Audience Appeal in Romeo and Juliet

Audience Appeal in Romeo and Juliet

Despite the fact that the play Romeo and Juliet was written several

hundred years ago, explain how it continues to appeal to an audience

today.

Despite the fact that the play "Romeo and Juliet" was written several

hundred years ago, explain how it continues to appeal to an audience

today. Referring to the play how does Shakespeare creates tension for

the audience? Explain the use of language and the way the actors

convey suspense and excitement. Refer specifically to Act 3 Scenes 4

and 5, to illustrate your views.

The story of "Romeo and Juliet" appeals to people because it contains

so many things, which they can relate to. The story contains emotions

such as love (between Romeo and Juliet), hate (between the two

families), Sadness (there are five deaths during the play) and humour

(Mercutio (innuendos), the Nurse and Peter).

Contrasts of ideas and the opposition between the characters make a

play interesting. There are many such conflicts within the story of

"Romeo and Juliet" The central of these conflicts been the feud

between the two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. There is no

apparent cause of this "ancient grudge" despite this many people die

because of it. The members of each family seem to have an instinct to

hate or even kill members of the other.

There is also the contrast between life and death. This contrast can

be connected with fate, which in Shakespeares' time was believed in a

lot more than today. In the prologue we are told that Romeo and Juliet

are "star-crossed lovers",

"From forth the fatal lions of these two foes,

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;"

you could say that this means that they are ill fated, or t...

... middle of paper ...

...ne shows the extent of Romeos' love for Juliet. His final

speech is full of love and it shows that his suicide is not a reckless

act. He loves Juliet more than life itself and believes that the only

way in which the can be together is in death. He does not kill him

self out of spite or the feeling of despair, but out of his love for

Juliet and his unwillingness to carry on living without her.

In conclusion the play "Romeo and Juliet" still appeals to an audience

today as it did when it was written for many reasons. These include

the use of tension to keep to audience on edge and the interesting use

of language such as innuendoes and puns. Also the content of emotions

and contrasts. Alough I did not enjoy the play "Romeo and Juliet" as

much as some of Shakespeares' other plays, I still think that the way

in which Shakespeare wrote it was very effective.