Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

tommybutch
tommybutch
Student
High School - 10th Grade

Why does Shakespeare say Romeo and Juliet is two hours long when it is closer to three?

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Posted by tommybutch on Tuesday May 5, 2009 at 12:45 PM and tagged with director, globe theater, historical context, romeo & juliet, romeo and juliet, shakespeare, speed.

Answers:

  1. ms-charleston-yawp
    ms-charleston-yawp Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In my opinion, the actual amount of time it takes to perform Romeo and Juliet (or any play, for that matter) is variable.  The length depends on a myriad of things:  the speed at which the actors recite their lines, the director's artistic licence for abridgement, the number of props the actors interact with, the amount of scenes containing extraneous events (such as dancing, with no dialogue), even the size of the stage can make a difference.  When one thinks of the time period during which Shakespeare wrote, the lack of props, and the tiny thrust stage on which they were performed, perhaps a shorter time frame seems more appropriate.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/historical-background

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    Posted by ms-charleston-yawp on Wednesday May 6, 2009 at 2:55 PM