Romeo and Juliet

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Francesco Hayez 053

Masuccio Salernitano

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers.

Plot

Romeo and Juliet belong to two feuding families: the Montagues and the Capulets respectively, who live in the city of Verona. The story starts with a street brawl between members of the two families. The Prince of Verona intervenes and declares that further breach of the peace will be punishable by death. Meanwhile, Romeo, a young Montague, attends a Capulet ball in disguise. There, he meets and falls in love with Juliet, the daughter of Lord Capulet, without knowing her family background. They quickly decide to marry in secret with the help of Friar Laurence.

The plot thickens as Tybalt, a Capulet, kills Mercutio, a friend to Romeo, leading Romeo to avenge his friend's death by killing Tybalt. Consequently, Romeo is banished from Verona. Juliet, devastated by these events and the arranged marriage to Paris planned by her parents, seeks Friar Laurence's help to reunite with Romeo. The Friar devises a plan for Juliet to fake her death, but the message fails to reach Romeo. Believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo buys poison and kills himself beside her. Juliet awakens, finds Romeo dead, and kills herself with his dagger. The tragedy ends with the families mourning their losses and vowing to end their feud.

Themes

The play explores several themes, including the forcefulness of love, the individual versus society, and the inevitability of fate. Love is portrayed as a powerful force that can lead to bliss as well as tragedy. The theme of individual versus society is evident in the lovers' struggle against public and social institutions that either explicitly or implicitly oppose the existence of their love. The theme of fate showcases how the lovers are doomed from the start as "star-crossed lovers."

Characters

• Romeo Montague - The son of Lord Montague, who falls in love with Juliet.
• Juliet Capulet - The daughter of Lord Capulet, who falls in love with Romeo.
• Friar Laurence - A Franciscan friar who marries Romeo and Juliet and devises a plan to reunite them.
• Mercutio - A kinsman to the Prince and Romeo's close friend.
• Tybalt - A Capulet, Juliet's cousin, who has a fierce temper and hates Montagues.
• The Nurse - Juliet's nursemaid, who acts as a confidante and messenger for Romeo and Juliet.
• Lord Capulet - The patriarch of the Capulet family, father of Juliet.
• Lord Montague - The patriarch of the Montague family, father of Romeo.

Adaptations

Romeo and Juliet has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical, and opera venues. Notable adaptations include Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film, Baz Luhrmann's 1996 modernized version Romeo + Juliet, and the Broadway musical West Side Story, which sets the story in 1950s New York City.

Legacy

The play has had a profound influence on literature and the arts, inspiring various works over the centuries. Romeo and Juliet has become an iconic story of young love and the destructive power of fate. The characters of Romeo and Juliet have become synonymous with young lovers and doomed love.