Explore the Presentation of Juliet

Explore the Presentation of Juliet

  • Submitted By: simplyabbi
  • Date Submitted: 09/19/2011 9:53 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1737
  • Page: 7
  • Views: 379

Explore the presentation of Juliet.

The story of Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story. It represents true love and the undying love of two people from rival backgrounds willing to take their own lives for each other. This is made clear by parts of the prologue that say “two households, both alike in dignity” and “a pair of star-crossed loves take their lives”. These illustrate that both families are on a similar standing, have similar wealth and power and that the two lovers end up taking their lives just so they can be together; although we as an audience know the ending it still gives an air of expectation.

Through the course of the play we find out a number of things about Juliet and her past. Juliet had brothers and sisters but they died, leaving her an only child. Capulet justifies this by saying “She is the hopeful lady of my earth…” Also during the play we begin to see Juliet’s character change. She goes from a young, inexperienced childlike girl to a mature, independent young woman. This is because she falls in love for the first time with Romeo.

No one is sure exactly when Shakespeare wrote this play but many think it was between the years of 1585 and 1612. A poem called ‘The Tragical History of Romeo and Juliet’ by Arthur Brooke inspired him to write a play about two lovers who could not be together because of their past and background.

Romeo and Juliet was set in Italy, Verona in the fourteenth century “in fair Verona where we lay our scene”. In those days it was a custom/tradition to have the marriages arranged. The female’s father would choose someone he thought would be a good asset to his family. Many parents didn’t take notice of love or if their child was ready to marry. It was just thought proper for a 14 year old girl to be married and trying for children of their own although many had nannies to look after the children instead of doing it themselves i.e.- Capulet household had the nurse to look after Juliet from a baby. She was...

Similar Essays