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WOLFNOTE SUMMARY OF…
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’s
ROMEO AND JULIET
Context
“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief that thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.”
“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.”
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.”
These are famous quotations throughout the literary world and are to be found in Shakespeare’s
tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Shakespeare adopted this story from a previous older tale producing a work rich in poetry, drama and
tension. It concerns a feud between two noble families in the city of Verona, being the Capulets and
Montague’s. From the start, Shakespeare ensures that the audience knows that they are watching a
tragedy, and that the lovers Romeo and Juliet will meet their death at the climax of the play.
The play commences with the feuding families being warned by the Prince of Verona that both sides
must try and keep the peace on pain of death.
Benvolio counsels his lovesick friend, Romeo, son of Montague, to abandon his hopeless love for
Rosaline and seek another love. They manage to obtain an invitation for a masked ball being held by
the Capulet family where Romeo falls in love immediately on seeing Juliet Capulet. At the end of the
ball Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, who is affronted by Romeo’s audacity, discovers their identities. Romeo and
Benvolio leave the feast, but Romeo climbs into the Capulet’s orchard with the hope of glimpsing Juliet
again. She appears and Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and agree to marry the next day.
This is a fast-moving play, the entire action-taking place over five days.
Romeo persuades Friar Laurence to conduct the marriage ceremony to which he agrees, his motive
being to reconcile the feuding families.
Tybalt sends Romeo a challenge resulting from his gate crashing of the Capulet feast, but Romeo
refuses to fight because they will soon be related.
Romeo and Juliet are secretly married and later on Tybalt confronts Romeo who still refuses to fight.
Mercutio intervenes accepting the challenge and when Romeo tries to separate the parties, Mercutio is
fatally wounded. In response, Romeo kills Tybalt and then flees.
The Prince announces that Romeo is to be banished for the death of Tybalt, and Romeo hides with Friar
Laurence and is distraught at being separated from his love.
Romeo and Juliet are able to spend their wedding night together, but he has to leave Juliet’s room
before dawn, and he goes to Mantua.
Paris, a close friend of the Prince, seeks Juliet’s hand in marriage and Capulet sees this as a way for his
family to obtain more power and is intent on forcing Juliet to wed.
Juliet seeks advice from Friar Laurence regarding this awkward situation and he devises a plan whereby
she is to take a sleeping potion that will make her to appear as dead. The Friar will send a message to
Romeo so that he can return to Verona in order to be there when she awakes in the Capulet tomb.
Capulet has arranged for Juliet to marry Paris in two days time, but this is then brought forward by a
day which forces Juliet to take the potion a day earlier, thus reducing the time available for the
message to reach Romeo.
The next morning, Juliet’s lifeless body is discovered and is placed in the family tomb. At the same time
there is an outbreak of the plague, which means that the Friar’s messenger is quarantined, and Romeo
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does not receive the message, but learns of Juliet’s death from another source. He vows to lie with
Juliet in the tomb, taking his own life, and for this purpose he obtains some poison.
When Romeo enters the Capulet tomb Paris confronts him. Romeo and Paris fight and Paris is killed.
Unaware that Juliet is alive, Romeo takes the poison and dies at her side.
The Friar arrives too late to save Romeo, but discovers the waking Juliet. He is unable to persuade
Juliet to come away with him and she kills herself using Romeo’s dagger.
The Prince and the two families, who then vow to bring an end to their feud, and pay tribute to the
tragic lovers Romeo and Juliet, discover the final scene.
The Author
Having died almost four hundred years ago, the works of William Shakespeare are still widely
performed, adapted and read throughout the world. This is testimony to his genius and his position
must be as one of the greatest literary figures of any age.
He was a prolific writer, composing thirty-seven plays over his life.
Like all great men, he has received criticism over the years as to whether he had the ability to produce
all the work attributed to him. In the absence of any concrete proof to the contrary, it is safe to
attribute all his work to Shakespeare’s pen.
He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England on 23rd April 1564. His father was a dealer in grain and
his mother was the daughter of a prosperous farmer. It is likely that he received a good education and
this was probably obtained at King’s New School, being the local Grammar School. However, there is
evidence to show that the family’s fortunes did decline and that Shakespeare was unable to complete
his schooling.
In November 1582 he married Anne Hathaway and they had a daughter, Susanna, six months later.
This supports the theory that the marriage was, perhaps, forced on William Shakespeare. They had
twins later named Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died at the age of eleven.
Little is known about Shakespeare’s life between 1585 and 1592. Some scholars think he may have
been a soldier, this being based on the detail contained in Henry IV and Henry V, concerning the
corruption involved in army life.
He also worked as an actor and this led him to the city lights of London.
By the year 1599 it is clear that Shakespeare was a wealthy man because he applied to the College of
Heralds for a Coat of Arms for his family. He also purchased a substantial property in Stratford.
In July 1605, Shakespeare paid £440 for the lease of a large portion of tithes (taxes) on real estate in
the Stratford area. This meant that he received a 10% income from the agricultural products obtained
from the land. He was able to double his capital investment.
On 25th March 1616, Shakespeare revised his last Will and Testament and he died on 23rd April in the
same year. His body was laid to rest in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.
Shakespeare did not start his work as an actor and playwright until the early 1590’s, but he enjoyed
almost immediate success, soon becoming the most popular artist in England, and part owner of the
Globe Theatre. This has been carefully restored to its former glory and is an important theatrical venue
in London. Both Elizabeth I, and James I patronized him, and it was the latter monarch who gave
Shakespeare the great honor of being a King’s Player. By 1594 he had become a member of the Lord
Chamberlain’s Men.
His works were collected and printed in various editions in the centuries following his death, and by the
beginning of the eighteenth century, his work had a worldwide reputation. It is evident that some of
his work may have been lost, but he can claim to have composed thirty-seven plays and one hundred
and fifty-four sonnets. The sonnets were first published in 1609 and stand among the finest works of
English poetry. The plays are divided into four groups – historical plays, comedies, tragedies and late
romances. Most of these were drawn from existing sources. The first collected edition of plays was
published in 1623. Much of his work as a playwright stands the test of time, and can easily be
successfully adapted to the modern age.
Stratford-upon-Avon is the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company (R.S.C.) and still actively keeps
Shakespeare’s work alive. It is the ambition of many an actor worldwide to appear in a Shakespeare
play at Stratford with the R.S.C. Many of the great actors of the twentieth century started their careers
with the R.S.C.
‘Romeo and Juliet’ is thought to have been written in the mid 1590’s and is probably Shakespeare’s first
non-historical tragedy. Shakespeare adapted the story from an earlier tale concerning Romeus and
Juliet, which was in the form of a long narrative poem. The play was first performed in 1594 just after
a sustained outbreak of plague in London when Richard Burbage played the part of Romeo and a
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Master Robert Goffe played the part of Juliet. Young boy actors usually played female roles, because
women were not allowed to appear on stage until the seventeenth century.
Whilst the play is still enjoyed by audiences worldwide in its original form, it has been successfully
adapted to a ballet by Prokofiev in 1935; a modern dress musical, West Side Story, directed by Robert
Wise and Jerome Robbins in 1961; a traditional dress film by Zeferrelli in 1968 starring Olivia Hussey
and Leonard Whiting; and the 1997 film Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann starring Leonardo
Di Caprio and Claire Danes, a modern dress version. Romeo and Juliet also inspired Tchaikovsky to
write one of his most melodic overtures commonly known as his love theme in 1869.
List of Main Characters
Juliet
Juliet is the daughter of the head of the Capulet house and is not yet fourteen years old. She is
considered to be the means by which her family can improve their social standing in Verona. She is the
only character in the play to develop and mature over the four days of her life. She is the tragic
heroine who sacrifices her position and life for the love of Romeo.
Romeo
Romeo is the son of the head of the Montague house and at the start of the play is much respected in
Verona. He is an accomplished swordsman, killing two key players during the course of the play. He is
also an adept lover, quickly seducing Juliet, but he too shares a real love for her.
Mercutio
Mercutio is a kinsman of the Prince of Verona and a close friend of Romeo and is the only character that
sees through the shallowness of the Veronese society. He is quick tempered and ends up accepting
Tybalt’s challenge to Romeo and is killed as a result. He issues a curse on both houses.
Tybalt
Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin and is a violent and hot-tempered champion of the Capulet cause. He has an
overpowering sense of honor and is always quick to draw his sword.
The Nurse
Juliet’s nursemaid, who effectively brought up Juliet, acts as a go-between for Romeo and Juliet, but it
is her eventual loyalty to the Capulet family that makes Juliet discard her as her confidante.
Friar Laurence
He is a member of the Franciscan Order; he is Romeo’s confessor and gives advice to both the heroes.
He conducts their secret marriage and hopes to restore peace between the feuding families. He is
proficient in the art of using herbs and devises a plan for Romeo and Juliet to be together outside of
Verona. His good intentions are thwarted due to the intervention of fate.
Paris
He is another kinsman to the Prince is attractive and has influence in the city and he hopes to marry
Juliet. He is killed by Romeo at the Capulet tomb.
Capulet and Lady Capulet
They are the heads of this household, the father being quick tempered and anxious to improve his
family’s status in the city. Lady Capulet, like all women of Verona, is subservient to her husband and
supports his plans for the family. She has a poor relationship with her daughter, leaving her upbringing
to the nurse.
Montague and Lady Montague
He is head of his household, but his wife is in contrast to Lady Capulet in that she is outspoken about
the violence that emanates from the family feud. She is very close to her son and is concerned at his
melancholy behavior at the start of the play. She is also aware that he is keeping secrets from her and
when he is banished she dies of grief.
Benvolio
Benvolio is Montague’s nephew and a friend of Romeo. He unsuccessfully tries to keep the peace
between Tybalt and Mercutio.
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Prince of Verona (Escalus)
The Prince is the only one able to restore law and order in Verona when the two families fight. He is
eventually forced to make a decree that those found to break the peace may face the ultimate
punishment. However, despite this, fighting continues and as a result Romeo is exiled. In the end it is
the deaths of Romeo and Juliet that bring a lasting peace to Verona.
The Prologue
Summary
The play opens with the chorus entering who recite a fourteen-line sonnet, which gives details of the
two noble households, which are called ‘houses’ in the city of Verona.
There is an ancient feud, the cause of which is not made known, but the result is a violent and bloody
conflict between the two families.
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes. A pair of star-crossed lovers takes their life.”
The play is about these two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, and the terrible fate that awaits them being a
direct product of the strife between the two houses.
Interpretation
Shakespeare is clear to leave the audience in no doubt that they are watching a tragedy where the
heroes will die. The purpose of the prologue is to set the scene of the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’. It refers
to the ill-fated couple that will be punished for challenging the fates, or stars. The stars were thought
to control people’s destinies and the play describes the web of fate in which Romeo and Juliet become
entangled.
Act I – Scene.i
Summary
This is set in the streets of Verona where two Capulet servants, Sampson and Gregory engage in rowdy
banter concerning the house of Montague. This involves the beating of Montague men and sexually
conquering Montague women. They come across two Montague servants and a brawl soon ensues.
Benvolio, a kinsman to Montague endeavors to stop the confrontation, and then Tybalt enters the
scene, which is a kinsman to Capulet, and seeing Benvolio’s drawn sword, causes the brawl to escalate.
Eventually, Prince Escalus enters and is able to restore order.
The protagonists throw down their weapons and the Prince declares that the feuding must stop on
penalty of torture, and he issues a death sentence on anyone who disturbs the peace again.
The brawlers disperse, leaving Benvolio with Montague and Lady Montague. Lady Montague is
concerned about her son, Romeo, who has been seen outside the city in a lovesick state over Rosaline.
Benvolio seeks out his cousin and friend, Romeo who is melancholy, as his love for Rosaline has not
been returned. Benvolio advises his friend that he should seek out other beauties.
Interpretation
Throughout the play, Shakespeare provides two perspectives of life in Verona, one from the servants’
position, and the other from the nobility.
Initially we see the feud between the two houses from the eyes of the servants of these noble
households. The opening scene is full of action devised by Shakespeare to absorb his audience. The
brawl portrays the different layers of Veronese society from those without any power, i.e. the servants,
through the nobility, up to the Prince. It is the Prince who is able to calm the situation and end the
brawl.
The Prince is at the top of the political and social scale.
We obtain details of some of the main characters. Benvolio is portrayed as intelligent and respectful of
the law, whilst Tybalt is shown to be hotheaded with a short temper. It is clear that there is a deep,
long-standing hostility between the two houses.
Romeo is also introduced to the audience as a lovesick youth, consumed with his unrequited love for
Rosaline.
The audience is made aware that this is a very passionate society, where swords are drawn with little or
no provocation and that a man’s honor must be defended at all costs. The concept of masculine honor
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is evident throughout all the layers of society, including the servants. The brawl initiated with the
servants and spilled over into the nobility.
Shakespeare cleverly uses the servants as a way of commenting on the behavior of the hierarchy of
Veronese society. The intention is that the audience will conclude that although the two households are
dramatically tragic, they are also dull-witted and over-privileged, since only stupid people would bring
death upon themselves when there is no clear need for it.
In direct contrast to the masculine honor of the noble households, there is the passionate love that
Romeo has, not for Juliet at this stage of the play, but for Rosaline, who the audience will never see.
Shakespeare is clear to show that although love is extremely passionate, it is fickle; so fickle in fact that
many of Romeo’s friends are unaware that he has fallen in love with Juliet, until almost the end of the
play. It is clear that Shakespeare’s intention was to demonstrate that Romeo has a passionate nature
by referring to Rosaline in the first place, although there is an alternative view that Romeo was willing
to love anyone who was beautiful and willing to share his feelings.
At the end of the day it is up to the reader to determine exactly what Rosaline’s role in the play is all
about.
Act I – Scene.ii
Summary
We are still in the streets of Verona where Capulet is in conversation with Paris, a kinsman of the
Prince. Paris is anxious to marry Capulet’s daughter Juliet, and Capulet favors this union, as it will give
his family more power in the city. However, Juliet is not yet fourteen and Capulet thinks she is too
young to get married, and asks Paris to wait two years. He assures Paris that he will be the first suitor
and invites him to the masquerade feast he is holding that night, where he can start his wooing of
Juliet.
Capulet entrusts a servant, Peter, to deal with the invitations to the feast, but he unfortunately cannot
read, and taking advantage of this situation, Romeo and Benvolio (Montague’s) obtain invitations to the
ball. Benvolio advises Romeo that this will be a good opportunity for him to compare Rosaline to the
other beautiful women of Verona. Romeo only agrees to go because Rosaline herself will be at the ball.
Interpretation
Capulet’s chosen suitor for his young daughter, Juliet, is introduced to the audience. Paris is a kinsman
to the Prince and, therefore, has influence in the city.
The low position of the women of Verona is revealed here. They can be forced to marry whomever the
head of the family chooses. Juliet’s status is almost non-existent and she is a tool to be used by her
family in order to further their position in Verona.
However, Capulet is not entirely heartless. This will be a good match for his daughter and he gives
Paris permission to woo her at the forthcoming feast in a hope that he will not have to force his
daughter to wed.
In the Prologue, we have learned that Romeo and Juliet battle against the fates.
The first tool of fate is revealed, being parental influence. This, together with Juliet’s arranged marriage
will contribute to our heroes’ deaths. These forces are already in place, even before the two lovers
have met.
Although this is a tragedy, Shakespeare provides light relief concerning the servant Peter who has been
given a list of those to be invited to the feast, but he cannot read. The farce continues when he invites
two Montague’s to the party. Just as Juliet has no power because she is a woman, the servant Peter
has no power, because he has no education.
Our hero, Romeo, only agrees to go to the feast because he hopes to meet Rosaline, but the audience
know that it will be Juliet that he will see and fall in love with, and the audience now senses that the
wheels of fate are in motion.
Act I – Scene.iii
Summary
This scene takes place in the Capulets’ house between Juliet, her nurse, and Lady Capulet.
The nurse tells a long story concerning Juliet as a child and how she became an innocent accomplice to
a sexual joke. Despite Lady Capulet trying to stop the nurse, she continues, causing embarrassment to
Juliet.
Lady Capulet wishes to obtain Juliet’s views on marriage, which replies that she has not given the
subject any thought. This questioning is prompted by the fact that Lady Capulet was the same age that
Juliet is now when she first gave birth. She advises Juliet that the valiant Paris has expressed an
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interest in her. Juliet responds by saying that she will look out Paris at the feast to see if she might love
him.
Interpretation
We establish from this conversation that it was the nurse who effectively brought Juliet up, suckling her
as a baby. Lady Capulet is not confident enough to speak to Juliet about marriage without the nurse
being present.
Lady Capulet is herself a woman who married at a young age, and is supporting her husband’s plans for
their future and that of Juliet. She too, wishes to obtain power for the family through a good marriage
for her daughter.
Juliet, by agreeing to look favorably on Paris when she meets him at the feast, is going along with her
parents’ plans.
The nurse’s tale concerning Juliet as a child being involved innocently in a sexual joke, is an indication
that Juliet’s fate was set many years previously, in that her marriage would have to fall in with the plans
for the Capulet family.
This scene also provides a good insight into the three main female characters in the play. Lady Capulet
is seen as an ineffectual mother; the nurse is portrayed as being slightly vulgar; and Juliet at this stage
in the play, is shown to be a rather naïve young girl who is obedient to her mother and nurse.
However, there are glimpses of an inner strength that Juliet possesses which is wholly absent in her
mother. Juliet is able to control her nurse, where Lady Capulet is unable to do so. Juliet’s hidden
strength is indicated in the following quotation: ‘But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your
consent gives strength to make it fly’. On the surface, this implies a complete surrender to her mother’s
control, but there is an alternative interpretation to this phrase in that Juliet uses vague language
indicating that she is asserting some control over her position. While agreeing that she might be able to
love Paris, she is not fully committing herself to her parents’ wishes. There is an element of passive
resistance.
Act I - Scene.iv
Summary
The three Montague’s, Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio, wearing masks attend the Capulet feast. Romeo
is still in a melancholy mood and the others mock him. Romeo still has reservations about going to the
feast saying that he learned in a dream that it was a bad idea. Mercutio responds by giving a long
speech about Queen Mab of the fairies who visits people’s dreams.
Romeo eventually stops the speech and Benvolio reminds them that they are employed on serious
business by attending the Capulets’ house.
Romeo’s spirits start to rise as they enter the Capulet home.
Interpretation
At first this scene seems unnecessary, as the audience already know that Romeo and his friends are
going to the feast and that Romeo is sad.
Shakespeare’s main aim is to provide details concerning Mercutio’s character. He is shown to be a witty
and clever person introducing puns throughout his dialogue. As a good friend of Romeo, he is able to
gently mock Romeo as no other character can. In fact he stands in contrast to all the other characters
in the play because he is able to see through the shallowness of the society in Verona. He ridicules
Romeo’s passionate love, which he considers to be frivolous, and he also mocks Tybalt’s adherence to
the fashions of the day.
Shakespeare through Mercutio shows his ability as a master punner, and in this way he is able to twist
the meanings to words.
It is worth reading the Queen Mab speech again, as it is one of the most famous in the play. She
brings dreams to sleeping people, and these dreams are normally based on pagan, Celtic mythology
before the time when Christianity was brought to England. The word ‘mab’ refers to whores in
Elizabethan England. By the end of the speech, Queen Mab is the hag who teaches maidens to have
sex, so the dreams that Queen Mab brings to people are more than child’s fairy tales, but possess a
darker side, and this has a direct relationship to the story of Romeo and Juliet. This too starts almost
like a fairy tale, but there will be no happy ending.
Act I - Scene.v
Summary
This is set in the great hall of the Capulet house where the feast is in full flow with servants working
hard providing food and drink for the guests.
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Romeo sees Juliet, and immediately falls in love with her beauty, and any thoughts for Rosaline
disappear. Romeo declares that he has never been in love until this moment.
Tybalt hears Romeo’s voice and realizes that there are Montague’s present and he tells a servant to
bring his sword.
Capulet overhears Tybalt, telling him that Romeo is well regarded in Verona and that he is not to be
harmed at his feast. Tybalt agrees to keep the peace, but vows that he will not let this insult pass.
Romeo has made it across the room to Juliet’s side and they engage in a dialogue that is full of religious
metaphors indicating that Juliet is a saint, and Romeo is the pilgrim who needs to have his sins
absolved. He tries to convince her to kiss him so that his sins can be forgiven. Thus, in terms of their
conversation she takes his sins from him, but as she now has Romeo’s sin on her lips they must kiss
again for it to be removed.
The nurse breaks up the conversation saying that Juliet’s mother wants to see her. When Romeo finds
out that Juliet’s mother is Lady Capulet, he is devastated.
Benvolio leads Romeo from the feast and Juliet wonders who the mystery man is that kissed her. She
needs to find out Romeo’s identity and so she cleverly asks the nurse to identify a serious of young
men, and eventually realizes that Romeo is a Montague and she is distraught.
Interpretation
We are nearly at the end of the first Act, and at last our two heroes meet and immediately fall deeply in
love with each other.
The language used by Shakespeare here eloquently describes the deep passion that they feel for one
another, and the audience are well rewarded for their patience in waiting for the two lovers to meet.
Romeo is shown to be an ingenious lover, convincing Juliet to kiss him after only a few sentences. He
uses religion in order to persuade Juliet to kiss him. He says that their love can only be described in
religious terms, as it is associated with the purity and passion of god-like beings. In doing so, they are
flirting with a blasphemous idea in that Romeo sees Juliet as a Saint that should be worshipped, which
in Elizabethan times was idolatry and, therefore, blasphemy.
Juliet freely engages in this type of conversation by describing Romeo as the ‘god of her idolatry’,
thereby replacing God with Romeo.
However, Shakespeare ensures that the audience is not totally lost in the couple’s lovemaking, by
inserting the knowledge that Tybalt has discovered Romeo’s identity. Capulet stops Tybalt taking
immediate action, but he has vowed to take the matter further.
The scene between Romeo and Juliet provides an indication of the roles that each will play in the
relationship. It is clear that Romeo is the more dominant partner, using great skill to seduce Juliet. She
is a young girl and during the first kiss remains motionless. Although she is greatly attracted to Romeo,
she allows him to make the first move, but during the second kiss, she is much more aggressive, using
her logic to ensure that Romeo kisses her again in order to take back the sin that he has placed on her
lips. Juliet during this conversation starts to mature from a timid young girl to a mature woman. She
makes an interesting comment, ‘You kiss by th’ book,’ which can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, it
emphasizes Juliet’s naivety, and in many productions the line is said with a degree of wonder so that
the audience thinks she is saying what a great kisser Romeo is. Secondly, the line can be said in a
matter of fact manner indicating that Romeo kisses by the book, meaning that he is proficient, but
unoriginal. What did Shakespeare intend? However, it is clear that Juliet is impressed with Romeo and
ends up encouraging him to pursue their love.
Act II
Prologue – Scene.i
Summary
The chorus enter and recite a short sonnet celebrating the new love between Romeo and Juliet, but
because of the feud between the families, it will be difficult for them to find the time or place, in order
to let their passion develop. Will the power of their love enable them to overcome the obstacles placed
before them?
Romeo decides that he must see Juliet again and climbs the wall surrounding the Capulet orchard in
order that he may obtain a glimpse of Juliet once more.
Benvolio and Mercutio call out for their friend, but they are unable to find him.
Juliet suddenly appears at the window above where Romeo is standing. She is unaware that Romeo is
in the garden and she asks why Romeo must be a Montague. She says that if he would refuse his
name she would give herself to him, or if he would simply swear he loved her she would refuse her
Capulet name.
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Romeo responds, surprising Juliet who thought she was alone. She is amazed that he has found her,
and concludes that it must be their love that has brought them back together again.
Juliet is concerned for Romeo’s safety, but he says that their love will protect them.
Juliet admits that she feels strongly for Romeo.
The nurse interrupts by calling for Juliet who goes inside for a moment. Juliet reappears and Romeo
tells her that his love for her true and that he intends to marry her. The nurse calls again and Juliet
withdraws. She then reappears in order to set a time when her messenger can call on him and they
agree 9.00 o’clock next day. Juliet finally retires and Romeo departs, seeking a Friar to aid them in
their cause.
Interpretation
This is often called the balcony scene, but Shakespeare never indicates in his stage directions that there
is a balcony; just that she appears above Romeo. This scene contains one of the most famous
speeches in the literary world commencing ‘But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? Is it
the east, and Juliet is the sun. ………………….. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?’
This Act is the happiest of the tragedy and Shakespeare indulges in exploring the positive facets of
young love. He uses beautiful poetry in order to describe the deep love that the young lovers have for
each other. Juliet is torn between her desire to be with Romeo, and the need to be cautious. Romeo
imagines that Juliet is the sun rising from the east to banish the night. Juliet has removed the sadness
in his life and has transformed night into day.
The speech also contains another famous quote, ‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any
other word would smell as sweet’. Here Juliet comes to terms with the fact that it is only Romeo’s
name that is her enemy and not the man himself, and that they should both give up their names for the
sake of the love they have for one another, which is pure. Their names have no relevance in the
orchard, their love is triumphant, but unfortunately, this is not the case in the outside society of Verona.
One should also note that the most important scenes in Romeo and Juliet take place either at night or
very early in the morning. The whole story takes place in just five days, and Shakespeare makes full
use of the limited time available. The transition between day and night is a recurring theme throughout
the play.
Act II – Scene.ii
Summary
This scene takes place in Friar Laurence’s cell. He is proficient in the art of using herbs etc., having
knowledge of the properties of the plants that he collects.
Romeo enters, advising the Friar of his new love for Juliet, and his intention to marry her. The Friar is
amazed at Romeo’s sudden change in affection from Rosaline to Juliet. He suggests that Romeo is
fickle, but Romeo is insistent that his love is true and tells the Friar that Juliet returns his love. The
Friar eventually agrees to marry the couple, and he expresses the hope that this might end the feud
between the families.
Interpretation
The Friar comments on the frailties of youth, being amazed at Romeo’s change of allegiance from
Rosaline to Juliet. Romeo’s response is that Rosaline did not return his love, in contrast to Juliet who
fully reciprocates. The Friar makes the comment of how good may be perverted to evil and evil may be
purified by good. He puts his theories to use by agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet. He hopes that
the good of their love will reverse the evil between the two noble houses.
Act II – Scene.iii
Summary
Mercutio and Benvolio are searching for Romeo. They have learned that he did not return home.
Mercutio assumes he has been with Rosaline and makes an unkind comment.
Tybalt has sent a letter to Romeo challenging him to a duel because of the insult he has made by
attending the Capulet feast.
Mercutio makes a remark that Romeo is already dead, having been struck by Cupid’s arrow.
Romeo arrives and Mercutio continues to ridicule him saying that he is weakened by love. Believing
that Romeo is in love with Rosaline, he compares her to the famous beauties of the past.
The nurse enters trailed by the servant, Peter, and she asks for Romeo.
Mercutio continues his banter by insinuating that the nurse is a harlot, thus infuriating her.
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Benvolio and Mercutio leave, and the nurse warn Romeo not to lead Juliet false, and Romeo assures her
of his good intentions towards Juliet. Romeo tells the nurse that Juliet should attend Friar Laurence’s
cell on the pretext that she is going to confession. There they will be married. The nurse advises
Romeo that she will arrange for a cloth ladder for Romeo so that he can climb into Juliet’s room on their
wedding night.
Interpretation
Again, Rosaline’s specter is evident in this scene. She becomes the brunt of Mercutio’s bawdy jibes. He
says how ludicrous Romeo is being weakened by his love, becoming less than a man. He compares
Rosaline to past beauties, which include Thisbe, whose story resembles closely the plot of Romeo and
Juliet.
The plot is further developed in that the arrangements for the wedding have been set.
We obtain an interesting insight into how those closest to Romeo view him. Both Juliet and Mercutio
think they know who the real Romeo is. Mercutio thinks Romeo is a champion of the Montague cause
and is really a good fighter who is currently being made weak by his love, which he believes to be for
Rosaline. This love was immature, but unbeknown to be Mercutio he now has a mature love for Juliet,
who she returns, and is therefore, not shallow, but deep rooted.
In the previous scene we see Juliet’s perspective of Romeo being divorced from the social world of
Verona, a powerful lover able to easily pull her away from the loyalty of her family.
Romeo has to tread the course carefully between being a private lover of Juliet, and a public friend and
champion of the Montague family.
Act II – Scene.iv
Summary
We return to the Capulet orchard where Juliet awaits the return of her nurse.
Juliet is anxious for news of Romeo, but the nurse claims to be too tired and out of breath to give her
any news. Eventually the nurse says that Romeo is waiting at Friar Laurence’s cell to marry her. The
nurse departs to find a ladder.
Interpretation
We see here the excitement that the two lovers have. They are full of anticipation for the wedding.
The excitement is fuelled by the danger of the plans.
Shakespeare uses a cleverly constructed comic scene involving the nurse’s reluctance to provide Juliet
with news. However, the nurse’s joke at delaying the news will be sadly mirrored later on in a future
scene, where the delay in relaying news has dire consequences.
Act II – Scene.v
Summary
Romeo anxiously awaits the arrival of Juliet at Friar Laurence’s cell. He boldly states that he does not
care what misfortune might come as it will pale in comparison to the joy he feels right now. The Friar
warns Romeo not be so intense as violent delights often lead to violent ends.
Juliet eventually arrives and they are married.
Interpretation
Shakespeare cleverly generates an electric atmosphere of euphoric love.
The Friar warns against Romeo’s intensity and this is Shakespeare’s way of reminding the audience that
they are watching a tragedy and that Romeo and Juliet will die. The Friar’s words demonstrate that it is
the power of fate that will overcome the power of love.
At this stage, we have seen that most of the characters are driven by uncontrollable passions. If
Romeo and Juliet were modest lovers, then the effect on the audience would not be great, but their
love has to be passionate so that it seems plausible that they would give up their families and friends
just so that they can be together.
Act III – Scene.i
Summary
We return to the streets of Verona where Benvolio and Mercutio walk the streets under the blazing sun.
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Tybalt enters with a group of his friends and approaches the two Montague men. Mercutio begins to
taunt Tybalt. Romeo enters and Tybalt calls him a villain for having gate crashed the feast. Romeo is
now secretly Tybalt’s kinsman, and refuses to be angered by Tybalt’s verbal attack. Tybalt commands
Romeo to draw his sword, but Romeo resists saying that he does not wish to fight him. Rather than
fight him he has good reason to love Tybalt, but refuses to disclose the reason for his love.
Mercutio angrily draws his sword, saying that he will fight Tybalt if Romeo won’t.
Romeo throws himself between the two trying to restore order, but Tybalt stabs Mercutio under
Romeo’s arm and kills him. As he dies, he curses the families saying ‘A plague o’ both your houses’.
Romeo is enraged, declaring that his love for Juliet has made him less of a man and that he should
have fought Tybalt.
Tybalt returns to the scene, the two fight and Romeo kills Tybalt.
The Prince enters and although Benvolio tells the Prince the whole story concerning the brawl, the
Prince exiles Romeo from Verona saying that if he is found within the city he will be killed. Romeo,
shocked at what has happened cries ‘O, I am fortune’s fool!’
Interpretation
The audience is brought back to the reality of the streets of Verona by this violent scene. Here in these
streets, it is the law of the sword that prevails.
Romeo and Juliet’s love takes place in a highly masculine world.
Shakespeare uses this scene to emphasize how fragile the lovers’ romance is, and how outside forces
will act to destroy it.
The fight scenes are chaotic and it is clear that passion outweighs reason, and the deaths are needless.
Romeo’s cry is in desperation and frustration due to his misfortune in having to kill his wife’s cousin and
getting himself banished. Romeo blames fate for his misfortune whereas Mercutio in his dying speech
curses the two families rather than a larger force. His curse will soon come to fruition on both houses.
Shakespeare enforces a belief of the times that too much love makes a man lose his manliness, this
being echoed by Romeo at the death of Mercutio.
Romeo’s killing of Tybalt was carried out in the heat of the moment and had he the time to ponder the
situation he may have acted differently.
Romeo’s action has threatened the public order of Verona
and the Prince has no alternative but to act decisively. Unbeknown to him, his action is aimed at
thwarting the love of Romeo and Juliet. The danger now for Romeo in continuing to meet Juliet is
increased because he has to avoid the authorities as well as the Capulets.
Act III – Scene.ii
Summary
We return to the Capulet house where Juliet awaits Romeo. The nurse rushes in to give her news of
the fight between Romeo and Tybalt. At first Juliet thinks Romeo is dead, assuming that he has killed
himself, but then it is clear that Tybalt is dead, and Juliet fears that she has two to mourn. Eventually
the nurse gets the story straight and Juliet understands that Romeo has killed Tybalt and been exiled.
She curses fate for having put the spirit of a fiend inside Romeo’s sweet flesh. Juliet laments that she
will die without a wedding night, a maiden widow. The nurse assures her that she will find Romeo and
bring him to her for their wedding night. Juliet gives the nurse a ring to give to Romeo as a token of
her love.
Interpretation
The young love of Romeo and Juliet is being sorely tested in these scenes, but it is clear from the start
that Juliet will stay loyal to her new husband, and it is Romeo’s banishment that grieves Juliet most and
not Tybalt’s death.
Act III – Scene.iii
Summary
Romeo hides in Friar Laurence’s cell overcome with grief. The Friar tells him he is lucky to have only
been banished by the Prince, but Romeo states that this is worse than death as he has been sentenced
to live, but without Juliet. He falls to the floor threatening to kill himself, but the Friar scolds him for
being effeminate.
The Friar states than once matters have calmed down, the Prince may change his mind, and then he
puts his plan into action.
Romeo should visit Juliet that night in order to consummate the marriage and then depart in the
morning to Mantua.
The nurse enters and gives Romeo the ring from Juliet, and this symbol revives Romeo’s spirits.
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Interpretation
The passionate Romeo reacts with drama concerning his exile. Although he seems to act immaturely in
comparison to Juliet’s reaction to the news, she is now mature and loyal to Romeo. In contrast, Romeo
acts childishly, threatening to kill himself. It is the Friar’s wise counsel that calms him and he is further
comforted when he receives the ring from Juliet.
Shakespeare puts into the heads of the audience the seed that suicide is a logical response when the
fates are against you.
Act III – Scene.iv
Summary
Lady Capulet and Paris discuss the recent violent events. Paris is anxious to know what Juliet’s feelings
are towards him, and Lady Capulet will find this out by the morning.
Capulet says that his daughter will abide by his counsel, and that Paris can be assured that his wedding
to Juliet will take place on Wednesday, this being Monday. Capulet then decides that Wednesday is too
soon and puts it back one day to Thursday.
Interpretation
Suddenly we have a date for the wedding of Juliet and Paris, no doubt to bring some joy into the lives
of the Capulet household following Tybalt’s death.
The Capulets also think that Juliet is in deep mourning for Tybalt, but it is for Romeo’s exile that she is
sad.
Again the lack of station that the women in Verona had is evident. Just a few days earlier, it was
proposed that the wedding would take place in two years, but now this has been reduced to a few
days.
Act III – Scene.v
Summary
It is just before dawn and Romeo prepares to leave Juliet’s bedroom and start his exile. There is a
birdcall and Juliet tells Romeo that it is a night bird rather than a lark heralding the dawn. Romeo
resists, saying that he must leave before morning comes or he will be put to death. However,
overcome with love, he stays longer with Juliet.
The nurse enters to warn Juliet that Lady Capulet is coming, and the two lovers tearfully part.
Romeo descends, and as she looks down on him, he appears pale as one dead in the bottom of a tomb.
Lady Capulet enters and seeing Juliet’s tears, assumes she still mourns for Tybalt. Lady Capulet tells
Juliet of her desire to see Romeo dead. With some clever punning Juliet leads her mother to believe
that she wishes the same, when in fact she is firmly stating her love for Romeo.
Juliet is advised of the plans for her to marry Paris on Thursday. She is horrified, rejecting the match.
She says ‘I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo whom you know I hate rather
than Paris’.
Capulet enters the scene and when he learns of Juliet’s response, threatens to disown her.
When her parents leave, Juliet asks her nurse how she might escape her predicament. The nurse tells
her to go through with the marriage to Paris as he is a good match and Romeo is as good as dead
anyway. Juliet pretends to agree. She then tells her nurse that she is going to make confession at Friar
Laurence’s cell. Juliet is shocked at her nurse’s disloyalty and vows that she will not take her counsel
again. She also concludes that if the Friar is unable to help, she still has enough power to take her own
life.
Interpretation
Shakespeare again plays on the theme that Juliet has supernatural powers. Romeo describes her as
transforming night into day. She now has the power to change a lark into a nightingale through the
power of language.
There is a repetition of the orchard/balcony scene where the lovers experience visions that foreshadow
the end of the play. Juliet describes Romeo as looking pale as one dead in the bottom of a tomb. To
Romeo she appears the same, but he describes it as the effects of sorrow. The next time, of course,
that Juliet will see Romeo, he will be dead.
Juliet has now fully matured, evident in her domination over her mother who is no match for her
daughter’s intelligence. She doesn’t even recognize her daughter’s proclamation of love for Romeo,
which Juliet has carefully disguised. Juliet has also decided to break from her disloyal nurse. The nurse
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was a mentor for Juliet when she was a child, but she had abandoned all ties with her childhood and is
now a married woman.
Shakespeare has cleverly linked this maturity with sexual experience, allowing the audience to witness
Juliet’s metamorphosis. In fact Juliet feels so confident now, that she defies her father being
determined to control her own destiny, even if it means her own death.
The reader might wonder why Juliet did not take the option offered to her by her father of being
disowned, but this is not a course that she can take. Juliet, as a woman, cannot leave society, for a
woman in Verona who cannot control the direction of her life must take the route of suicide.
Act IV – Scene.i
Summary
Paris comes to Friar Laurence’s cell and wishes to discuss his impending marriage to Juliet. He feels the
wedding should be arranged as soon as possible as Juliet has become unbalanced in grieving over
Tybalt. In this way he can put an end to her period of mourning.
For different reasons the Friar wishes the marriage to be delayed indefinitely.
Juliet enters and behaves indifferently towards Paris despite the fact that he obviously cares for her.
The Friar asks Paris to leave in order to hear Juliet’s confession.
Juliet produces a knife saying she will kill herself rather than marry Paris, but the Friar has a plan. He
advises Juliet that she must consent to marry Paris then on the night before the wedding she is to take
a sleeping draught that the Friar will provide which will make her appear to be dead. The Friar will
advise Romeo in Mantua to come and release Juliet from the Capulet tomb. She can then return to
Mantua with Romeo free to live with him away from the feuding families. She agrees.
Interpretation
Here we now get a full insight into Friar Laurence. He is an intelligent and cunning character portrayed
by Shakespeare as a benign and wise father figure. He still hopes to unite the families and enable the
two lovers to live happily out of Verona.
We also learn about Paris’ true feelings for Juliet and he genuinely cares for her well being. However,
he does arrogantly assume that Juliet will submit to the pressures on her to marry him, and the
audience still views him as a threat to the play’s heroes.
Act IV – Scene.ii
Summary
Juliet returns home and following the Friar’s instructions, apologizes to her parents for her disobedience
and cheerfully agrees to marry Paris. They are pleased, and advise her that the marriage has been
brought forward a day and that they will be married tomorrow.
Interpretation
Again, another tool of fate has contrived to obstruct the happiness of Romeo and Juliet, who will be
forced to carry out the Friar’s plan ahead of schedule.
Act IV – Scene.iii
Summary
Juliet tells her nurse that she wishes to spend the night by herself and repeats the request to Lady
Capulet. She wonders if she will die when she takes the potion, or whether she might awake in the
tomb and go mad with fright because Romeo is not there. She then has a vision where she sees
Tybalt’s ghost searching for Romeo. Begging the ghost to cease, she makes a toast to Romeo and
drinks the contents of the vial.
Interpretation
Juliet shows that she possesses inner strength and in toasting Romeo and drinking the potion, she is
taking on fate face-to-face. She has pondered what the various possibilities may be, but she is
determined to keep control over her own destiny, and is willing to face up to the consequences.
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Act IV – Scene.iv
Summary
The nurse lets out a wail on finding the apparently dead body of Juliet and Lady Capulet and Capulet
join her.
Suddenly all the wedding preparations come to an end.
Paris arrives with the Friar and a group of musicians and he joins in with the mourners. The Friar urges
them to make preparations for the funeral.
The musicians are left in limbo with Peter, the Capulet servant, and he asks them to play a happy tune
to ease his sorrowful heart. They refuse. Peter then insults the musicians who respond in kind. The
musicians decide to wait for the mourners to return so that they might get some lunch.
Interpretation
It is at this point that the audience obtains an understanding of how high the hopes were of the
Capulets for their daughter Juliet. She was the means through which their family could gain in
influence in the city. These hopes have now been dashed.
They can also see how legitimate Paris’ love for Juliet was. It was clearly a sincere grief he had over
the loss of a loved one.
The scene with Peter and the musicians seems to have little relevance, but Shakespeare specifically
includes it in order for the audience to view these events through the eyes of the lower classes. It
suggests that the common people see the noble houses as shallow. Although the result of the feud is
death, and heartbreak, they are meaningless because the deaths result from over-reaction of an overpassionate society. The deaths of the nobility have little effect on the daily lives of the common people.
It is clear that the musicians care little about the apparent death of Juliet; they are merely concerned
about missing out on a free lunch. Some productions delete this scene with the musicians as they
consider that it detracts from the main storyline, but Shakespeare is not just passing comment on the
society in Verona, but on the world as a whole then and perhaps even now. Life and love are precious,
and must be treated with respect.
Act V – Scene.i
Summary
Romeo is in Mantua where he advises the audience that he had a wonderful dream the night before
concerning Juliet finding him lying dead, but she kissed him and breathed new life into his body.
He meets Balthasar who has news from Verona concerning Juliet. He advises Romeo that Juliet has
died; found dead that morning in her home. Romeo cries out, defying the stars. He writes a letter
which he asks Balthasar to deliver to Montague and that he will return to Verona that night.
Romeo intends to lie with Juliet in her tomb. He goes to find a seller of drugs and eventually persuades
him to give him a vial of poison, despite this being illegal.
Interpretation
Balthasar has sought out Romeo to give him the news of Juliet’s death.
Shakespeare cleverly shows the audience how Romeo is being trapped by fate and they too sense the
inevitability of the situation.
When Romeo shouts ‘Then I defy you stars’ he is shouting against the fate that is stealing away from
him his heart of desires. He resigns himself to these forces and pledges to take his life at Juliet’s side.
Act V – Scene.ii
Summary
Friar John returns to Friar Laurence saying he has been unable to deliver the letter to Romeo due to an
outbreak of plague, he being confined in a quarantine house. Friar Laurence realizes that Romeo will
not know about Juliet’s false death, and there will be no one there to retrieve her from the tomb. He
does not realize that Romeo has learnt of Juliet’s death from another source.
Friar Laurence obtains a crowbar so that he can release Juliet from the tomb. He sends another letter
to Romeo warning him about what has happened and how he plans to keep Juliet in his cell.
Interpretation
The Friar’s plan starts to unravel due to a sequence of near misses.
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The outbreak of plague forces the messenger into quarantine, thus the letter to Romeo is not delivered;
whilst Balthasar just misses the quarantine, he is able to deliver the bad news to Romeo concerning
Juliet’s death.
Romeo knowing nothing of this believes it is fate that stands between him and his love Juliet. He is not
willing to put up with this any longer and intends to defy the stars by taking his own life.
The message here is that Romeo and Juliet cannot be together and live in this world. Fate has decreed
that they will be kept apart. The only way they can be together is through death. In a way, Romeo is a
victim of his own fate. If his character was different, less headstrong and emotional, i.e. more mature,
the double suicide would not occur. Had Juliet explained the truth to her parents that she was already
married, then again the double suicide might not occur. The type of love they have, intense, passionate
and transcendental, exists solely because of the kind of people they are.
Act V – Scene.iii
Summary
It is nighttime at the Capulet tomb and Paris enters with a servant. He starts to scatter flowers on
Juliet’s grave. He hears someone approach and hides. It is Romeo carrying a crowbar accompanied by
Balthasar. Romeo tells Balthasar that he has come to take back a valuable ring he had given to Juliet
and asks him to leave. He is to deliver to Montague his letter in the morning, but Balthasar mistrusts
his master’s intentions.
Paris reveals himself, confronting Romeo, the man who murdered Tybalt and has indirectly murdered
Juliet, since he supposes it was grief that killed Juliet. Paris thinks that Romeo wishes to defile the
Capulet tomb and dishonor the corpse of Tybalt.
Romeo pleads with Paris to leave him, but a fight is inevitable and Romeo kills Paris. Paris’ servant runs
off to obtain the civil watch. Paris makes a dying request to Romeo that he is laid near Juliet in the
tomb. Carrying Paris’ body Romeo descends into the tomb and wonders how Juliet can look so
beautiful in death. He kisses Juliet then drinks the poison and dies.
The Friar enters the churchyard and meets Balthasar who informs him that Romeo is in the tomb. The
Friar enters the tomb where he finds the body of Paris and then that of Romeo. Just then Juliet
awakes.
Juliet asks for her husband, but the Friar responds that both Romeo and Paris are dead and that she
must leave quickly before the watch arrives. Juliet refuses and the Friar leaves without her. Looking at
the empty vial, she assumes that Romeo has taken poison and hopes that there might be some drops
left on Romeo’s lips, but to no avail.
The civil watch approaches and Juliet unsheathes Romeo’s dagger, says ‘O happy dagger, this is thy
sheath’ stabs herself and falls upon Romeo’s body.
There is mayhem in the churchyard when the watch arrives, on the discovery of bloodstains near the
tomb. They apprehend Balthasar and Friar Laurence who are discovered nearby, and then the Prince
and Capulets enter.
The three bodies are discovered in the tomb and then Montague arrives declaring that his wife has died
from grief over Romeo’s exile.
There is much confusion until the Friar tells the story of Romeo and Juliet’s secret marriage and its
outcome.
Balthasar gives the Prince the letter Romeo had written to his father, thus confirming the Friar’s story.
The Prince shows his anger and condemns the two families concerning their feud, and also the loss of
so many kinsmen.
Capulet and Montague clasp hands and agree to put the past behind them and bury the hatchet. They
agree to build golden statues in honor of Romeo and Juliet.
The Prince closes the tragedy with the line ‘A story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo’.
Interpretation
It is useful to catalogue the events leading up to the final tragedy.
Juliet drinks a sleeping draught, which makes her appear dead.
Romeo thinking Juliet is dead drinks poison.
Juliet regains consciousness. Seeing her dead husband, she stabs herself through the heart with
Romeo’s dagger.
A recurring theme throughout the play has been the possibility of suicide. The climax of the tragedy is
the double suicide in the Capulet tomb.
Shakespeare suggests that where intense love is involved which cannot be fulfilled then suicide is the
likely alternative. The passion that Romeo and Juliet have for one another cannot be stifled or
suppressed and combined with their youth provides a recipe for final and absolute tragedy. Being
unable to live for their love, Romeo and Juliet die for it.
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Shakespeare makes a comment that the world in which they lived was not worthy of the love they had
for each other, and so the lovers have robbed the world of their special love.
Shakespeare cleverly uses Juliet’s final kiss of Romeo as a weapon of potential death and when Juliet
fails to pick up any poison from Romeo’s lips she is overjoyed to find his dagger, exclaiming ‘Happy
dagger’ because this implement of death will reunite her with her love.
The closing scene has all the powerful forces converging on the tragic set.
From beyond the grave the love that Romeo and Juliet had for each other is sufficient to heal the rift
between the two families and perhaps through their sacrifice, the world that they left may become a
better place. The Prince recognizes this.
The irony is that this new world in Verona would have allowed Romeo and Juliet to live and love
together.
Romeo and Juliet’s deaths were inevitable because they were products of the world in which they lived.
Over the centuries, Romeo and Juliet have epitomized true love, because they were willing to sacrifice
their lives in order not to compromise their love.
They are making the statement that their love is not just for this world, but also for all eternity.
Questions for study with ideas for answers.
Q:
Give reasons why the love between Romeo and Juliet was so special.
Ideas: When the two parties met, there was an immediate physical attraction for within minutes they
were kissing one another.
Their love for each other was strong because they were unaffected by the fact that they were members
of the two opposing feuding households. Their love was kindled before they knew the other’s identity.
Both parties agreed at the outset that their love would always exist in this world and the next i.e. it is a
transcendental love.
To Juliet, her love for Romeo enabled her to mature from a child to a woman, and this happened on her
wedding night.
To Romeo, life without Juliet would be impossible, although there is evidence to show that previous
relationships he had had were shallow, his love for Juliet was deep, as she reciprocated his feelings. On
hearing that Juliet was dead, he, for the first time in the play, acted in a methodical way in order to
ensure that he could take his own life at Juliet’s side.
Likewise, when Juliet awoke from her death-like sleep, she had no hesitation in taking her own life, as
life without Romeo was unthinkable to her.
Q:
Why do you think the play only last for just over four days, and what effect does this have on
the play’s development?
Ideas: It is clear that Shakespeare wished to provide impact for his audience in the late sixteenth
century in London, England. In telling this tragic tale over such a short period of time, he has to
provide the audience with much information, thus making it a fast-moving production.
Many of the characters are volatile and in between the love scenes, Shakespeare introduces conflict
between the warring factions, which produce death and sorrow.
The love that Romeo and Juliet have for each other is full of passion and desire, which cannot be
extinguished by the forces put on them by the Veronese society. They cannot keep their love secret for
long because they must be together and not keep it hidden away, so to meet occasionally in secret is
not an option, so if they cannot be together in life, they will be together in death. This is not a love,
therefore that grows over months and years, but this is a love that happened immediately in keeping
with the short time scale.
Our heroes’ fate is sealed when the original time scale of five days is reduced to four, when the
wedding of Juliet to Paris is brought forward, thus condensing the action even further.
Q:
Whilst the main plot deals with the love of Romeo and Juliet, what does the character Mercutio
bring to the play?
Ideas: Mercutio is an almost unique character in Shakespeare’s plays, being full of imagination and
wit, punctuating his dialogue with puns, some having sexual connotations. There is also a dark side to
this character, which is quick to anger and is not frightened to speak his mind. He often satires the
Veronese society and singles out notable figures for criticism. By studying this character one might
obtain an understanding of the author himself.
Mercutio acts as a foil for Romeo and he is one of the few characters able to mock Romeo and still
remain his friend.
He regards love as mere physical pursuit and ridicules Romeo’s view of love as a poetic and emotional
pursuit.
Mercutio is very witty and uses clever punning throughout the play e.g.
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BookWolf Wolfnotes, available at http://Bookwolf.com.
‘If love be rough with you, be rough with love’
‘Prick love for pricking and you beat love down’
Throughout the play he brings comic relief to the tragedy. Even in his death speech he makes
comment regarding the fatal wound he has received saying ‘No ‘tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide
as a church door, but ‘tis enough, ‘twill serve’. This actually marks a turning point in the play as the
main comical character has died, and tragedy now subdues comedy for the remainder of the play.
Despite Mercutio’s jibes at Romeo’s manliness ‘And is he such a man to encounter Tybalt?’ and on
hearing Romeo’s refusal to fight Tybalt, calling it ‘O calm dishonorable, vile submission’ he is totally
loyal to Romeo, dying in the cause of defending his friend’s name.
Q:
Why do you think that this play and others by Shakespeare have stood the test of time?
Ideas: Good storylines, some based on fact and some fictional
Colorful characters covering the full social spectrum from kings to servants and thieves.
Intriguing plots
Dealing with age-old subjects, love, social status, prejudice, conflict
The subjects of the plays are things that the audience can relate to
Well-constructed prose and poetry
Majority of his work is fast moving with detailed plots and many characters
Political comment. Much of his work satirized the society of sixteenth century Europe, but many of the
failings at that time are still with us today and still have relevance.
Bookwolf.com, Copyright 2001-2002, All Rights Reserved
Distribution without written consent of BookWolf.com is strictly prohibited.