Prologue giving the Author's insight
(Romeo & Juliet)
(Romeo & Juliet)
"Two households, both alike in dignity, (In fair Verona, where we lay are scene) From ancient grudge, break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean, From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventued piteous overthrows Doth with their death-marked love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, naught could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend." The first speech in the entire play, tells you what's going to happened in the play. This was done by William Shakespeare as a way to make it less confusing to the audience because it's hard to follow at time's since it's different wording, and the audience was usually drunk and illiterate. He also does it at the end because by then the audience is definitely drunk and may have missed something along the way. It's said that this monologue was given from the writer's perspective. To give some insight of the author's true belief's of what all of the play really mean's. What he thought of the families, if it was love or not and his belife's on fate.
The first line in the entire play is "Two households, both alike in dignity" which shows that, well these house hate each other they have many similar qualities. The one that is shown the most is their dignity (or pride) and this quality shared between the two is what eventually leads to the event's of the play, because if one of the two house had a little less dignity, they might be a little less proud and then the forbidden romance wouldn't be forbidden. He also seems to think that they are would be fine families, if they could stop the feud "Where civil blood make's civil hands unclean"and return to peace. It's also shown that the author seemed to believe that this feeling of hate is so strong that only their children's death could ever have brought an end to this feud "Which, but their children's end, naught could remove" and nothing else could possible end.
Love is the most common theme of Romeo and Juliet. Their are many arguments on whether or not it's the greatest tragic love story of all time, there isn't a right answer, since it's all about opinion and how you define the meaning of the story. William, never gave his opinion on the matter, so you can't say for sure what he meant his story to be, but from the prologue and ending monologue it seems he did believe that it was love. He says that it's love in the prologue "star-crossed lovers" and "death-marked love" implying them to be in lover's to the whole audience before the play even begins.
"Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that ones destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led (Brave-Merida)" many people don't believe in fate, others do. If their is anything that can truly be said about the concept, is that it's used in stories, alot. Romeo and Juliet is no exception. Their fate is given at the beginning of the play (their fated to die) and comes true in the end, no matter what how they try to change it they still end up in that tomb. It seems that Shakespeare is a true believer in fate, because it's a common theme in all of his plays, but since no one knows his true answer, it could be that he knew that fate make's a story more interesting. If he was only trying to write a good story, then he did a wonderful job, over and over again, if he truly believed in it I hope he was happy with his fate when his life ended.
If these were his beliefs then he was a truly inspired man. But the only thing we can know for sure is that William Shakespeare is credited for writing Romeo and Juliet and his plays are still enjoyed today by many people, for who ever he was and what ever he believed, he's credited to be he greatest writer in history, were still influenced by it over 400 years later.
The first line in the entire play is "Two households, both alike in dignity" which shows that, well these house hate each other they have many similar qualities. The one that is shown the most is their dignity (or pride) and this quality shared between the two is what eventually leads to the event's of the play, because if one of the two house had a little less dignity, they might be a little less proud and then the forbidden romance wouldn't be forbidden. He also seems to think that they are would be fine families, if they could stop the feud "Where civil blood make's civil hands unclean"and return to peace. It's also shown that the author seemed to believe that this feeling of hate is so strong that only their children's death could ever have brought an end to this feud "Which, but their children's end, naught could remove" and nothing else could possible end.
Love is the most common theme of Romeo and Juliet. Their are many arguments on whether or not it's the greatest tragic love story of all time, there isn't a right answer, since it's all about opinion and how you define the meaning of the story. William, never gave his opinion on the matter, so you can't say for sure what he meant his story to be, but from the prologue and ending monologue it seems he did believe that it was love. He says that it's love in the prologue "star-crossed lovers" and "death-marked love" implying them to be in lover's to the whole audience before the play even begins.
"Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that ones destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led (Brave-Merida)" many people don't believe in fate, others do. If their is anything that can truly be said about the concept, is that it's used in stories, alot. Romeo and Juliet is no exception. Their fate is given at the beginning of the play (their fated to die) and comes true in the end, no matter what how they try to change it they still end up in that tomb. It seems that Shakespeare is a true believer in fate, because it's a common theme in all of his plays, but since no one knows his true answer, it could be that he knew that fate make's a story more interesting. If he was only trying to write a good story, then he did a wonderful job, over and over again, if he truly believed in it I hope he was happy with his fate when his life ended.
If these were his beliefs then he was a truly inspired man. But the only thing we can know for sure is that William Shakespeare is credited for writing Romeo and Juliet and his plays are still enjoyed today by many people, for who ever he was and what ever he believed, he's credited to be he greatest writer in history, were still influenced by it over 400 years later.
Great job, I really like the effort you put into it!!! I also really like your concluding paragraph maybe just check for a spelling mistake:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rebecca. Maybe add some space for each paragraaph so your writing doesn't look so cramped.
ReplyDeleteWell done Emma. You highlighted sentence (which should be your thesis statement) is a fragment sentence and is only half of your idea. Try to combine the last two and make clear what the "point" of your paper is. :) Slow down a touch too... seems you have typing or spelling mistakes because your brain works faster than your finger.
ReplyDelete