violence and passion, which charmed the English at that time. characters: Romeo is presented as a man belonging to the courtly love convention due to his adoration and respect for a lady who is chaste and impossible. Furthermore he is very romantic and sentimental, in fact he links Juliet to the sunlight, daylight and the light emanating from angels. We can also say that Romeo is dynamic and brave thanks to his love for Juliet. Moreover he is loyal, he gives proof of his loyalty and love when he commits suicide rather than live without Juliet. Juliet is rebellious, kind and loving. At the beginning she appears as an obedient child but when she finds out her feelings for Romeo, she moves towards maturity. In contrast with the other girls of that time, Juliet is a real woman, she doesn't belong to any characterisation, classification or idealisation. In fact she immediately shows determination and strength in her confession of love and desire for Romeo. In addition to point out the speed at which the love between Romeo and her is moving, she compares it to a thunder. Moreover we can say that Juliet is braver than Romeo because she kills herself with a dagger and this doesn't represents weakness but strength and determination considering that she feels more pain than Romeo. themes:
