Romeo and Juliet
What is Romeo and Juliet about?
Over four hundred years after it was first published, Romeo and Juliet remains one of Shakespeare’s most famous and most frequently performed plays. During the late 1500s many playwrights loved to base their plays off of Italian stories, and Shakespeare was no different; he was heavily influenced by the Italian tale “The Goodly History of the True and Constant Love of Romeo and Juliett.” Today Romeo and Juliet continues to spread its influence within literature and performing arts. It has been adapted into 24 operas, numerous films, a ballet, and has also been referenced in law. The play has entertained generations with its romance, deception, revenge, sword-fighting, creative verse, comedic relief, and tragic fate. The prologue lays before us the fate of our star-crossed lovers: two Italian households have a long, ongoing vendetta against each other, kept under control only by Prince Escalus, the ruler of Verona. Romeo meets with his friends Benvolio and Mercutio after having his heart broken by Rosaline. Encouraged to find love elsewhere, Mercutio sneaks him into one of Capulet’s masked parties, where he encounters Juliet, Capulet’s daughter. This is the beginning of a love affair that is destined to end in tragedy. This Standard Ebooks edition is based on William George Clark and William Aldis Wright’s 1887 Victoria edition, which is taken from the Globe edition.
Main themes in Romeo and Juliet
Love and passion
Romeo and Juliet thoughtfully explores love and passion through its central conflicts.
Fate and destiny
The presence of fate and destiny in Romeo and Juliet connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Youth versus age
Romeo and Juliet thoughtfully explores youth versus age through its central conflicts.
Family loyalty and conflict
Family loyalty and conflict emerges as a defining element in Romeo and Juliet, shaping character development.
Why Romeo and Juliet is still relevant today
Romeo and Juliet has defined Western conceptions of romantic love for over four centuries. The play's portrayal of passion defying social barriers has inspired countless adaptations, from Bernstein's West Side Story to Baz Luhrmann's film. "Star-crossed lovers" and "Wherefore art thou Romeo?" have entered common speech. The play continues to speak to young audiences about love, family conflict, and the cost of hatred.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Romeo and Juliet about?
Romeo and Juliet tells the tragic story of two young lovers from feuding families in Verona, Italy. Despite their families' hatred, they marry secretly, but miscommunication leads to both their deaths, finally ending the feud.
How old are Romeo and Juliet?
Juliet is explicitly stated to be thirteen, nearly fourteen. Romeo's age is not given but he's portrayed as similarly young. Their youth emphasizes the play's themes of passionate inexperience and the tragedy of lives cut short.
What does wherefore art thou Romeo mean?
"Wherefore" means "why," not "where." Juliet is asking why Romeo must be a Montague, her family's enemy. She wishes he had any other name so their love wouldn't be forbidden.
Is Romeo and Juliet a true story?
Romeo and Juliet is fiction, though Shakespeare adapted it from earlier Italian tales. The story of feuding families and doomed lovers existed in various forms before Shakespeare created his definitive version.