William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

As part of my final grades for my GCSE English, I will be analysing

violent scenes in Romeo and Juliet. I will be discussing the themes

with reference for at least three scenes in the play. I will be also

writing down how I would direct one of the scenes in the play.

The prologue of Romeo and Juliet gives you an idea of what the play is

all about. The beginning of the prologue tells you that Romeo and

Juliet is a tragic play, which is about two families who live in

Verona. Both of the families are similar in nobility but they have a

grudge against each other. This is shown on the opening four line of

the prologue.

‘Two household both alike in dignity…

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makes civil hands unclean.’

The fourth line of the prologue is interesting as it can make the

viewer think. This is because of the use of the word ‘civil’, which

means people who are citizens of the same settlement. People who live

in the same settlement should show respect to one another. But the

fourth line is against this rule.

‘Civil blood makes civil hands unclean.’

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This verse tells the viewer tells you that two families that live in

the same city are fighting amongst themselves. They are shedding civil

blood.

This strong opening of the play tells you that there is gong to be a

lot of violence in the play. This would help to silent the crowd in

the Elizabethan days as it tells you that Verona is divided by a civil

war between two noble families.

Lines 6-11 gave me the main idea that the play is going to be a tragic

one. It told me that the play is not always going to be about

violence. Line 6 has helped me think like this.

‘A pair of star crossed lovers take their life.’

Two lovers are prepared to risk their lives to see each other. Why are

they risking their lives just to see each other?