ROMEO & JULIET Context Guide & Plot Summary GCSE English Literature
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
3 SIDES OF A4
This resource contains the cultural and historical context of Romeo & Juliet, as well as a separate document detailing the entire plot from start to finish, in a succinct pdf. It is intended to be a SUMMARY, perfect for saving time during a busy revision period. The context page sepa...
HISTORICAL CONTEXT LITERARY CONTEXT SOCIAL CONTEXT
Romeo and Juliet was written in 1597, Though generally remembered as a love Men and women were expected to
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The story, Romeo & Juliet is another one of get married in their early teenage
contentious environment between the Shakespeare's epic tragedies and years, partly because life
Capulets and the Montagues mirrors the embodies such conventions. expectancy only extended to
contentious religious issues in Elizabethan Shakespeare includes a noble tragic around 40 years old. A girl like
England. Formerly a Catholic society, the hero who ensures a fall from grace and Juliet was likely to be used by her
English Reformation began when Henry experiences much strife and sorrow as a parents to make links with other rich
VIII left the Catholic Church in 1534. result of such adversity. Romeo is families and it was commonly
Though Elizabeth I was also a Protestant, characterised as the tragic hero, with accepted that a girl's father would
there was still a large Catholic presence hamartia (fatal flaw leading to a find a husband for her. Marrying for
in England, with conflict inevitably ensuing downfall) perhaps being his idolisation of love was a mindless exercise for
between people belonging to the Juliet, falling in love too quickly with her. Elizabethans and generally was not
separate Christian denominations. Italy, This leads him to act impulsively and accepted. Juliet's refusal to marry
where the play is set, was known to commit suicide at the sight of what he Paris was so severe because
England as a Catholic country. Catholics believed was Juliet's dead body. The women were expected to get
in the play such as Friar would not have conflict between the Montagues and married and take of their family's
been looked upon favourably by a Capulets only adds to the eventual household. This is despite the fact
protestant audience in England. tragedy. Finally, the catharsis that England was ruled by an
As it relates to the play, religion would (emotional outpouring from the audience unmarried woman, Queen Elizabeth
play a significant part in the audience's after watching the play) builds up at the I. Perhaps one could interpret
reaction when both Romeo and Juliet end of the play, when they watch the Juliet's strong, rather than passive
committed suicide. Suicide was once young and innocent lovers commit and tame character, as being a
considered to be a mortal sin, looked suicide. reflection of the monarch at the
down upon by both Catholics and time.
Protestants.
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