Discussion Topic
Enduring Popularity of Romeo and Juliet
Summary:
The enduring popularity of Romeo and Juliet can be attributed to its universal themes of love, fate, and conflict. The play's exploration of intense emotions and tragic outcomes resonates across generations. Additionally, its relatable characters and poetic language continue to captivate audiences and readers, ensuring its relevance and appeal over time.
Why is Romeo and Juliet so famous?
It seems to me that one of the reasons why the drama is so famous is because of its simplicity and direct characterizations. I have always felt that it is the most direct of Shakespeare's dramas. Part of this might be that the cultural reference to the play is quite common. The notion of two people in love that are divided by social stratas is relatively familiar. Of Shakespearean characterizations, the protagonists are fairly straight forward. We see both of them as in love with one another, or at least infatuated with one another, and can understand both of them as striving to exceed the social barriers around them. The fact that love is a central theme of the drama and that it survives even when the lovers do not is another reason why the play is so very famous. Finally, in schools, my experience has been that " Romeo...
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and Juliet" is a starting point with first year high school students in their study of Shakespeare, another reason why it is so famous.
Romeo and Juliet stretches across all generations and cultures in terms of theme.
The dueling families, the teenage quest to interpret the difference between infatuation and love, the role of a family friend or mentor and how to deal with the blows that life deal you are themes of the human condition. People may deal with these issues at different times in their lives, but almost all people deal with at least one of these issues if not all. Think of how often you hear about someone referring to their in-laws negatively!
Today, even though English teachers think Shakespeare's language is cool, students struggle with it. But the themes, and the struggles of the human condition, students can relate to that.
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is considered the consummate love story. Some say that every love story written since owes at least a little something to this story of Juliet and her Romeo.
There are probably a hundred reasons why the play is so famous. I'll present an idea or two.
Any love story needs an obstacle, something that keeps the lovers apart, at least temporarily. Shakespeare's version of an obstacle--the feud between the Montagues and Capulets--has been imitated so often it is now cliche. Yet, the formula still continues to work. As the two lovers fight against their families, the audience's sympathies deepen. The tougher the obstacles, the better the love story.
One aspect I've always found interesting about the play's popularity is that it is a love story with an unhappy ending. How rare is that! Of course, the play is a tragedy and contains much more than just the love story. And maybe it's the mix of romance and tragedy that makes the play so popular.
For starters, Romeo and Juliet is very famous because it was written by William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet is actually an adaptation of a poem previously written by another author. Shakespeare used concepts from the poem and wrote Romeo and Juliet.
Shakespeare was a brilliant author who used beautiful imagery and words that captivate the heart. The play also references Pyramus and Thisbe which was written by a Roman poet. There are many similarities here as well.
Romeo and Juliet has been and will continue to be one of the most famous plays ever written.
I would say this play is so famous because of the power of the story. It is a very sad story because of the fate that befalls the two lovers.
I would also say it is famous because of the beautiful poetry and imagery used by the characters. The words they speak to one another have become famous for this. For example, the imagery that Romeo uses of Juliet as the sun and the moon being jealous of her beauty is very powerful.
Finally, I would say that it offers some important (and memorably worded) insights into what is important in life. An example of this is Juliet's speech about Romeo and his name and "a rose by any other name..."
There are many reasons for this. In light of this, let me name only three of them.
First, Shakespeare is a great writer and he is able to touch a chord in a person's heart. Moreover, his work, Romeo and Juliet, is one of his best. By these literary qualities alone, people resonnate with the characters.
Second, the work is also timeless in its message. In other words, the theme of love and sacrifice is universal. I suspect all people from all times can appreciate the themes of the work. This also makes the characters of Romeo and Juliet popular.
Third, Romeo's love for Juliet and Juliet's love for Romeo is so pure that it is irresitable not to love. I would go as far as to say that all people want to experience a love this strong (without the tragic element).
Why has Romeo and Juliet remained popular over time?
Many of Shakespeare's plays have this universal quality. The themes and the story line are such that humanity anywhere in any time period can relate to them. Romeo and Juliet, for instance, is about teen rebellion, teenage love, parent/child conflict, rebellion against authority (government, parents, etc), friendship, marriage, violence, and the list goes on.
All of these items are not specific to gender, ethnicity, religion, politics, or creed. No matter what color you are, what religion you follow, how much money you have, if you are male or female, or what your political stance is, all of these issues have touched you at least once in your life. They are relative to your life.
This is why Shakespeare's plays have lasted the test of time and why people continue to hope that Romeo and Juliet will succeed in their attempt to escape and live happily ever after.
All of Shakespeare's works have stood the test of time because, for the most part, they deal with universal experiences of love, war, loss, death, madness, etc. The themes can be transcribed from one culture to another; that is why we so often see Shakespeare productions that are set in modern times. One excellent film example is the production of Hamlet starring Ethan Hawke. In the film, set in the present day, Elsinore is a corporation, not a castle. Hamlet's essential dilemmas and struggles with indecision remain the same, however. For Romeo and Juliet, the ideas of feuding families and "star-crossed lovers" also transcend time and culture. In the most recent film version with Leonardo deCaprio, the action is set not in Verona, Italy but on Verona Beach, California.
People are attracted to love stories, and people are attracted to tragedies. Romeo and Juliet provides both. It contains some beautiful language. It also has humor, and sword fighting, which adds some action to the show. The play therefore has been timeless, and continues to be popular to this day.
On the surface, Romeo and Juliet seem like bratty, lovesick teenagers whose story is not worth our time. However, they become more interesting when placed against the backdrop of Verona and in the context of their two families, who have been feuding for so long that fights break out in the streets. In fact, Shakespeare tells us how the story is going to end before it even starts.
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.
Knowing that the lovers are going to lose their lives is not a spoiler. It piques our interest. We are wondering what might happen that would cause two young people to die so spectacularly. You can also tell even from the prologue that there are some very memorable lines from this particular play, which people know and still like to quote today.
The success of this play shows Shakespeare's skill and popularity in general. It may not be his most favored play or his greatest play, but a lot of people find it accessible because it is about love, and most people have experience with that. It isn't about kings, although Romeo and Juliet come from important families. Their problems are common problems (except hopefully for the feuding and death-faking part).
This play has stood the test of time, because in its many variations, it is a timeless tale of two people who want to be together, but shouldn't be or can't. People fall in love every day, and lots of those couples face seemingly insurmountable odds -- distance, social class, family obligations, prejudice, etc. that keep them apart. They may wish they had the strength to be together no matter what the odds or the costs, but most don't. Say what you will about the veracity of Romeo and Juliet's feelings, they DO do everything to be together -- something lots of people can't say, but can admire.
One reason Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet still resonates with high school students is the fact that the lovers themselves are teenagers. Also, their impulsiveness is a character trait that most teenagers can relate to. Over the course of five days, Romeo and Juliet meet, fall in love, get married, and kill themselves. That's all it takes. It takes only five days. Teenagers can certainly relate to the intense feelings that Romeo and Juliet felt for each other. Whether those feelings were love or lust is up for debate.
Romeo and Juliet also has a bit of the supernatural with the potion that Juliet uses to fake her death. This type of mysticism is the same thing that attracts young readres to the Harry Potter and Twilight series.
Finally, Romeo and Juliet also adds an exciting element of violence that teenagers are typically intrigued by. It makes for a great play to act out in class, when swords are brought in as props and students can out out the several duals throughout the play.
A lot of people think that "Romeo & Juliet" is the classic love story, but there is so much more to it that every interpretation can take on a life of its own. Eventually, any reader can see that love is actually a very low priority. Family feuding, escalating violence, and mistaken identity are much more substantial to the play. Even religion and social norms are more important than two teenagers who fall into lust.
Well said by lavincen. Shakespeare took a story premise of young forbidden love and rival families that had been around for hundred of years even by his time. He knew it was a good plot, but he made it more accessible and marketable to the growing audience of his time and future generations.
Mainly, he owned the story through his artistry with the language. Since the plays of his time were not high budget affairs with much else beyond custome and a few props, he had to keep audiences captivated with his language, and his words have stood the test of time above all other contributions he has made. Shakespearean language has worked its way into our own through he witty puns, insightful quotes, and even newly created words and phrases. Now, to be a part of our modern culture, you have to know the language of Shakespeare, which is really pretty incredible when thinking of his influence.
Romeo and Juliet is a famous story because something as wonderful as love causes so much grief. How could love, true love, prove to be the most miserable of conditions? In Romeo and Juliet, there is the classic interference of love by those who are filled with hatred. Two families hate each other and porbably do not even remember what started the feud.
Classic: Hatred overcomes true love. Hatred wins again. While love is supposed to be the strongest of all emotions, hatred wins in the classic Romeo and Juliet.
The story is as old as all time. Adam loves Eve. Eve loves Adam. The serpent hates the fellowship that Adam and Eve have with God. His hatred for God brings about the downfall of the first couple to ever be in love.
Love does not overcome all; hatred does.
Where there is love, there is hatred. Romeo and Juliet is a story remembered most for a hatred between two families--the Montagues and Capulets.
When one thinks about Romeo and Juliet, it is remembered for its tragedy. Tragedies are more interesting than a story which has a happily ever after ending. True love is secondary in the tragedy. Sadly enough, love does not conquer all.