William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John

and Mary Shakespeare. He grew up learning Latin grammar and

literature mainly at a grammar school in Stratford. By 1592

Shakespeare was in the public eye for writing many successful plays

which other playwrights were clearly jealous of. Shakespeare wrote

Romeo and Juliet between 1589 and 1595 after he got the idea from

Arthur Brooke’s poem “The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet”

which was written in 1562. As well as the play being written many

times it has also been written in other languages. Shakespeare went

on to write many other plays. He later died in 1616.

Throughout this play, Shakespeare dramatically prepares the audience

for the final tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. He starts giving the

audience hints in the prologue.

“ From ancient grudge break to new mutiny”

is a sign that when Romeo and Juliet confess their love for one

another it will not be a smooth path for love because they are from

two feuding families. Fate is also mentioned in the prologue

“a pair of star-crossed lovers”

is referring to Romeo and Juliet’s actions lying in the stars. This

is once again brought up by Romeo at the end of Act 1, scene 4 when he

has a premonition

“some consequences yet hanging in the stars”.

Right from the start the audience know there will be the deaths of

Romeo and Juliet.

“Doth with their death bury their parent’s strife”.

When Romeo meets Juliet for the first time in Act 1, scene 5 at the

Capulet’s party their relationship moves very quickly and they don’t

know that they are supposedly enemies. However, at the end of this

scene they are told of this. Romeo and Juliet would not have however

met if Romeo had not been in “love” with Rosalie as she was the reason

he attended the party.

Romeo and Juliet again meet outside the Capulet’s mansion in Act 2,