Romeo and Juliet

Who’s never swooned over the tragic love that has befallen Romeo and Juliet? Not all, probably the ones who’ve done a thorough paper about it are immune to its romantic appeal. But for the rest of the masses, the love story is universal. A young couple falls madly in-love despite the fact that their families are sworn enemies. They get help from the least expected people around them when an act of violence threatens to tear them apart. A message missed and tragedy ensues with both families reconciling at the expense of the young lovers’ lives. Romeo and Juliet was one of the most popular plays written by William Shakespeare, the other being Hamlet. The play was derived by Shakespeare from the Roman tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe to the Italian novels, Mariotto and Gianozza and Guilietta e Romeo, although he made sure each character were developed and contributed to the plot by the end of Act V. Although older generations appreciate the lyrical quality of Shakespeare’s work, many students find it daunting work to get through it and analyze its context. Books that contain simplified language alongside the original text are helpful. Other books contained notes to get any sense out of any difficult and complex Act or Scene. Film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet abound. These may range from the traditional Shakespearean version to those set in modern times so that the younger audience can get a visual feel of what the story and each act is about. Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet might have the MTV feel to it, but main characters Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes kept the language intact, as if you’re reading from text.