Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

nene0909
nene0909
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "Romeo and Juliet" what effect does the accelerated time scheme have on the play's development?

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Posted by nene0909 on Monday May 26, 2008 at 9:57 AM and tagged with characters, plot, romeo and juliet, themes.

Answers:

  1. reidalot
    reidalot Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Many critics have debated the topic of time in this play. Most feel the entire play takes place between five or six days. The acceleration of time adds to the theme of the brevity (briefness)of the lovers' life together and highlights the tragedy of young love and death. Everything in the play is done with haste; the lovers only have one night together. This also shows the impulsive nature of youth. A larger question could also be asked: Would the play be so tragic if the lovers could have lived together for, say a year? Shakespeare gives us a peek into the lives of the Montagues and the Capulets and tells all that's necessary in the brief time frame.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeoandjuliet

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    Posted by reidalot on Monday May 26, 2008 at 10:39 AM