Romeo and Juliet: Setting and Context
- Created by: Zuzu12
- Created on: 07-11-17 17:40
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- Romeo and Juliet
- CONTEXT
- William Shakespeare
- Born in 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon- England
- Only attended grammar school- his education did not proceed further
- 1582- married Anne Hathaway = three children
- 1590- left family and travelled to London.
- = worked as an actor and playwright.
- = Became most famous playwright in England and a part-owner of the Globe Theatre
- = Became Elizabeth's I and James' I favourite playwright
- 1590- left family and travelled to London.
- 1616- died in Stratford, aged 52
- Author of 37 plays & 154 plays
- SOCIAL
- A Patriarchal Society
- Ruled by men - fathers were of prime importance (common in period of the Renaissance)
- = CAPULET exemplifies this - has ABSOLUTE POWER over his wife & daughter
- = CAPULET gives orders to Lady Capulet and Juliet.
- = CAPULET is also much older than Lady Capulet so is almost a father-figure to her
- (young women were regularly married to much older men who made fortunes)
- = CAPULET is also much older than Lady Capulet so is almost a father-figure to her
- Male head of household would hold family wealth and land
- Girls- brought up to become wives & mothers
- = CAPULET gives orders to Lady Capulet and Juliet.
- = CAPULET is also much older than Lady Capulet so is almost a father-figure to her
- (young women were regularly married to much older men who made fortunes)
- = CAPULET is also much older than Lady Capulet so is almost a father-figure to her
- = CAPULET gives orders to Lady Capulet and Juliet.
- Ruled by men - fathers were of prime importance (common in period of the Renaissance)
- The Family Feud
- PROLOGUE- R+J come from warring households
- = Their instant attraction plunges them into bitterness of family feuding
- = Their love is made to seem wrong - they are trapped between the violently quarrelling families.
- PROLOGUE- R+J come from warring households
- A Patriarchal Society
- CULTURAL
- Young Love
- Juliet is fourteen, Romeo a bit older.
- = Rather young for marriage - even with different life expectancy of 16th C. Europeans
- Paris' interest in marrying Juliet = DRAMATIC PURPOSE
- = Adds urgency to story. Possibly forcing Juliet into considering marriage to Romeo on their second meeting
- Juliet is fourteen, Romeo a bit older.
- Young Love
- RELIGIOUS?
- (NOT RELIGIOUS PLAY) - contains a lot of religious imagery = emphasis of ideas about love and death
- Italy = strongly catholic country
- =features Church, confession, wedding ceremony and trust in religious figures (FRIAR LAURENCE)
- (NOT RELIGIOUS PLAY) - contains a lot of religious imagery = emphasis of ideas about love and death
- Italy = strongly catholic country
- =features Church, confession, wedding ceremony and trust in religious figures (FRIAR LAURENCE)
- =features Church, confession, wedding ceremony and trust in religious figures (FRIAR LAURENCE)
- Italy = strongly catholic country
- (NOT RELIGIOUS PLAY) - contains a lot of religious imagery = emphasis of ideas about love and death
- =features Church, confession, wedding ceremony and trust in religious figures (FRIAR LAURENCE)
- Italy = strongly catholic country
- (NOT RELIGIOUS PLAY) - contains a lot of religious imagery = emphasis of ideas about love and death
- William Shakespeare
- TRAGEDY/ STAGE-CRAFT
- What is a tragedy?
- features the downfall of central character
- =PROLOGUE informs the audience they are watching the downfall of R+J
- unhappy ending
- tragic events
- =Deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt Juliet (II.5, III.3, IIII.3) > Romeo (IIIII. 1&3)
- features the downfall of central character
- Disguise and Concealment
- Shakespeare's comedies: character hiding to observe and listen
- R+J= the same technique used to emphasise romance and tragedy
- =Capulet's masked ball
- = Balcony scene, Act 5 scene 3 (Paris and Romeo)
- R+J= the same technique used to emphasise romance and tragedy
- Shakespeare's comedies: character hiding to observe and listen
- Violence and changes in mood.
- Theatre audiences wanted more shock and violence
- = emphasised theme of conflict and tragedy- various swordfights and multiple deaths.
- Audiences wanted comedy
- = Shakespeare included rude puns and sexual innuendos
- =Through juxtaposition in the narrative structure, comedy is used to emphasise tragedy
- E.G- light-hearted scenes followed by tragic events
- Theatre audiences wanted more shock and violence
- What is a tragedy?
- CONTEXT
- HISTORICAL
- Girls- brought up to become wives & mothers
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