Romeo and
Juliet
Chapter 14
Background
 ROMEO AND JULIET is the least Aristotelian of the
tragedies. It does end unhappily, but shares many
traits of comedy--especially the exploration of
romantic love
 Romeo and Juliet is dated 1594-96 because the first
quarto was published in 1597

Romeo and Juliet are young lovers...she just 14. He is
a bit older, changeable as his momentary infatuation
with Rosaline demonstrates.
Sources
The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet (1562)
Sleeping potion element from a romance by
Xenophon of Ephesus
Il novellino by Masuccio of Salerno
Pyramus and Thisbe from Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Language and structure
...the play’s structure contrasts violent enmity with
passionate love and scenes of public brawling...The death
of Mercutio and Romeo’s slaying of Tybalt change the
course of the play
THEMES AND ISSUES
in ROMEO & JULIET
O’erhasty marriages
 Passion and Impetuousness
 One pattern of imagery in the play suggests a theme
of sudden and violent actions--fire, gunpowder, hot
blood, lightning and the stormy sea
Blood fueds:
Self-perpetuating revenge
 The mindless feuding of the two families is so ancient
that we never learn its cause, only its consequences
 Shakespeare creates three large public scenes which
contrast strongly with the private scenes
Fortune’s Fools: Tragic
Heroes or Victims
The star-crossed lovers
are more than mere
victims...they are active
participants and
responsible for the
choices they make.
Personal identity and
women’s roles
 In the 16th century, women were viewed much
differently than today
 A woman’s identity derived almost exclusively from
her relationship to her father or her husband
 The play depicts a young woman who has become an
“autonomous desiring self ” is a radical statement of
romantic individualism within patriarchal culture
 This contrasts to Romeo whose ties are to his mates.
Juliet’s ties are to her family.
STAGING CHALLENGES
The play is a challenge for producers: It has a large
cast, many props, a good deal of physical action and
specific staging requirements…
Duels and swordplay
Included in the text despite Tudor edicts against street fighting
Two hour’s traffic
 The action is compressed to little more than 4 days
The Tomb Scene
The Tomb Scene poses several challenges and problems,
not the least of which is the fight between Romeo and
Paris (omitted from the Zeffirelli and Luhrmann films)
ROMEO
AND
JULIET
onstage
The Elizabethan Era
featured Swift Transitions,
performed on an open
platform without scenery.
The structure of the play
required a large forestage
for the swordplay...and the
gallery and inner below...the
forty speaking roles
required double casting.
The Restoration & 18th Century
 featured many productions of the
play...it was among the first to be
revived after the Civil War.
 In 1662, a production—viewed
viewed by Samuel Pepys—was
staged at Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
 The most memorable productions
were those of David Garrick
whose productions were popular
at Drury Lane and Covent
Garden from 1748-1778.
 James Howard turned the play
into a tragi-comedy allowing the
lovers to live.
David Garrick and George Anne Bellamy
The 19th Century
 Breeches Romeos and
Admired Juliets
 Several actresses emerged
as memorable Juliets,
notably Maria Isabella
Nossiter at Drury Lane
in 1753
 In the Romantic Age,
Eliza O’Neill was a
famous Juliet
Charlotte Cushman
 The American actress
Charlotte Cushman
played Romeo to her
sister Susan’s Juliet
from 1837-1860. She
started a vogue for
“breeches” Romeos
The 20th Century
Romeo and Mercutio Return
In his famous 1935 production at the
Old Vic, John Gielgud alternated
with Laurence Olivier in the roles of
Romeo and Mercutio. Peggy
Ashcroft played Juliet and Edith
Evans was the Nurse...The
production is noted for its simple
staging and its Italian Renaissance
design...In 1947, Peter Brook staged
a memorable production with a
young cast...
OLD VIC 1960
The 1960 Franco Zefferilli
production at the Old Vic
became the basis for his
1968 film
It was strongly influenced
by LOOK BACK IN
ANGER (1956) and WEST
SIDE STORY (1957)
Mercutio was characterized
as the angry young man
Like the film it influenced,
it was noted for its youthful
cast and visual realism...
RSC 1986
A memorable 1986
production directed by
Michael Bogdanov at
the RSC was set in
contemporary Italy.
The Montagues and
Capulets were presented
as warring crime
families.
Broadway 2013
ROMEO AND JULIET
ON FILM AND
TELEVISION
MGM 1936
The George Cukor film featured Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer.
1954
Renato Castellani, director
Laurence Harvey and Susan Shentall were the lovers
John Gielgud was “The Chorus”
1968
Franco Zeffirelli,
director with
Leonard Whiting
and Olivia Hussey.
Laurence Olivier
was the uncredited
voice of the
narrator.
1976
Thames Television (UK) with Joan Kemp-Welch, director.
Christopher Neame and Ann Hasson as Romeo and Juliet.
BBC 1978
 Alvin Rakoff, director with Patrick Ryecart & Rebecca
Saire…John Gielgud as Chorus.
1997
Baz Luhrmann directed Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
The lovers first kiss. (Pictured Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
Julian Fellowes adaptation, 2013
Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth
FAMOUS SPIN-OFFS
 Romeo and Juliet (ballet)
San Francisco Ballet - 2015
WEST SIDE STORY
National Touring Production 2012
Shakespeare in Love -1998