William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet was set in the city of Verona, Italy. It is a very

violent city, with two main rival gangs in it. The Montagues and The

Capulets. When these two gangs clash, there was always a fight.

Although the Catholic Church governed the city and had the last say on

the happenings in the city, they could not stop this monstrous feud.

This war, started many years before the play was set and nobody knew

why it had started

Juliet had a very protected life, as did all the rich family women,

Verona was very much a male dominated city. These males were extremely

patriotic towards there families. They keep their word and they try to

keep their family's respect throughout the years.

Shakespeare, in this play, brought together love and hate, showing

them to be very different, but also very close. Hatred brings one

Capulet to love one Montague. But the hatred creates a love so strong,

that they are willing to be dead together, than to be alive and apart.

It shows that a strong enough love cannot be broken, even by pure

hatred between two families. Juliet was only 14 at marriage and Romeo

was only 16, pure love at this age and the willing to die for each

other is extremely rare, which improves the importance of

Shakespeare's meaning.

At the start of the play Juliet is very obedient towards her parents