research paper

1. The Concept of Tragedy
In William Shakespeare’s
By: Dana Mohammad Hamid
Daryas Sardar Othman
Hawre Saleh Mohammad
Supervised by
Mr. Kawa Mirza
R omeoandJuliet

2. Table of Contents
I. Acknowledgment
II. Abstract
III. An Outline For Play Analysis
Section One / Introduction
IV. Shakespeare’s Life and Work
V. Definition of Tragedy
Section Two
VI. The story
Section Three
VII. Reading and Acting The Play
VIII. Romeo and Juliet

3. Special thanks to our supervisor Mr. Kawa Mirza for her help and
support during the writing of this research. Thanks to ur teachers in
the English Department for their brilliant guidance an unforgettable
efforts during the study.
Acknowledgment

4. The story is, of course, about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue
their love for each other despite the fact that their
each other for decades. The story combines sword fighting, disguise,
misunderstanding, tragedy, humor, and some of the most romantic found in
literature all in the name of true love.
In Verona, Italy in the late 1500's, two powerful families the Montagues and the
Capulets have been feuding with each other for years. Old Capulet, Juliet's father,
throws a party to which he invites all his friends. Th es are not invited of
course, but Romeo devises a plan to get a look at Rosaline; a young girl he has been
pursing. He disguises himself and slips into the party. Once inside, his attention is
stolen; not by Rosaline, but by Juliet. Romeo falls instantly in love, but is
disappointed when he finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet notices Romeo too,
but she is unaware that he is a member of the hated Montagues.
Later, after discovering that the young man who caught her eye is a member of the
enemy family, Juliet goes out onto her balcony to tell the stars about her strong but
forbidden love. At the same time, Romeo is lurking in bushes below. He
overhears Juliet confess her love for him to the heavens. No longer able to control
his powerful feelings, Romeo reveals himself to her and admits that he feels the
same. The very next day, with the help of Romeo's friend Friar Lawrence, Romeo
and Juliet are secretly married.
On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Ben and Mercutio, are
walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin,
Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a
fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because
he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't
understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him.
A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. avenge the death of his
Abstract

5. friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the
Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo an he is forced to leave
Juliet, who is devastated by the loss of her love. Juliet's father, not knowing of his
daughter's marriage, decides to marry her to another young man named Paris.
In despair, Juliet consults with Friar Laurence. He advises her to agree to the
marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he
prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put
into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her. She
does as the Friar says and is put into the vault by her heartbroken parents.
Bad news travels fast. Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears
from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Ove me with grief, Romeo
buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the
tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly Nothing will stop him
from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks he poison and takes his last
breath next to his sleeping wife.

6. An Outline for Play Analysis
Name of play: Romeo and Juliet.
Date of play: By Arthur Brooke was written in 1562.
Genre: Tragedy
Theme:
Major theme: The family two between of reprisal
Minor theme: the young two between of love
Character:
Protagonist: Romeo
Antagonist: Capulet Family
Motivation: Friar Laurence motivate of Romeo
Use of dramatic devices: Irony, Foreshadowing, suspense, surprises
Language: Realistic, Heroic, Archaic, Poetic,

7. Section one
Introduction
'The sun, from sadness, will not shine at all today. There was never a sadder story
than this story of Romeo and Juliet.' Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous
love stories in the world. Today, more than four hundr years after it was written,
it is as popular as in Shakespeare's time. Perhaps this is because the play is more
than a great love story. It is also about murder, life and death, happiness and
sadness, problems between parents and children, and th terrible hate between
two great families. There are six deaths in Romeo and Some parts of the play
are quiet and romantic, some are exciting, some are funny and some are very sad.
Many of Shakespeare’s play take place in countries outside England like Italy,
Greece or Denmark. The characters in Romeo and Juliet in the famous city of
Verona in the north of Italy. The story is about two important families of the town,
the Capulets and the Montagues. These families are great enemies. We are not told
the reason for their hate – only that it is not new. They are always fighting in the
streets of Verona, and this is a great problem for the Prince and the people of the
town. Then Romeo, the only son of the Montagues, falls in love with Juliet, the only
daughter of the Capulets. Their love ends their families hate - but only with their
deaths. Shakespeare has given us some beautiful language inRomeo and Juliet, and
also some wonderful characters. Friar Laurence, wise and kind, tries to help the
lovers. Mercutio, Romeo's friend, laughs and jokes about love. Lord Capulet, Juliet's
father doesn’t understand his daughter. The Nurse never stops talking. Angry
Tybalt is always ready for a fight, and Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, only wants peace.
William Shakespeare is the most famous writer of plays the English language. He
was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on 26 April 1564, in the time of Queen Elizabeth
I, and died on 23 April 1616. He wrote thirty-seven plays and many famous poem.
His plays are about different subjects. Some of them are about famous people in
history. Other are stories from the literature of the time. He was not only a writer
of plays - he also acted in them. His plays were very popular and successful.

8. In 1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, and they had three children - a boy
and two girls. By 1597 he was rich enough to buy new place, the largest house in
Stratford.
Shakespeare began writing Romeo and Juliet in 1594, when he was about thirty
years old. The idea for the story was not Shakespeare's. It came from a story in
1562 by Arthur Brooke about two young lovers who killed themselves. Shakespeare
took Brooke's story and wrote his play around it, but he added new characters too.
In Shakespeare's time, the actors were all men. So the part of Juliet was played by
a boy. This is quite hard for us to imagine now! Many actors and actresses
have wanted to play Romeo or Juliet in the theatre. Th also been films and
television plays. In 1968 Franco Zeffirelli made a beautiful film in Italy with two
unknown young actors, Leonard Whiting and Olivia Husse Sometimes Romeo and
Juliet is shown as a modern story taking place in today world. In 1996 the actor
Leonardo DiCaprio played Romeo in very different kind Romeo and Juliet from
Shakespeare’s. In this film, the story and characters re moved from the Old
Italian city of Verona to the very modern city of New York.

9. Shakespeare’s Life and Work
William Shakespeare, often called the English national poet, is widely
considered the greatest dramatist of all time.
Synopsis
Mysterious Origins
Early Life
William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon,
England. From roughly 1594 onward he was an important ber of the Lord
Chamberlain’s Men Company of theatrical players. Written records give little
indication of the way in which Shakespeare’s professional life molded his artistry.
All that can be deduced is that over the course of 20 ears, Shakespeare wrote plays
that capture the complete range of human emotion and c flict.
Known throughout the world, the works of William Shakespeare have been
performed in countless hamlets, villages, cities and metropolises for more than 400
years. And yet, the personal history of William Shakes are is somewhat a mystery.
There are two primary sources that provide historians with a basic outline of his life.
One source is his work—the plays, poems and sonnets—and the other is official
documentation such as church and court records. Howeve these only provide brief
sketches of specific events in his life and provide li on the person who
experienced those events.
Though no birth records exist, church records indicate that a William Shakespeare
was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564.
From this, it is believed he was born on or near April 23, 1564, and this is the date
scholars acknowledge as William Shakespeare's birthday. Located 103 miles west
of London, during Shakespeare's time Stratford-upon-Avon was a market town
bisected with a country road and the River Avon. Willi m was the third child of John
Shakespeare, a leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a loc landed heiress. William
had two older sisters, Joan and Judith, and three youn er brothers, Gilbert, Richard
and Edmund. Before William's birth, his father became successful merchant and
held official positions as alderman and bailiff, an office resembling a mayor.
However, records indicate John's fortunes declined sometime in the late 1570s.

10. Scant records exist of William's childhood, and virtually none regarding his
education. Scholars have surmised that he most likely attended the King's New
School, in Stratford, which taught reading, writing an the classics. Being a public
official's child, William would have undoubtedly qualified for free tuition. But this
uncertainty regarding his education has led some to raise questions about the
authorship of his work and even about whether or not W am Shakespeare ever
existed.
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582, in Worcester,
in Canterbury Province. Hathaway was from Shottery, a small village a mile west of
Stratford. William was 18 and Anne was 26, and, as it rns out, pregnant. Their first
child, a daughter they named Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. Two years later,
on February 2, 1585, twins Hamnet and Judith were born. Hamnet later died of
unknown causes at age 11.After the birth of the twins, there are seven years of
William Shakespeare's life where no records exist. Sch ars call this period the "lost
years," and there is wide speculation on what he was d g during this period. One
theory is that he might have gone into hiding for poac ng game from the local
landlord, Sir Thomas Lucy. Another possibility is that might have been working
as an assistant schoolmaster in Lancashire. It is gene ally believed he arrived in
London in the mid- to late 1580s and may have found work as a horse attendant at
some of London's finer theaters, a scenario updated centuries later by the countless
aspiring actors and playwrights in Hollywood and Broad ay.
By 1592, there is evidence William Shakespeare earned living as an actor and a
playwright in London and possibly had several plays pr duced. The September 20,
1592 edition of the (a guild publication) includes an article by
London playwright Robert Greene that takes a few jabs t William Shakespeare:
"...There is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feat s, that with his Tiger's heart
wrapped in a Player's hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out blank verse
as the best of you: and being an absolute Johannes factotum, is in his own conceit
the only Shake-scene in a country," Greene wrote of Shakespeare. Scholars differ on
the interpretation of this criticism, but most agree that it was Greene's wa of saying
Shakespeare was reaching above his rank, trying to mat better known and
educated playwrights like Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe or Greene himself.
By the early 1590s, documents show William Shakespeare was a managing partner
Married Life
Theatrical Beginnings
Stationers' Register

11. in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, an acting company in London. After the crowning
of King James I, in 1603, the company changed its name to the King's Men. From
all accounts, the King's Men Company was very popular, and records show that
Shakespeare had works published and sold as popular literature. The theater culture
in 16th century England was not highly admired by people of high rank. However,
many of the nobility were good patrons of the performi g arts and friends of the
actors. Early in his career, Shakespeare was able to attract the attention of Henry
Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, to whom he dedic d his first- and second-
published poems: "Venus and Adonis" (1593) and "The Ra of Lucrece" (1594).
By 1597, 15 of the 37 plays written by William Shakespeare were published. Civil
records show that at this time he purchased the second largest house in Stratford,
called New House, for his family. It was a four-day ride by horse from Stratford to
London, so it is believed that Shakespeare spent most of his time in the city writing
and acting and came home once a year during the 40-day Lenten period, when the
theaters were closed. By 1599, William Shakespeare and his business partners uilt
their own theater on the south bank of the Thames Rive which they called the
Globe. In 1605, Shakespeare purchased leases of real estate near Stratford for 440
pounds, which doubled in value and earned him 60 pound a year. This made him
an entrepreneur as well as an artist, and scholars believe these investments gave him
the time to write his plays uninterrupted.
William Shakespeare's early plays were written in the nventional style of the day,
with elaborate metaphors and rhetorical phrases that didn't always align naturally
with the story's plot or characters. However, Shakespe re was very innovative,
adapting the traditional style to his own purposes and ating a freer flow of words.
With only small degrees of variation, Shakespeare primarily used a metrical pattern
consisting of lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter, or ank verse, to compose his
plays. At the same time, there are passages in all the plays that deviate from this and
use forms of poetry or simple prose.
Establishing Himself
Writing Style

12. Early Works: Histories and Comedies
Later Works: Tragedies and Tragicomedies
Death
With the exception of , William Shakespeare's first plays were
mostly histories written in the early 1590s. , (parts 1, 2 and 3)
and dramatize the destructive results of weak or corrupt rulers, and have
been interpreted by drama historians as Shakespeare's ay of justifying the origins
of the Tudor Dynasty. Shakespeare also wrote several comedies during his early
period: the witty romance , the romantic
, the wit and wordplay of , the charming
and . Other plays, possibly written before 1600, include
, , and
.
It was in William Shakespeare's later period, after 16 , that he wrote the
tragedies , , and . In these, Shakespeare's
characters present vivid impressions of human temperament that are timeless and
universal. Possibly the best known of these plays is , which explores betrayal,
retribution, incest and moral failure. These moral fai res often drive the twists and
turns of Shakespeare's plots, destroying the hero and hose his loves. In William
Shakespeare's final period, he wrote several tragicomedies. Among these
are , and . Though graver in tone than the
comedies, they are not the dark tragedies of or because they end
with reconciliation and forgiveness.
Romeo and Juliet
Richard II Henry VI
Henry V
A Midsummer Night's Dream Merchant of
Venice Much Ado about Nothing As You like
It Twelfth Night Titus
Andronicus The Comedy of Errors The Taming of the Shrew The Two
Gentlemen of Verona
Hamlet King Lear Othello Macbeth
Hamlet
Cymbeline The Winter's Tale The Tempest
King Lear Macbeth
Tradition has it that William Shakespeare died on his y, April 23, 1616,
though many scholars believe this is a myth. Church records show he was
interred at Trinity Church on April 25, 1616.In his will, he left the bulk of his
possessions to his eldest daughter, Susanna. Though entitled to a third of
his estate, little seems to have gone to his wife, Anne, whom he bequeathed
his "second-best bed." This has drawn speculation that she had fallen out of
favor, or that the couple was not close. However, there is very little evidence
the two had a difficult marriage. Other scholars note the term "second-
best bed" often refers to the bed belonging to the household's master and
misters—the marital bed—and the "first-best bed" was reserved for guests.

13. Definition of Tragedy
Romeo and Juliet
Hamlet
Romeo and Juliet
The Tragically History of Romeos and
Juliet Palace of
Pleasure
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo und Julie
Romeo and Juliet Romeo and
Juliet Romeo + 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 , is one of his most frequently
performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded
as archetypal young lovers. belongs to a tradition of
tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. The plot is based on an Italian
tale translated into verse as
by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in
by William Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from
both but expanded the plot by developing a number of supporting characters,
particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed to have been written between 1591
and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597. The text
of the first quarto version was of poor quality, howev and later editions
corrected the text to conform more closely to Shakespeare's original.
Shakespeare's use of his poetic dramatic structure (especially effects such
as switching between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his
expansion of minor characters, and his use of sub-plots to embellish the
story) has been praised as an early sign of his dramatic skill. The play
ascribes different poetic forms to different character sometimes changing
the form as the character develops. Romeo, for example, grows more adept
at the sonnet over the course of the play. has been
adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical, and opera venues. During
the English Restoration, it was revived and heavily revised by William
Davenant. David Garrick's 18th-century version also modified several
scenes, removing material then considered indecent, and Georg
Benda's omitted much of the action and added a happy
ending. Performances in the 19th century, including Charlotte Cushman's,
restored the original text and focused on greater realism. John Gielgud's
1935 version kept very close to Shakespeare's text and used Elizabethan
costumes and staging to enhance the drama. In the 20th and into the 21st
century, the play has been adapted in versions as diverse as George Cukor's
1935 film , Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version
, and Baz Luhrmann's 1996 MTV-inspired .

14. The story
The story of the play is based on two young lovers that are famously referred to as
'star-crossed lovers'. Form this label, this shows the inevitability of fate. Two
adolescents pursue their love for each other secretly, despite their families hate
towards one another that has been ongoing for decades. The opening scene of
Romeo and Juliet immediately shows us that the theme of the play predominantly
will be tragedy. Shakespeare shows us firstly a feud between the Montague family
and Capulet family that has been ongoing for many years. A selfish feud between
the family's that could have been settled and also could have prevented from all
the misfortunes. It is as if fate controls their love being able to control their
own feeling is bound to have a devastating effect. It is not by coincidence that led
them to their tragic death but because of the manipulation of timing and fate.
The play consists of many themes other than tragedy, such as comedy, romance
and death. The play is spilt into parts to represent tragedy, fate, conflict, family,
love and religion. Tragedy fits into Romeo and Juliet to the tragic death that
occurs at the end of the play and because of this is considered to be tragedy. There
are three topics to consider when looking at tragedy. Firstly, when one of the main
characters has a tragic flaw that is shown through his persona that leads them to
their death. In this play Romeo is the key character to play this persona. Another
factor to consider is the character decides on choices that they cannot foresee and
lastly fate.
Before the play begins there is a prologue, this already tells us that Romeo and
Juliet is destined to end in tragedy. Also in the prologue oxymoron are used to
create a dramatic impact to support the tragedy that will occur, 'civil blood,' The
reference to Romeo and Juliet as 'star crossed lovers' hints that Romeo and Juliet
were meant to die together because it was in their destiny. Therefore this is what
fate has planned for their lives, as it was crossed through the stars (written in the
stars), this already foreshadows the ending, the audie sympathizes Romeo and
Juliet as it is inevitable. Also further along the scene there is Prince's speech, "If you

15. ever disturb our streets again your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace," this also
destined it to end in tragedy as it is out of their control as it foreshadows the fate
of Romeo and Juliet as they are the ones who die and their families will live in
peace, this again involves the audience as the foresee the tragedy which creates
more sympathy.
In Act I, Scene V Romeo realizes that Juliet is a Capulet, "Is she a Capulet? O dear
account, my life is foe's debt," this is suggesting that Romeo's life is in his enemy's
hands. This foreshadows his life ending with Juliet who is a Capulet, his enemy.
Tybalt swears revenge that he will kill Romeo, but it ironic as it is Juliet who is
ultimately responsible for Romeo's death. This was a similar fate with Rosaline as
she was too a Capulet. "My Grave is like to be my wedding bed," Juliet realizes it
will only end up in tragedy and she and Romeo were doomed at the start, she
recognizes her fate and accepts it which foreshadows the end. Conflict
foreshadows tragedy within the play as it begins with quarrel which is ironic
because Romeo and Juliet is a love story, the effect of this that it makes the
audience use to the fact that conflict and arguments is always shown throughout
the play, this can also foretell the ending as a tragedy due to the consistency of
arguments.
In the second scene Paris is a suitor to Juliet and asks for Capulet's approval, this
would cause conflict and tragedy as Juliet is already , this makes the
audience empathize with Juliet as they know this will ems. Romeo says,
"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw such true beauty till
this night." This suggests that he has fallen in love at first sight, which is tragic for
him as he is in the same situation as he was before Juliet, which ended in
heartbreak just as Romeo's and Juliet's relationship will end. We also see the
language of conflict in this scene, for example, "this, by his voice, should be a
Montague fetch me my rapier, boy". This shows that Tybalt is very angry with a
Montague being at the party and wants to put his sword through him.
This type of language suggests to an audience that fight with Tybalt will occur in
the play only ending in tragedy. The family Montague and the family Capulet had
been locked in a feud for years, even so that their servants fought on the street,

16. 'The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.' It is made clear to show that
the two families hate each other and if any of the two families fall in love with each
other it shall end in death and tragedy since it is forbidden. The tragedy of Tybalt's
death is another result of a family fight; this was a se
Romeo was banished from Verona, and because he was banished, this makes it
harder for Juliet to see him which causes more tension.
'O, look! Methinks I see my cousin's ghost, seeking out Romeo, which did spit his
body, upon a rapier's point. Stay, Tybalt, stay!' This suggests that even though
Tybalt is dead he still wants to seek revenge and the ence is never ending which
foreshadows the ending, it is also ironic as violence is the reason why the feud ends
between families. Lady Capulet and the nurse put a lot of pressure on Juliet which
forces her to marry Paris, which foreshadows her marriage. Juliet has no choice as
it is the parents' decision, in the Elizabethan era women were seen as less superior
and therefore did not have a say in many things such as marriage. "It is an honor I
dream not of." Here the audience already knows that she belongs to Romeo so they
empathizes her as she has to make a decision and either one ends in tragedy.
In the prologue the family play a huge part for foreshadowing tragedy, "From
ancient grudge," this informs us Romeo and Juliet could not escape their fate
because of their family conflict, this makes the audience sympathies Romeo and
Juliet as they are the ones that suffer for their parents' issues. Also a 'thorn' is used
to subvert a romantic image of rose to show the misery of love because a rose is
something beautiful just as love is but the thorn is what causes pain and hurt,
showing the misery of love. It questions love rhetorically and Shakespeare's
dilemma throughout the play contrasts freedom in love with false ideas of love,
which predicts tragedy.
In Act I Scene V Romeo both share a sonnet, however they contrast with each other
as they use paradoxes such as 'sin and holy and worthiest,' this suggests how later
a conflict will arise and occur between them as they have such different views and
backgrounds. Shakespeare also uses religious metaphors to show how pure and
sacred the love is, Juliet says, "good pilgrim" when talking to him she implies that
she is devoted, it also shows her naive view of Romeo' intention. Much imagery of

17. religion is used such as stars, heaven, light, goddess and saints, they represent
happiness holiness, innocence and purity, this reflects Juliet and her love for
Romeo. In addition words like hand are palm are used which suggests the idea of
praying, this is too linked with God and how it is up to fate, destiny and God, which
the reader knows that Romeo and Juliet are doomed from the start so this
foreshadows the ending. And also that fate and providence were under the control
of God and due to the fact she lied to her parents and did not listen to them; she
was destined to die as a punishment for disobeying her parents Overall Romeo and
Juliet is a tragedy because the hero is banished for c murder and both
the hero and heroine die unnecessarily and the families learned a lesson that they
seemingly could learn only through grief. Romeo and Juliet were not allowed to see
each other in public, despite the fact that they love other. The fighting, the
unnecessary killing and the death of both Romeo and Juliet at the end all make the
play a tragedy.

18. Reading and Acting the Play
You can read Romeo and Juliet silently, like every other story in a book. You will
have to imagine the places, the characters clothes and their voices from the words
on the page.
But Shakespeare did not write Romeo and Juliet as literature for reading. He wrote
it for actors on a theatre stage. You can read the play in a group with other people.
This is very different from silent reading. You can speak the words and bring the
characters to life. They can sound happy, sad or angry. You can add silences and
important noises, like the sound of knocking. You can stop and discuss the play.
What does this character mean? Why does he/she say that?
But you can have more fun if you act the play. Romeo and Juliet has a lot of
movement and color. There are wonderful love science, but there are exciting fight
too. There is music and dancing. There are science with a crowd, and science with
just two people. The characters can show their feelings by their words, but also by
their actions. Romeo can show his love for Juliet, Tybalt can show his hate for
Romeo and Lord Capulet can show his changing feelings towards his daughter.
If you act Romeo and Juliet, the science should look different the town square in
Verona, Juliet's bedroom, Friar Laurence's garden and Capulet's vault. You
should also think about stage equipment - swords, a rope, a bottle of poison, a
letter. Romeo and Juliet has a lot of characters. Some have large parts, like Romeo,
Juliet and Friar Laurence - other, like the Doctor in Mantua, only have a few short
lines. Some characters don't speak, but their action on stage are important. How
many townspeople do you need? How many guests will there be at Lord Capulet's
party? Romeo and Juliet is a wonderful play. You can read it or you can act it. But
have fun and enjoy it!

19. Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet (1595), is considered to be a tragedy play and was written in the
early years of Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet is believed to have been written
around 1595 and was written during a period when Shake eare had found the
strength of his writing. OriginallyShakespeare's plot of Romeo and Juliet came from
an Italian tale by Arthur Brooke; which was written in 1562. Arthur Brooke's version
was called The Tragically History of Romeos and Juliet. From this adaptation,
Shakespeare heavily used Arthur Brook's plot but expanded his own ideas to make
his own infamous version of Romeo and Juliet. For example Shakespeare changed
the age of Juliet from sixteen to fourteen. I believe was to show the immaturity
of love that was the result to hastily bring Romeo and Juliet to their death. Also it
may have been because at Elizabethan era women were not allowed to be in
theatre, only men were to play women. So to make Juliet believable Shakespeare
may have wanted a young boy to fit the role. William Shakespeare's witty use of
dramatic structure has been cleverly thought out from the different themes of the
play; such as comedy and tragedy in which sways back and forth to keep the
audience captivated. From this play, he was recognized because of his dramatic
skills, which makes Romeo and Juliet notorious. The timeline from the eighteen
century till the current date, Romeo and Juliet have influenced many other stories.
This could range from films, plays, musicals and other re-makes of Romeo and
Juliet.