romeo and juliet
shakespeare
1564 – 1616 (16th century – 17th century)
wrote during the renaissance where there was an expansion of artistic creation. This expression
freed itself the restrictions of previous centuries
context
love
Petrarchan lover: a man who falls in love with a woman but is either resisted or rejected
(unrequited). This rejection inevitably leads the man to internal turmoil and self-imposed solitude
(like Romeo in the beginning of the play)
Courtly love: in Incorporates ideas such as love at first sight and dying for one’s true love.
an ideal which was imposed on during the Renaissance
in Romeo and Juliet courtly love is glorified and romanticised. However the presence of sex
in Romeo and Juliet relationship somewhat undermines this idealisation of selfless and
romantic love
Courtly love rules:
1. The man cannot eat or sleep when he is in love and isolates himself
while it can be argued that Romeo was not in love with rosaline but instead
infatuated with her, he displays characteristics of a courtly lover. For example (in act
one scene 1) benvolio says “So early walking did I see your son”. Montague states
“Away from light steals home my heavy son”. These two quotes convey how they
are noticing that Romeo is staying up late and not sleeping which are signs of a man
whose love has rejected him
2. The man forgets his old love when a new lover comes along - the audience knows that
Romeo must forget rosaline as Juliet is his “star-crossed lover”
when Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time romeo asks the servant “what lady is
that” and continues to say “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er
saw true beauty till this night.” Romeo asks this rhetorical question about loving a
new woman when only maybe a few hours prior he was “Adding to clouds more
clouds with his deep sighs”
the metaphorical use of natural imagery not only reveals a lot about Rome’s
capricious, it also tells the audience a lot about the character of a courtly lover and
the influence and power that a new woman can have
3. The man sends love letters or speaks in poetry when he is in love
in act one scene 5, in Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time the language
becomes elevated both through imagery and the syntax (the way a writer chooses to
order their words) used
when the lovers meet for the first time, they use the sonnet structure which is
usually associated with romantic love. The educated audience -Romeo and Juliet
was a cross-class play- who would identify the sonnet structure, would believe their
love is something special
, Romeo includes images which are out of this world. On the balcony scene, Romeo
calls Juliet “a bright angel!” The heavenly metaphor suggests that he sees her as a
pure and peaceful woman. Furthermore, her purity would also have been significant
as a woman’s virginity was very important
The use of “bright” indicates that shes illuminating him, juxtaposing the dark night.
The exclamation mark indicates the excitement which Romeo feels seeing Juliet for
the second time
astronomy
In the Renaissance era, the emergence of new ideas and a deep curiosity in anything
mystical appeared. The subjects of Elizabethan astrology fascinated many prominent
Elizabethans
William Shakespeare makes over 100 references to astronomy in his plays. It is mentioned in
every one of his plays.
Shakespeare uses examples of astronomy in Romeo and Juliet to show love and compassion
One’s fate is determined by the position of stars at birth
In the prologue, Romeo and Juliet were said to be “star-crossed lovers” which means they
were fated from birth to fall in love and die. The “crossed” in “star-crossed” connotes
hindered, frustrated, thwarted and defeated. Such will be the love of Romeo and Juliet
because of their stars
In act 1 scene 4, Romeo has a premonition (a strong feeling something bad is about to
happen, especially something unpleasant) that the event of that night will lead to his death.
He mentions “the stars” in an astrological sense: “for my mind misgives, some consequence
yet hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin his fearful date, with this nights revels and
expire the term, of a despised life closed in my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely
death.”
Juliet is the only character given a birthdate “Lammas Eve at night” (according to the nurse)
which means that she was born on July 31 st (Lammastide is august 1st). That makes Juliet a
Leo and Leo is ruled by the sun. Juliet was fated to be Romeo’s “fair sun”
In act 2 scene 1, Romeo says “it is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the
envious moon Who is already sick and pale with grief…The brightness of her cheek would
shame those stars. As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven, Would through the airy
region stream so bright, That birds would sing and think it were not night.” Though it is late
at night, Juliet’s surpassing beauty makes Romeo imagine that she is the sun, transforming
the darkness into daylight. Romeo likewise personifies the moon, calling it “sick and pale
with grief” at the fact that Juliet, the sun, is far brighter and more beautiful. Romeo then
compares Juliet to the stars, claiming that she eclipses the stars as daylight overpowers a
lamp—her eyes alone shine so bright that they will convince the birds to sing at night as if it
were day.
Even Juliet’s own father compares Juliet to the sun. When inviting paris to his feast, capulet
says that paris will see “earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light” He means that
Juliet will be so beautiful that they will shine like stars coming down to earth
Standing in the shadows below Juliet's window, Romeo sees her and is about to step
forward and speak, but then says to himself, "I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks / Two
of the fairest stars in all the heaven, / Having some business, do entreat her eyes / To
twinkle in their spheres till they return" This is a beautiful way of saying that Juliet's eyes are
like stars. He had thought that her eyes spoke, and he is now saying that they are speaking
, to the stars, and that the stars are speaking to them. According to the astronomy of the
time, each of the planets and all of the stars were embedded in transparent spheres which
revolved around the earth. It seems to Romeo that two of the brightest stars have decided
that they need to leave their spheres for a while, and that they are asking her eyes to
twinkle in their places while they are gone.
Leo’s are said to be headstrong and stop at nothing to pursue love, just like Juliet: First, she
falls in love with Romeo and first sight. Secondly, when Juliet discovers Romeo is a
montague, she comes up with a heartfelt but illogical scheme that they ought to simply
‘change’ their names for their love to be acceptable (“Romeo deny thy father and refuse thy
name…And I’ll no longer be a capulet”) Then Juliet marries in Romeo in secret despite only
knowing him for one day. When she learns that Romeo has been exiled, Juliet is determined
to lose her virginity (which was very important to a girl) and have a night of passion with her
husband. She bids the nurse to arrange it. “And death if not Romeo take my maidenhead!”
After that she goes against her fathers wishes and refuses to marry paris (which was
abnormal at the time) displaying her headstrong characteristics. Finally, Juliet risks it all for
love once she agrees to take the potion to fake her death. Romeo, thinking Juliet is actually
dead, drinks poison to which Juliet stabs herself “O happy dagger!” portraying the
characteristics of a young and passionate Leo.
“Give me my Romeo; and, when I shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he
will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no
worship to the garish sun.”
Juliet believes that when Romeo comes to her in the night he will be with her forever, even
after her death, shining like stars in the night
In Mantua, when Balthasar delivers the news of Juliet's death, Romeo's response is swift and
simple: "Is it even so? then I defy you, stars!" In an instant he has made his decision. He is
defying fate by refusing to mourn. He will win a victory in his struggle with the stars by
joining Juliet in death
Moments before he kills himself, Romeo gazes upon Juliet and says, "O, here / Will I set up
my everlasting rest, / And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars / From this world-wearied
flesh". Set up . . . my rest" is a phrase used in a card game; a player would "set up his rest"
when he was done taking cards and ready to bet on what was in his hand. And "everlasting
rest" means what it still means -- death envisioned as eternal peace. Romeo will take his
chances on death, where he hopes to be at peace, his body free at last from the doom of the
baleful stars.
religion
catholicism
The Catholic Church believed in one god, he is the ultimate power. The pope is his
messenger here on earth
No divorce unless there’s an annulment or a partner dies
No sex before marriage, catholics are encouraged to remain chaste and see Sex as part of
procreation
no polygamy, grave offence and against moral law (nurse encourages polygamy when telling
juliet to marry paris)
Italy was known to the English for its Catholicism . As england’s national religion at the time
was Protestantism due to Elizabeth the first being the reigning monarch; the audience may
, have viewed the setting with mistrust. this means friar Lawrence would have been viewed
with suspicions or at least being regarded as an untrustworthy character
no suicide as it’s considered tampering with god’s creation and a sin. They consider us to be
gods creation and to destroy that creation is to attack god or assert dominate over him (lady
montague, Romeo and Juliet all commit suicide)
Protestantism
reformation began in 1517 germany when monk martin luther published the 95 theses
95 theses was a series of 95 ideas about Christianity he wished to debate which were
controversial as they directly contradicted Catholic teachings
In particular, Luther challenged the indulgence system (a system where people were allowed
to purchase a pardon for their punishment) Luther believed that forgiveness was given as a
gift by god
Luther’s work inspired others to challenge the church
Protestants believed people should be independent in their relationship with god rather
than using the church and refer directly to the bible for spiritual guidance
The new invention of the printing press allowed this to occur as books could be printed for
the first time
henry VIII
Henry VIll was raised Catholic, as was typical of the period. He married his brother's widow,
Catherine of Aragon, but she did not bear him a son. He became infatuated with Anne
Boleyn and wanted his marriage annulled on the basis that it was morally wrong to marry his
brother's wife. His annulment was denied.
In 1533, parliament passed an act denying papal jurisdiction in England.
The 1534 Act of Supremacy declared Henry to be Supreme Head of the Church, which
allowed him to 'amend' and 'reform' all errors and heresies.
This granted him his annulment from Catherine but a further series of religious reforms was
undertaken. Monasteries were closed and stripped of their wealth; those who resisted were
imprisoned and hanged
Although Henry rejected Martin Luther's theology (he was, after all, inherently Catholic), he
did agree with his scripture.
The first bible in English - that was approved of by Henry - was published in 1535.
edward VI
Edward VI was Henry Vill's only son, born from his third marriage to Jane Seymour.
Due to rules of inheritance, he was elevated ahead of his two older sisters to the throne in
1547, at nine years old.
During his reign, Edward VI introduced the first prayer book in English, as church services
were no longer conducted in Latin. This helped contribute to ordinary people being able to
access religion rather than just those in the priesthood.
Edward VI died in 1553 from tuberculosis. There was attempts after his death to place his
Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey on the throne. However, Edward's oldest sister, Mary,
gained enough support to challenge. Grey and her husband were executed.
, mary I
Mary I was Henry VIl's eldest daughter, born from his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
She was declared illegitimate by her father after his divorce - although was reinstated in the
line of succession in 1544.
A staunch Catholic, Mary took to the throne in 1553 and began the process of returning
Catholicism back to England. She married Prince Philip of Spain (also Catholic) with the hope
of producing a Catholic heir. This would remove her sister, Elizabeth, from the line of
succession.
An uprising, known as the Wyatt Rebellion, to place Elizabeth on the throne was quashed.
Elizabeth herself was placed in the Tower of London for several months, although no
evidence was found she knew of the plot.
During her reign, Mary I burnt 280 Protestants at the stake for refusing to convert to
Catholicism. A further 800 fled the country.
Mary died in 1558 with no heirs. She reluctantly acknowledged her sister as next in line.
elizabeth I
Elizabeth I was Henry VIl's youngest daughter, born from his second marriage to Anne
Boleyn. Although raised Protestant, she followed Catholic doctrine during the reign of her
sister.
She ascended to the throne in 1558 with a country in religious turmoil. Wanting to create
peaceful religious state in England, Elizabeth created a religious settlement.
The Act of Supremacy: this revised act abolished papal supremacy (the Pope was not in
charge) and declared Elizabeth I as Supreme Governor rather than Supreme Head of the
church. This was to placate those who did not think a woman could lead the church
The Act of Uniformity: this restored the 1552 version of the English prayer book (as
established by Elizabeth's brother Edward) but kept many of the familiar practices. It also
allowed two versions of communion: one for Protestants, one for Catholics. However, those
who refused to attend Church of England services were fined a shilling a week.
In 1570, the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth I from the Catholic church and openly
encouraged plots to remove her from the English throne. He also encouraged Catholic
priests to secretly convert people back to Catholicism. If they were found, they were
sentenced to death for treason.
There were numerous plots against Elizabeth's life and attempts to place Catholics on the
English throne.
In 1569, two Earls led a 6,000 army to place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne. They were
defeated and executed.
In 1571, an Italian banker, Roberto Ridolfi, planned to assassinate Elizabeth and place her
cousin, Mary, on the throne. He had considerable backing from King Philip of Spain. He was
expelled from the country.
In 1583, a young Catholic (Throckmorton) planned for a French army to invade England (paid
for by the Pope and Philip). He was executed; Mary Queen of Scots was isolated.
In 1586, the Babington plot was, once again, intending to murder Elizabeth and put Mary
Queen of Scots on the throne. Both Babington and Mary were executed.
After Mary Queen of Scot's execution, King Philip of Spain began amassing a fleet to re-take
the English throne. The Spanish Armada sailed to England but was defeated; Philip's fleet
was wrecked on the Scottish and Irish coasts.
