Choose your Fate:

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, written in 1595.  The story itself was not anything new or different, but the way Shakespeare wrote the story made it popular.  The language that he used to communicate their love for each other was written so poetically.  For example, in Act 2, Scene 2, Romeo says, “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?  It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”  Even when Romeo is about to kill himself (Act 5, Scene 3), Shakespeare makes the scene beautiful.  Romeo talks to his wife, whom he believes is dead:

 Romeo and Juliet is a play about love and passion between two young people.  It is also about the fate of the two “star-crossed lovers,” who eventually take their own lives because of misunderstandings.  You could say that Romeo and Juliet had just too much bad luck and the play leaves you thinking “if only…”  If only the messenger had delivered the letter, if only Juliet had woken up sooner … there are so many unfortunate chances in the play.

 The entire play takes place in less than a week.  While reading the play, it would be helpful to create a timeline of events.  A list of characters would also be helpful.  The Nurse and Mercutio are two delightful characters that add to the play.  The Nurse is a comic character who cracks jokes and always adds her lusty comments.  Mercutio is quite a character as well, as can be seen by his Queen Mab  speech.  Some people believe that Shakespeare killed Mercutio because he was taking away from the importance of Romeo.

The play is delightful and will be enjoyable for most high school students.  The themes it covers are perfect for teenagers, from love to death.  The only obstacle in Romeo and Juliet is the language, though we’ve provided a vocabulary list to aid in the reading.

These lines begin the prologue of the ever so famous Romeo and Juliet. The Capulets and the Montagues (two households
both alike in dignity) have been fighting with each other for years (from ancient grudge). The play opens in Verona, Italy with a
new riot between the families (new mutiny). It starts as an argument between servants of opposing households and grows to
involve more people, including Tybalt (Capulet- Juliet’s cousin) and Benvolio (Montague- Romeo’s cousin). The two families
throw insults at each other, including the famous "Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?" remark. Eventually, the Prince breaks up
the fight, leaving both households with a warning: if another disturbance breaks out, the punishment will be death.

Enter Romeo (Montague). Romeo, who was off feeling sorry for himself, is made aware of the fight by Benvolio. Romeo
expresses his hopeless love for a girl (Rosaline) to Benvolio, who tells him that there are plenty of other beauties. Benvolio has
a solution to Romeo’s depression: they should attend the Capulet party so that Romeo will realize that there are many other
girls prettier than Rosaline. Romeo agrees to attend the party with the hope that Rosaline might be there.

Enter Juliet (Capulet). Juliet is at the age where she should be married (almost fourteen- that was customary at the time). Juliet’s
nurse and mother tell her this and suggest the valiant Paris as a husband. The Nurse, a funny character, adds, "Go, girl, seek
happy nights to happy days" as she leaves Juliet.

Enter problem number one. This is a Capulet ball. Romeo is a Montague. They sneak into the party and hide under masks.
Tybalt spots Romeo and is angered, but his father refuses to let him cause chaos at his party. Then Romeo sees Juliet
(Capulet). They fall in love with each other and sneak to the back and kiss. Enter problem number two. Only after the party is
over do the two lovers realize that they are from opposing families. Juliet laments, "My only love sprung from my only hate!"
because she is in love with Romeo but the Montagues are her mortal enemies.

Romeo, unwilling to leave Juliet, sneaks into the Capulet orchid to watch her. This is when the famous balcony scene takes
place. Juliet is talking to herself and delivers the line, "O Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo?" This means why is your
name Romeo, as in why does Romeo have to be a Montague. She expresses her love for Romeo, unaware that he is watching
her. After she talks for a while, he climbs up the balcony and tells of his love for her. They exchange vows and promise to
marry the next day at Friar Laurence’s cell.

Romeo, who hasn’t slept, arrives at Friar Laurence’s cell the next morning to ask the Friar to marry them. At first the Friar
disagrees, but then he thinks that their marriage may end the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. He agrees to marry
them, but cautions Romeo that it is not wise to rush into things.

Tybalt delivers a challenge to fight Romeo through Mercutio and Benvolio.

After Mercutio teases Juliet’s Nurse, Romeo tells her that he will marry Juliet that afternoon. The Nurse returns home to an
impatient Juliet and reveals to her that Romeo still wants to marry her. Romeo and Juliet are secretly married by Friar Laurence.

Tybalt challenges Romeo once again, but Romeo refuses to fight (since Tybalt is now his cousin). However, Mercutio fights
Tybalt and is fatally stabbed. With Mercutio’s death, Romeo demands revenge and kills Tybalt. This is the climax of the play.

Romeo hides in the Friar’s cell and learns his punishment: exile. In those days, the punishment of exile seemed worse than death
because it was a banishment from everything one knew. To top it off, Romeo would not be able to see his love, Juliet. Romeo,
distressed, attempts suicide. The Friar scolds him and explains to Romeo that everything will be all right. Romeo should go see
Juliet and then leave for Mantua, the next town. Friar Laurence will explain the situation to both families and then Romeo can
return safely. Romeo cheers up and visits his new wife.

However, another problem soon arises. The fine young Paris wishes to take Juliet’s hand in marriage. Her father, assuming that
Juliet will be pleased, sets the wedding date for Thursday (3 days later). After Juliet refuses to marry Paris (she is already
married to Romeo), her father becomes very upset. He hits her and promises to disown her if she does not marry Paris. Her
mother and even her loving Nurse are of no help, so Juliet runs off to the Friar.

Juliet, like Romeo, believes that the only solution is suicide, but the Friar talks her out of it. He has a drug that will make Juliet
appear dead for 42 hours. The Friar tells Juliet to take it the night before her wedding. Meanwhile, he will send a notice to
Romeo to return from Mantua. When Juliet awakes from her "nap," Romeo will be there waiting for her. The plan sounds like it
will work and Juliet takes the drug.

Juliet pretends to consent to her father’s wishes and acts as if she is delighted to be married. Her father is so happy that the
wedding is moved up one day. Tuesday night, Juliet becomes afraid that the plan will not work, becoming suspicious of the
Friar. She takes a dagger to kill herself in case the drug fails. Finally, Juliet overcomes her fears and because of her love for
Romeo; she drinks the liquid.

Wednesday morning, the Nurse finds her dead and a funeral is planned. Juliet’s and the Friar’s plot should work, but the
message sent to Romeo about the plan never reaches him. Instead, Romeo’s messenger Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is
dead. Romeo, determined not to believe that his love is dead until he has seen it with his own eyes, rides off to Verona. But
before arriving there, he stops by an apothecary to buy poison. If the news is true, he will commit suicide.

Romeo enters the burial vault of the Capulets to take one last look at Juliet. Upon entering, he confronts Paris, who thinks that
Romeo has come to desecrate the tombs. Paris is killed and lain next to Juliet, as is his last wish. After Romeo delivers a
monologue on the infinite beauty of Juliet, he drinks his poison and dies. The Friar arrives just a minute too late, finding both
Romeo and Paris dead. Juliet awakens, looking for her Romeo. Seeing him dead on the ground, she tries to drink some of his
poison but the vial is empty. Juliet takes out her dagger and stabs herself.

The two star-crossed lovers had to give their life in order for their families to end their fighting. Romeo and Juliet ends with
these words:

Romeo- He is the only child of the Montagues. Romeo is quiet and mourning about his love for Rosaline in the beginning. After
discovering Juliet, he becomes more vibrant and passionate. He is willing to do anything, including die, in order to be with his
love. Romeo is impulsive, wanting to get married right away and not thinking about the consequences.

Juliet- She is an innocent thirteen year old girl, the only daughter of the Capulets. Juliet discovers love in Romeo and has to face
the lost of her love when he is exiled. She becomes mature and independent as the play develops. She controls her temper and
is strong-willed, leaving her parents and Nurse to do what she believes is right. She is willing to die for a loved one.

Tybalt- Juliet’s cousin, has a temper and hates all Montagues. He demands revenge on Romeo at the Capulet ball and kills
Mercutio. He is killed by Romeo.

Mercutio- Romeo’s best friend, he’s a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. Killed by Tybalt in a duel, he is quite a
courageous character who remains faithful to Romeo.

Nurse- Juliet’s Nurse who is closer to Juliet than her mother is; she nursed baby Juliet. She is a comical character, who mourns
over her lost daughter and husband, yet constantly delivers sexual jokes. Always talkative and playful, she urges Juliet to "seek
happy nights." The Nurse also provides support for Juliet and knows about her marriage to Romeo. Only in the end does Juliet
abandon her.

Paris- Fine, handsome suitor of Juliet who is killed by Romeo in a duel at the Capulet tomb. He is related to the Prince.

Friar Laurence- Romeo’s friend who advises him in many ways; he is wise and practical, unlike the passionate lovers. The Friar
marries Romeo and Juliet in an attempt to bring peace to their families. All his efforts are for the good of others, but they do not
work out in the end.

Benvolio- Romeo’s cousin and friend, he tries to comfort Romeo from his love sickness over Rosaline. Benvolio is very
peaceful, always trying to stop conflicts between the Montagues and the Capulets. He explains to the Prince why Romeo killed
Tybalt.

Escalus, Prince of Verona- He warns Montague and Capulet that the next time a riot breaks out between their families, the
punishment will be death. He keeps order in Verona.

Montague- Romeo’s father who worries about his son’s depression in the beginning of the play, doesn’t have a main role after
that.

Lady Montague- Romeo’s mother, who also worries about her son. She dies grieving for her child.

Capulet- Juliet’s father, does not want to cause trouble with Montague, defends Romeo from Tybalt at the ball. He does have a
temper problem, and threatens to disown Juliet if she doesn’t marry Paris.

Lady Capulet- Juliet’s mother, doesn’t have a close relationship with her daughter and needs the Nurse at important times. She
wants Romeo killed because he killed Tybalt.

The Apothecary- Illegally sells Romeo the poison (which Romeo kills himself with) because Romeo offers him a large sum of
money.

Friar John- He is sent by Friar Laurence to Mantua with a message for Romeo explaining the secret plan of Juliet and the Friar.
However, he is not allowed into Mantua for fear that he carries the plague, therefore Romeo believes that Juliet is dead.

Balthasar- Romeo’s servant, tells Romeo that Juliet is dead.

Samson and Gregory- Capulet servants, they fight with Montague servants in the beginning.

Abraham- Montague servant, throws insults at Capulet servants in beginning.

Peter- Juliet’s nurse’s servant
 

How does Romeo and Juliet apply to teenagers today? Well, first of all, it can be seen simply as an entertaining story. It’s a
tragic love story between two teenagers. But, if you look into the themes of the play, you will see that there are many lessons
we can learn from the two doomed lovers. Shakespeare Alive provides this teaching resource that shows how the play is
applicable to teenagers today. Another resource from the Shakespeare Alive page is a Romeo and Juliet role play.

Theme 1- LOVE 

Love plays an important role in Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play, one can analyze the different types of love that
Shakespeare explores. First, there is lustful love. This is basically love for the purpose of sexual pleasure. First shown in the
conversation between Sampson and Gregory, this type of love is also illustrated by the Nurse and her comments to Juliet. The
second type of love is infatuation. Romeo thinks he’s in love and moans over Rosaline. How many people can relate to that?
Much of teenage love is simply in the head--- you think that you have found the "only one," when you’ve really only found an
obsession. The third type of love is the one illustrated with Paris. In the play, this has to do with the fact that marriages were
arranged. Paris is the guy that Juliet’s parents think is fit for her. In today’s society, Paris can be seen as the stereotypical guy
(or girl). He/She seems perfect and your parents love him/her, but that isn’t love. Love is not an image; it’s a commitment.

Finally, we come to true, 100% pure love. When Romeo meets Juliet, he knows that she’s different. Love changes people.
Romeo became a more passionate, eager person and Juliet became more independent. Most importantly, love lasts through
hardships. Love is not just a feeling; it is something that a person is willing to do something for. In the extreme case of Romeo
and Juliet, they were each willing to die for each other--- that is love. Their love was so strong that they were willing to go
against years of hatred between their families and try to make things work.

Now the warning: don’t rush out and marry some guy/girl that you meet at a party. Don’t forget that Romeo and Juliet are
dead. Romeo and Juliet is a story. But the lessons of love do hold true: love is not self-seeking, obsessive, or based on
appearances. Love is shown through actions.

Theme 2- HATE

The role of hatred also plays an important role in Romeo and Juliet. The hatred between the Montagues and Capulets ends up
killing their only two children. And what was this hate for? Nothing. It was just an ancient feud that no one bothered ending. If
the two families had just stopped feuding earlier, the lives of the two lovers could have been saved. Hatred never leads up to
any good. Shakespeare tells us that it is senseless in fighting with someone just for the sake of fighting. This is an everlasting
lesson.

Theme 3- FATE

Romeo and Juliet were "star-crossed lovers," as the prologue at the start of the play indicated. They had fate against them. In
that time, people were very wary of what the stars said. If two people’s stars were crossed in the sky, they would never remain
together. Obviously, Romeo and Juliet didn’t live happily ever after, as their death in the end showed. But there were many
unfortunate happenings that led up to their death. Fate was not on their side. First of all, Romeo only met Juliet by chance. Only
because the Capulet servant was blind and unable to read the list of guests, Romeo was allowed into the ball. By unfortunate
chance, Romeo and Juliet fell in love before they realized that they were from opposing families. After Romeo and Juliet’s
marriage, Romeo did not want to fight Tybalt. But because Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo demanded revenge. Things still
might have worked out between the two lovers. After enough time passed, Romeo and Juliet could tell their families what
happened and Romeo could return to Verona. But, Juliet’s parents want her to marry Paris. The Friar concocts another plan.
He gives Juliet a drug that will make her appear dead for 42 hours. However, fate is not on their side again. The letter sent by
the Friar never reaches Romeo because of a quarantine. The Friar arrives too late to stop Romeo from killing himself. Juliet
awakes only minutes after Romeo has died. The list is long, illustrating the power of fate in the case of Romeo and Juliet. Do we
believe in fate today? Or do things happen because we cause them to? Some people believe that it is a combination of the two.

Literary Technique- FORESHADOWING

Basically, everyone can figure out what is going to happen to Romeo and Juliet. The prologue states that the "star-crossed
lovers take their life." But as the play progresses, there are many subtle clues that confirm the fact that Romeo and Juliet will
die. This is the literary device known as foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is the use of symbols to show what will happen in the
future. Some examples:

Act 1, scene 4 Romeo gets a bad feeling before going to the Capulet ball.

Act 2, scene 3 The Friar warns Romeo about rushing into things.

Act 3, scene 1 Mercutio is stabbed, insisting that he’s fine.

Act 3, scene 5 Juliet looking down on Romeo from her bedroom

Act 4, scene 3 Juliet is getting worries over the Friar’s plan. Should she take the drug?

These are only a few examples of foreshadowing in Romeo and Juliet.

Essay Topics:

1. Romeo and Juliet has high dramatic moments. Choose a few of these and describe the role of suspense in them.
2. Choose a character (other than Romeo and Juliet) who had an important role in the play. Describe and examine the    character’s decisions and how they affected the outcome of the play.
3. Describe and analyze the different types of love portrayed in the play.
4. Compare and contrast the personalities of Romeo and Juliet.
5. In your opinion, was Lord Capulet a good father? Support your statement.
6. What role does fate play in Romeo and Juliet and what role does the characters’ choices play?
7.  Explain the role of disorder and hatred in Romeo and Juliet and give its consequences.
8. Show how timing played an important role in the play. Give examples.
9. Explain the role of foreshadowing in the play. Give examples.
10. Make your own adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet can be anything from rival figure skaters (as my     friend did) to pigs on a farm. Just be creative!

These are only some of the vocabulary words that you may not be familiar with. As you read the play, the MIT version of Romeo and Juliet provides a helpful glossary. Just take it slow. Reading aloud and with other people helps. Language of Shakespeare and The Shakespeare Glossary are also useful sites on Shakespearean vocabulary. You can also look at vocabulary from Julius Caesar and Macbeth.
 

alack- gee (expression of dismay) an- if anon- in a minute aside- little soliloquy ere- before ain- gladly fair- pretty fickle- can’t make up your mind hither- here humorous- fitful

idle- lazy marry- indeed, to marry methinks- I think mickle- much ne’er- never o’er- over rancor- hatred sirrah- servant soft- wait  suit(or)- proposal, one who        proposes

thither- there wherefore- why woe- sorrow woo- to date zounds- "by God’s wounds"

• Romeo And Juliet Trivia Quiz Test your knowledge about R&J
• Where’s Romeo? A Where’s Waldo type of game.
• Juliet Puzzle This is one of those "rearrange the picture" things using a picture of Claire Danes in an angel costume as Juliet.
• The Anagram Game (see below)

1. Mr Eeo
2. baltty (guy from baltimore)
3. careful rainer
4. Ron Ave. (street in Verona)
5. Giror went to purchase Swiss (good luck)

Click here for the answers
 

Romeo and Juliet has been performed throughout the years by different people and it has been adapted in different ways.

1936: Romeo and Juliet. George Cukor’s black and white version of the play that was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress (Norma Shearer). 126 min.

1954: Romeo and Juliet. Laurence Harvey, Susan Shentall, Flora Robson. Entire movie filmed in Italy. 135 min.

1961: West Side Story. The famous musical, West Side Story, was a brilliant adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Starring Natalie Wood as the breathtaking Maria, this film is a masterpiece. Winner of 10 Academy Awards, the dancing and singing will wipe you away. 151 min.

1968: Romeo and Juliet. Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli, produced a masterpiece in this adaptation. The costumes are brilliant, the actors are wonderful, the music is perfect, and the lines are delivered beautifully. Starring Olivia Hussey and Michael York, this film is still popular today and it’s no wonder why. Apart from Hussey’s semi-annoying cry, I can find nothing wrong with it. Personally, I enjoy this version much better than the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet. 138 min.
 

1993: Romeo and Juliet. This is a stage version of Romeo and Juliet. It stars Megan Porter Follows as Juliet and Antoni Camolino as Romeo. 162 min.

Romeo and Juliet Animated. A short, 30 minute presentation by HBO and BBC.

1994: Romeo and Juliet. Produced by British Television. 81 min.

1996: Romeo and Juliet. The newest Twentieth Century Fox version of the play, directed by Baz Luhrmann. Of course, this is the Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo) and Claire Danes (Juliet) version. This adaptation is modern, taking place in Verona Beach, California, though the Elizabethan language is kept. Rolling Stone writes, "Shakespeare has never been this sexy on-screen." You get it. Personally, I didn’t find this version that great, but many people will argue that point with me. For some movie reviews, click here or here. 120 min. 

Audio readings of some of the better known passages in Romeo And Juliet.  To hear these files RealPlayer is required. If you use Windows 98, this software is built into media player.  If not you have to download the free Real Player from the Real Networks Homepage.

• Chorus: Two households…
• Juliet: My only love sprung from my only hate…
• Romeo: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks…
• Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo…
• Romeo: O she doth teach the torches to burn bright…

A Film Review by Jacqueline Sudano.

Romeo and Juliet (1996)

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes

Romeo is in a gang. And not only is he is a gang; he packs a gun. Father Laurence has a large tattoo of a cross on his back. The famous balcony scene takes place in a swimming pool. These are just a few of the changes in the 1996 Twentieth Century Fox adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Australian director Baz Luhrmann, it is one of the most liberal adaptations of the play to date. What is unique about this new hip version is that the original Shakespearean language is retained. This is a strange aspect of the movie because it is set in a present-day fictional city called Verona Beach, California.

Casting Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet was definitely a wise choice. These two young, talented actors bring the story to life, truly feeling the emotion of the lines they are speaking. The first time I saw the movie I had not even read the actual play (let’s just say that a certain male actor was enough of an incentive to drag me to the theater), yet sitting there listening to the sometimes confusing Shakespearean dialogue was not very difficult with such great delivery. The Shakespearean dialogue seemed to be so much more conversational than I had ever heard before, with the lines naturally spoken and not overdone (as some actors tend to do).

The movie is also very visually stunning. Many vivid colors appear in the wardrobe and around the city. Instead of a boring black suit, Romeo opts for a stylish blue Prada suit in the wedding scene and sports a colorful Hawaiian-print shirt given to him by the priest in other scenes. The nurse is seen wearing bright red. One of the Montague boys (played by actor Jamie Kennedy) has pink hair. Perhaps the most beautiful costumes appear in the party scene at the Capulet mansion, where Juliet, dressed as an angel, and Romeo, dressed as a knight, first meet. You get the picture.

Be sure to check out the scene at the party when Romeo is drugged. It’s got to be one of the most wacked-out things that I have ever seen in a movie.

I definitely recommend this movie to anybody, regardless if you read Shakespeare or not. I do, however, suggest that you read the play beforehand because you will get more out of the movie. Rent Romeo and Juliet today to see what everybody is talking about!

Leonardo DiCaprio

 Well, I figured I could stick something about him in here.  Since DiCaprio played Romeo in the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet, I’ve decided that he belongs on the website.  (Note: this has nothing to do with the fact that I think he’s gorgeous or anything like that ?).  DiCaprio is known for his performances as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and of course, as Jack Dawson in Titanic.  At 23 years old with his babyish face, DiCaprio is a heartthrob for teenage girls.  He was recently voted “Most Beautiful Person” by People magazine.  But DiCaprio says that he does not want to be known for his looks.  He is an actor.  DiCaprio received an Oscar nomination for his role as a mentally-retarded child in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993).  He has also acted in This Boy’s Life, The Basketball Diaries, Marvin’s Room, and The Man in the Iron Mask.  Who can forget little Leo as Luke in Growing Pains?  Not surprisingly, there are about two billion web pages on him, so I won’t provide that many links.
Download Leo.  You can d/l a Leo screensaver, clips from Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, etc.
The Official Leo Page.  All you need to know about Leo.  Seriously.
The Official Hate Leo Page.  OK, some people don’t love Leo.  I inserted this half-heartedly.  Even if you don’t like DiCaprio, this page is incredibly offensive and I’ve placed it here just to show the opposite end of the Leo spectrum.  If you want to go here, just go and see how disgusting it is.  Please don’t be entertained by this.
Titanic Movie.  This is, of course, the site of the great movie, Titanic.  There are things to download, things to see, things to win… it’s all good.
 
 

Monarch Notes. Excellent book notes on Romeo and Juliet, good resource and study guide with essay questions and answers, character analysis, and more.

Romeo and Juliet page. Words of the play with helpful notes on the side. A plus is the "Notes About the Play" section, filled with themes and famous quotes. There is also a body count.