Romeo and Juliet is a perennial favourite of Shakespearean theatre. It is one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, thought to have been penned circa 1591.
Background of Romeo and Juliet
The play remains one of the great tragedies of English literature. Many consider it to be the ultimate love narrative. Undoubtedly, the piece has been influential in all spheres of art across the globe.
Contemporary reception towards the play was mixed, but it is believed that among the majority of audiences it was the most successful play of Shakespeare’s lifetime. Today, it is one of the most performed of Shakespeare’s works.
Sources for the Play
Shakespeare’s source for the play was a classic Italian tale, which was translated into English verse by Arthur Brook, The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet (1562)The piece was later adapted by William Painter, who produced a version of the story in prose entitled Palace of Pleasures (1582)
It is believed that Shakespeare relied heavily on both sources when creating his masterpiece. However, there are several additions to Shakespeare’s version of the story, not least the inclusion of Mercutio and Paris.
Theatrical Devices and Themes
Romeo and Juliet displays the early talents which came to full-fruition in Shakespeare’s later plays. For example, he is already juxtaposing comedic and tragic scenes to embellish plot and create suspense. This is a technique used frequently throughout Shakespeare’s career. It is also possible to see Shakespeare’s early use of sub-plots and minor characters.
The language of Romeo and Juliet is particularly interesting. Shakespeare uses differing poetic forms for each character. Each individual has a very clear voice and for some character's the voice changes as they develop throughout the course of the play. For example, Romeo is given increasingly superior sonnets as his character matures.
The themes of the play are varied and it is often argued that Romeo and Juliet has no one unifying theme, other than young love. This is clearly the overriding subject of the play. However, there are many other themes that Shakespeare also tackles.
For example, fate, which plays a large role in Shakespeare’s later play Macbeth. Fate appears to be present in Romeo and Juliet, the pair, after all, are described as star-cross’d. This could be seen as a return to the Ancient Greek traditions of tragedy.
Romeo and Juliet also explores the nature of time, something Shakespeare writes prolifically about in his sonnets. The theme of time links to the theme of fate. The young lovers are in a constant battle with time and attempt to create a world in which it does not exist.
Influence of Romeo and Juliet
One of the play’s influences has been on the world of art. In fact, Romeo and Juliet it is the most illustrated of Shakespeare’s plays. In the late eighteenth century, the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery commissioned five paintings of the play, one for each act.
The world of music has also been hugely affected by the play, with no less than twenty four operas. It has also been the source for many other orchestral works, and the most famous ballet interpretation of the play by Prokofiev.
In addition, it has been transformed for the stage and screen on numerous occasions. Some of the most notable instances are Bernstein’s West Side Story , Franco Zeffirelli's 1960s version and Baz Lurhmann’s 1996 offering, Romeo + Juliet.
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