Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

The story may be somewhat implausible. I remember making a time line of the plot once and the...more

The story may be somewhat implausible. I remember making a time line of the plot once and the entire story takes place in less than a week. They are married to each other in less than three days. They really only have actual contact for a few days and yet they commit suicide over one another. However, what makes this play so special isn't the story itself, it's the language. The poetry used throughout almost every single scene is simply breath taking. It's not the profound soliloquies of Hamlet or the word play of some of his comedies, but more innocent, endearing, and bittersweet. The balcony scene, when she waits for him in her bedchamber, when they depart, and of course when he finds her in the tomb...all AMAZING writing. That is, of course, why we love Shakespeare; and that is why Romeo and Juliet is special, not because it is "the greatest love story ever told." (Because West Side Story was stupid....)   hide

This play, as is common with Shakespeare, deteriorates greatly towards the end. His comedies are my...more

This play, as is common with Shakespeare, deteriorates greatly towards the end. His comedies are my favorites--don't give up on him if you haven't yet read "A Midsummer's Night Dream," or "The Taming of the Shrew," although I would recommend perusing through a copy that has explainations of some of the terminology--it makes the jokes easier to comprehend. This, however, is one of my least favorites. Romeo is a flop the entire way through. Juliet starts out as a decent character, with her wit and resourcefulness, but she soon transforms into a pathetic preteen. The character who was my favorite was actually Mercutio--he was so much more interesting. If you ever get the chance, I would actually recommending seeing the movie version "Romeo + Juliet" (produced in the late '90s, I believe) with Claire Danes. It's set in modern America, but they keep to the original script, and they actually do a decent job with it. Plus, Mercutio is amazing. All the other movies I've seen were worthless. All in all, hardly my favorite of the reknowned Shakespeare's plays. He's done better.   hide

I think the below reviews were a little tough on Romeo and Juliet. Yes, the two are young and...more

I think the below reviews were a little tough on Romeo and Juliet. Yes, the two are young and foolish to rush into marriage, especially given family rivalry. But the sheer beauty of this play is that they're innocent enough to think that they can overcome that with love.Really, Romeo and Juliet is about the death of innocence. The two lovers find that love doesn't conquer all, and they die with their innocence.Not to mention that there have been countless love stories based on this one (including one of my favorite musicals of all time, West Side Story.)I do agree that it's not Shakespeare's best work (Hamlet was better by far,) but I enjoyed it immensely more than others of his classics, including Othello and Twelfth Night.   hide

What could I possibly add to a review of R&J! A beautiful story of two star crossed lovers! I...more

What could I possibly add to a review of R&J! A beautiful story of two star crossed lovers! I have read the book so many, many times. Seen many more productions from the BBC, RSC to local school productions...the language seduces me, instantly, here are two of my favourites lines... "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? 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 That thou her maid art far more fair than she." xx "Give me my Romeo; and, when he 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." xx...The perfect love tradegy!...xx    hide

Well, sure, it's a classic -- but for the first time in a long time, I'm enjoying it. This is one...more

Well, sure, it's a classic -- but for the first time in a long time, I'm enjoying it. This is one of those books which has really gotten the short end of the stick. Contrary to popular belief, it's not among Shakespeare's earliest plays -- it may actually post-date "As You Like It" -- and the maturity of Shakespeare's vision shows through. Shakespeare went through a phase where he seemed to love mocking the Petrarchan conventions, and now all of a sudden in this book he decides to mourn their demise. The fate of Romeo and Juliet is the ultimate, inevitable fate of the Petrarchan convention, but that doesn't make it a joyous event or even a mark of progress. We should mourn the loss of this aspect of our culture even as we move forward. Also, Mercutio is the best.   hide