Romeo and Juliet: Setting and Context

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  • 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
        • 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)
          • 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)
        • 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.
      • 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
      • 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)
      • 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)
        • 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)
        • 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
    • HISTORICAL
    • Girls- brought up to become wives & mothers

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