ROMEO AND JULIET

The most famous love story of all times

Several film versions

PROLOGUE From the beginning their love is destined to end in death. From the beginning their love is destined to end in death. The stars (= destiny) are against Romeo and Juliet The stars (= destiny) are against Romeo and Juliet FATE is always present FATE is always present

Two households…

Both alike in dignity…

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny…

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.

FATE Shakespeare explores the theme of fate by allowing the audience to be part of his characters’ destiny. Shakespeare explores the theme of fate by allowing the audience to be part of his characters’ destiny. In the opening lines of the play the audience is told what is going to happen to the lovers: In the opening lines of the play the audience is told what is going to happen to the lovers: “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.” “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.” The audience is put in an omnipotent, god-like position from the start encouraging them to think about : The audience is put in an omnipotent, god-like position from the start encouraging them to think about : fate and destiny fate and destiny ability to make free choices ability to make free choices

He also creates a sort of tension we know Romeo and Juliet’s fate from the prologue and we are constantly hoping that they will take a different course we know Romeo and Juliet’s fate from the prologue and we are constantly hoping that they will take a different courseRomeoJuliet’sRomeoJuliet’s Will Romeo arrive in time ? Will Romeo arrive in time ? Will he arrive just after Juliet has woken? Will he arrive just after Juliet has woken?

Montagues

Capulets

Others

The two lovers ROMEO  the typical courteous lover intense adoration of a chaste woman JULIET  though within the courtly love convention, she is unconventional because she: - returns Romeo’s love - stands for innocence - belongs to no characterisation - is a real woman

PLOT Romeo is son and heir of Montagues. He’s a handsome man of about sixteen who falls easily in and out of love demonstrating his immaturity. Romeo is son and heir of Montagues. He’s a handsome man of about sixteen who falls easily in and out of love demonstrating his immaturity.in and out of lovein and out of love At the beginning of the play he is hopelessly in love with Rosaline but immediately falls in love with Juliet at first sight At the beginning of the play he is hopelessly in love with Rosaline but immediately falls in love with Juliet at first sight Could this be fate? Could this be fate? Could this be fate? Could this be fate?

Romeo meets Juliet at a feast, given by lord Capulet, disguised in a mask

Juliet’s father wants her to marry Count Paris

The same night Romeo segretely enters the Capulet’s garden and sees Juliet leaning out of her balcony and talking to herself and the moon, he overhears her declaring her love. He bursts out and declares his love too

Romeo marries Juliet with the help of his friend and confident Friar Lawrence.

Romeo is not interested in the on-going feud between his family and the Capulets, he is not a violent man. Romeo is not interested in the on-going feud between his family and the Capulets, he is not a violent man. Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into fighting him but, true to character, Romeo is not drawn in. Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into fighting him but, true to character, Romeo is not drawn in. However, when his close friend is killed by Tybalt, for revenge Romeo kills him in a fit of rage and grief. However, when his close friend is killed by Tybalt, for revenge Romeo kills him in a fit of rage and grief.

Romeo is forced to escape to Mantua Juliet, not to marry Count Paris, takes a drug given to her by Friar Lawrence This drug has to put her in a deathlike trance

Friar Laurence would have told Romeo everything but …..FATE He is mistakenly told that Juliet is dead He rushes back to Verona, outside Juliet’s tomb he meets Paris and in a duel he kills him. He sees Juliet apparently dead and he takes a poison..FATE AGAIN..just few seconds after Juliets awakes

The real tragedy had started in the third act with Mercutio’s and Tybalt’s deaths and Romeo banished from Verona The real tragedy had started in the third act with Mercutio’s and Tybalt’s deaths and Romeo banished from Verona In the fifth act tragic conclusion In the fifth act tragic conclusion of the play with the deaths of the two lovers When Juliet sees Romeo dead, she takes his dagger and kills herself When Juliet sees Romeo dead, she takes his dagger and kills herself

united in their grief.Looking at the two bodies, The two families become reconciled, united in their grief. Romeo and Juliet were fated to love and die for the greater good of Verona.Romeo and Juliet were fated to love and die for the greater good of Verona.Romeo and Juliet were fated to loveRomeo and Juliet were fated to love the tragedy of Youth, the parents are cruel and don’t listen to their children the tragedy of Youth, the parents are cruel and don’t listen to their children

Look at the video and listen to the song : “ What is a youth”

Look at the modern version and listen to the song: “I am kissing you”

Another modern version. Listen to the song: “ Romeo and Juliet” Twilight

The first act It is composed of a series of dialogues about the courtly concept of love, linked to melancholy, holy devotion and idealization of the object of desire It is composed of a series of dialogues about the courtly concept of love, linked to melancholy, holy devotion and idealization of the object of desire It ends with the scene of the masque It ends with the scene of the masque Look at the video Look at the video

The monoloque The function of it is to reveal the audience the character’s real feelings and intentions The function of it is to reveal the audience the character’s real feelings and intentions We can clearly see it in the Balcony scene We can clearly see it in the Balcony scene

The balcony Scene Shakespeare passes from the language of ( Juliet sings her love ) to the language of Drama ( two people exchanging words and feelings ) Shakespeare passes from the language of love poetry ( Juliet sings her love ) to the language of Drama ( two people exchanging words and feelings ) Love departs from courtly conventions Love departs from courtly conventions Look at the video Look at the video

What are the most important themes in this scene? substance of things is much more important than words: Romeo is not just a name but a fesh-and-blood person substance of things is much more important than words: Romeo is not just a name but a fesh-and-blood person Juliet shows to be more mature than Romeo to have a deeper understanding of things, she is consciuos of the dangers Romeo is running Juliet shows to be more mature than Romeo to have a deeper understanding of things, she is consciuos of the dangers Romeo is running Romeo replies in a rhetorical way Romeo replies in a rhetorical way This contrast between the rhetoric of love and the tragedy of real life underlines the dramatic theme This contrast between the rhetoric of love and the tragedy of real life underlines the dramatic theme

It is a comedy It is a tragedy A comedy or a tragedy? A comedy or a tragedy?  the instant attraction of the young lovers the masked balls the comic servants the comic servants the surface life of street fights. the surface life of street fights.  the tragic role of chance leading up to the deaths of the two lovers

A “ Lyrical Tragedy “ Love is put at the centre of a tragedy to make it the real cause of the tragic events Lyrical because it is built on the language and images typical of Renaissance love poetry Lyrical because it is built on the language and images typical of Renaissance love poetry Tragedy because of Romeo and Juliet ‘s death due to the feud between their families Tragedy because of Romeo and Juliet ‘s death due to the feud between their families

The feud between the two families The feud between the two families Old hate vs young love Old hate vs young love Fate Fate The lack of knowledge coming The lack of knowledge coming from bad communication from bad communication Time Time Themes

Continuous references When Mercutio shouts “a plague on both your houses” in Act 3, Scene 1, we are reminded of the protagonists’ fate. This bloody scene in which characters are killed gives us a glimpse of what fate has in store, marking the beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic downfall. When Mercutio shouts “a plague on both your houses” in Act 3, Scene 1, we are reminded of the protagonists’ fate. This bloody scene in which characters are killed gives us a glimpse of what fate has in store, marking the beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic downfall. Fate permeates the events and speeches in the play. Is it fate that Friar Lawrence’s plan to inform Romeo of Juliet’s faked death is not realized due to unforeseen circumstances? Is it fate that Romeo kills himself when he does? Fate permeates the events and speeches in the play. Is it fate that Friar Lawrence’s plan to inform Romeo of Juliet’s faked death is not realized due to unforeseen circumstances? Is it fate that Romeo kills himself when he does?

What was the C word? Romeo and Juliet is a play about contrasts: Light and dark Light and dark Night and day Night and day Young and old Young and old Love and hate Love and hate Rhetoric and reality Rhetoric and reality Substance of things Substance of things and power of words and power of words

In the Language… Antithesis In the Language… Antithesis The contrast of direct opposites. The contrast of direct opposites. “Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, “Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O any thing, of nothing first created: O any thing, of nothing first created: O heavy lightness, serious vanity” O heavy lightness, serious vanity” (1884).

Light and dark Imagery of light  linked to life and Imagery of light  linked to life and the courteous love convention the courteous love convention Imagery of darkness  linked to Imagery of darkness  linked to death death

Fickle Love Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play. Today, we might use the term “puppy love” to describe this. Romeo’s love for Rosaline is shallow and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play. Today, we might use the term “puppy love” to describe this. Romeo’s love for Rosaline is shallow and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence Romeo is in love Romeo is in love Romeo: Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline. Friar Laurence: For doting, not for loving, pupil mine. Romeo: Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline. Friar Laurence: For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.

Paris’ love for Juliet ? it is not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage. it is not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage. This was the tradition at the time. This was the tradition at the time.

Romantic Love Our classic idea of romantic love is embodied in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature, so strong that it transcends social conventions. Our classic idea of romantic love is embodied in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature, so strong that it transcends social conventions. Romeo and Juliet’s love is given cosmic significance and can therefore overturn the social boundaries of “fair Verona.” Romeo and Juliet’s love is given cosmic significance and can therefore overturn the social boundaries of “fair Verona.”love is given cosmic significance and can therefore overturn the social boundaries of “fair Verona.”love is given cosmic significance and can therefore overturn the social boundaries of “fair Verona.”

Other Types of Love Friendship. Friendship. Juliet and her Nurse Juliet and her Nurse Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio They care deeply for another and protect each others honour. They care deeply for another and protect each others honour. This costs Mercutio his life. This costs Mercutio his life. This platonic love is offset by the sexual allusions made by some characters : particularly Juliet’s Nurse and Mercutio. Their view of love is earthy and purely sexual, creating an effective contrast with Romeo and Juliet’s romanticism. This platonic love is offset by the sexual allusions made by some characters : particularly Juliet’s Nurse and Mercutio. Their view of love is earthy and purely sexual, creating an effective contrast with Romeo and Juliet’s romanticism.

Listen to other songs: “Come what may” “Come what may” “Keep holding on” “Keep holding on” “ A time for us “ “ A time for us “