Romeo and Juliet – GCSE English Literature
Context
Fate
People in Shakespeare’s time believed in astrology: that a person’s future was decided by the
stars and the planets.
Shakespeare, however, believed that people had free will and that they, through their choices,
were in charge of their own fate.
Marriage
A woman possessed very little rights in choosing her husband. Marriages were arranged by the
parents of the bride and groom. They would be arranged to bring prestige or wealth to the
family.
Many couples would meet for the very first time on their wedding day
It was thought to be foolish to marry for love.
People of the lower classes were more inclined to choose their partner, wealthier people had
this choice made for them.
Crime and Punishment
Punishment for crimes was extremely harsh.
Serious felonies, such as murder, involved public hangings.
Less strict punishments could include banishment (exile). The offender would be forced to live
outside the city and protection of the law. A sentence of banishment would often be for life.
Public brawls were common.
Family Life
Large families were the norm as the mortality rate for children and babies was so high.
During the Elizabethan period, great emphasis was placed on masculine loyalty and honour to kin
(relatives).
Elizabethans lived in a Patriarchal society. Men were at the head of the household. The father of
the household had to give his consent before a marriage could take place.
Marriage
Elizabethan people were extremely religious. The two major religions in Elizabethan England
were the Catholic and Protestant faiths.
As far as records go, there is no sign of divorce during the Elizabethan times.
Weddings were a religious ceremony conducted by a minister.
Suicide
Christians believed that suicide was a mortal sin. In the Elizabethan times suicide was considered
the worst crime that would possibly be committed. They believed that life was given by God and
so sacred.
Shakespeare’s plays often show sympathy for the problems that have driven his characters to
suicide, and some approval of their courage.
Wealth and Property
The husband was the head of the family.
All of a family’s money was passed on to the first male child.
After women married, they lost almost all of their rights; they could not own property or inherit.
, Influences
It is generally believed that the play is based on a real Italian love story from the 3 rd
Century. The
‘real families’ are the Capeletti and the Montecci families.
Shakespeare wrote his version in 1594 which was based on Arthur Brooke’s poem of 1562
Love
Love and relationships were not “conducted” in the way that we expect today!
For those in the Court, love was something that was subject to rules and traditions.
Marriages were arranged by parents.
Children were chaperoned at all times.
Children did not always have the freedom to choose who they would spend their life with and
have children with.
Plus, marriage happened at a much younger age – as young as 12 (for girls) was totally
acceptable!
Themes
The Forcefulness of Love
Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story in the English literary tradition. Love is
naturally the play’s dominant and most important theme. The play focuses on romantic
love, specifically the intense passion that springs up at first sight between Romeo and Juliet.
In Romeo and Juliet, love is a violent, ecstatic, overpowering force that supersedes all other
values, loyalties, and emotions. In the course of the play, the young lovers are driven to defy
their entire social world: families (“Deny thy father and refuse thy name,” Juliet asks, “Or if
thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”); friends (Romeo
abandons Mercutio and Benvolio after the feast in order to go to Juliet’s garden); and ruler
(Romeo returns to Verona for Juliet’s sake after being exiled by the Prince on pain of death
in 2.1.76–78).
The Individual Versus Society
Much of Romeo and Juliet involves the lovers’ struggles against public and social institutions
that either explicitly or implicitly oppose the existence of their love. Such structures range
from the concrete to the abstract: families and the placement of familial power in the
father; law and the desire for public order; religion; and the social importance placed on
masculine honour. These institutions often come into conflict with each other. The
importance of honour, for example, time and again results in brawls that disturb the public
peace. Though they do not always work in concert, each of these societal institutions in
some way present obstacles for Romeo and Juliet. The enmity between their families,
coupled with the emphasis placed on loyalty and honour to kin, combine to create a
profound conflict for Romeo and Juliet, who must rebel against their heritages.
Context
Fate
People in Shakespeare’s time believed in astrology: that a person’s future was decided by the
stars and the planets.
Shakespeare, however, believed that people had free will and that they, through their choices,
were in charge of their own fate.
Marriage
A woman possessed very little rights in choosing her husband. Marriages were arranged by the
parents of the bride and groom. They would be arranged to bring prestige or wealth to the
family.
Many couples would meet for the very first time on their wedding day
It was thought to be foolish to marry for love.
People of the lower classes were more inclined to choose their partner, wealthier people had
this choice made for them.
Crime and Punishment
Punishment for crimes was extremely harsh.
Serious felonies, such as murder, involved public hangings.
Less strict punishments could include banishment (exile). The offender would be forced to live
outside the city and protection of the law. A sentence of banishment would often be for life.
Public brawls were common.
Family Life
Large families were the norm as the mortality rate for children and babies was so high.
During the Elizabethan period, great emphasis was placed on masculine loyalty and honour to kin
(relatives).
Elizabethans lived in a Patriarchal society. Men were at the head of the household. The father of
the household had to give his consent before a marriage could take place.
Marriage
Elizabethan people were extremely religious. The two major religions in Elizabethan England
were the Catholic and Protestant faiths.
As far as records go, there is no sign of divorce during the Elizabethan times.
Weddings were a religious ceremony conducted by a minister.
Suicide
Christians believed that suicide was a mortal sin. In the Elizabethan times suicide was considered
the worst crime that would possibly be committed. They believed that life was given by God and
so sacred.
Shakespeare’s plays often show sympathy for the problems that have driven his characters to
suicide, and some approval of their courage.
Wealth and Property
The husband was the head of the family.
All of a family’s money was passed on to the first male child.
After women married, they lost almost all of their rights; they could not own property or inherit.
, Influences
It is generally believed that the play is based on a real Italian love story from the 3 rd
Century. The
‘real families’ are the Capeletti and the Montecci families.
Shakespeare wrote his version in 1594 which was based on Arthur Brooke’s poem of 1562
Love
Love and relationships were not “conducted” in the way that we expect today!
For those in the Court, love was something that was subject to rules and traditions.
Marriages were arranged by parents.
Children were chaperoned at all times.
Children did not always have the freedom to choose who they would spend their life with and
have children with.
Plus, marriage happened at a much younger age – as young as 12 (for girls) was totally
acceptable!
Themes
The Forcefulness of Love
Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story in the English literary tradition. Love is
naturally the play’s dominant and most important theme. The play focuses on romantic
love, specifically the intense passion that springs up at first sight between Romeo and Juliet.
In Romeo and Juliet, love is a violent, ecstatic, overpowering force that supersedes all other
values, loyalties, and emotions. In the course of the play, the young lovers are driven to defy
their entire social world: families (“Deny thy father and refuse thy name,” Juliet asks, “Or if
thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”); friends (Romeo
abandons Mercutio and Benvolio after the feast in order to go to Juliet’s garden); and ruler
(Romeo returns to Verona for Juliet’s sake after being exiled by the Prince on pain of death
in 2.1.76–78).
The Individual Versus Society
Much of Romeo and Juliet involves the lovers’ struggles against public and social institutions
that either explicitly or implicitly oppose the existence of their love. Such structures range
from the concrete to the abstract: families and the placement of familial power in the
father; law and the desire for public order; religion; and the social importance placed on
masculine honour. These institutions often come into conflict with each other. The
importance of honour, for example, time and again results in brawls that disturb the public
peace. Though they do not always work in concert, each of these societal institutions in
some way present obstacles for Romeo and Juliet. The enmity between their families,
coupled with the emphasis placed on loyalty and honour to kin, combine to create a
profound conflict for Romeo and Juliet, who must rebel against their heritages.
