Romeo and Juliet Context

• When is Romeo and Juliet suspected to have been written?

  1597-1599
• How did the audience's seating arrangement reflect their social class?


  Poorer members stood in front of the raised stage, while the richer sat higher up.
• Why were female characters generally played by pre-pubescent boys?


  Women were not allowed to act.
• What are the common characteristics of tragedies?

  • Catharsis: purging of pity and fear
  • Hamartia: tragic error leading to disaster
  • Often bloody and sensationalist elements
• What does catharsis mean in the context of tragedy?


  A purging of pity and fear among the audience.
• What is hamartia in the context of a tragedy?


  A tragic error made by a character leading to disaster.
• What is Romeo's hamartia in the play?


  He is "too rash," leading him to fall in love too quickly.
• Where is the play Romeo and Juliet set?

  Verona
• Why did Shakespeare set the play in a distant place?


  To give the audience a sense of safety for catharsis.
• How does the setting of Verona contribute to the play?


  It allows the audience to escape their mundane lives to experience passion.
• Why did Shakespeare critique society by setting plays in foreign lands?


  To avoid being accused of treason against the English monarchy.
• What themes did Shakespeare explore through foreign settings?


  Subversive themes such as suicide, war, and hostility.
• How is the hot temperature of Verona symbolically significant?


  It is associated with increased passion, apt for the story.
• What was Italy known for during Shakespeare's time?

  Catholicism
• How might the audience view Catholicism in the context of the play?


  With mistrust due to its perceived corruption and excess of passion.
• Why was Anti-Catholicism significant in the Elizabethan era?


  It was heightened due to the war with Catholic Spain.
• How would the Friar be viewed in the context of the play?


  As a suspicious or untrustworthy character.
• What does the Great Chain of Being represent in Elizabethan society?


  A hierarchical ordering of all creation that must be adhered to.
• How were women viewed in Elizabethan society?


  As lesser than men and more prone to sin.
• What was the Aristotelean view of women in relation to the Great Chain of Being?


  Women were seen as deformed men and lower on the hierarchy.
• How were women objectified in Elizabethan society?


  • Seen as property
  • Could not own property
  • Belonged to male relatives
  • Viewed as sexual objects for husbands
• What role did marriage play in the lives of women from wealthy families?


  Women were seen as means to link with other rich families.
• What is a dowry in the context of Elizabethan marriages?


  Physical objects or money added to the woman to attract suitors.
• How were women viewed in relation to their husbands in Elizabethan society?


  Women were seen as property and sexual objects for their husbands.
• What was the significance of the dowry in Elizabethan marriages?


  The dowry made women more attractive to suitors by adding property and money.
• How did the dowry contribute to the objectification of women in society?


  Women were seen as part of the package, contributing to their objectification.
• How was an unmarried woman perceived in Elizabethan society?


  An unmarried woman was considered a deviant and against social norms.
• What does Lady Capulet imply about marriage when she tells Juliet, “I was your mother much upon these years”?


  She implies that Juliet should be married and possibly have children at her age.
• How did Queen Elizabeth I influence the perception of women in leadership roles?


  She introduced the archetype of the strong female leader, challenging patriarchal norms.
• How does Shakespeare portray Juliet in contrast to typical female characters of his time?


  Juliet is portrayed as strong, disobeying her father and taking autonomy of her life.
• What were the expected gender roles in marriage during the Elizabethan era?


  Women were expected to be passive and domestic, while men were active and providers.
• How does Shakespeare challenge gender norms in Romeo and Juliet?


  Both Romeo and Juliet are portrayed as active characters in their love affair.
• What is the significance of Romeo's feminine tendencies in the context of gender norms?


  Romeo's feminine tendencies subvert traditional masculine traits expected of men.
• How were men expected to behave in terms of aggression and violence?


  Men were expected to be aggressive and protect their family and honor.
• What does the ancient feud between the Montagues and Capulets represent?


  It represents male honor and pride rather than a real disagreement.
• What is a characteristic of a Petrarchan lover?


  A Petrarchan lover experiences unrequited love and internal turmoil.
• How does Romeo exemplify the characteristics of a Petrarchan lover?


  Romeo pursues both Rosaline and Juliet, initially experiencing unrequited love.
• How is loving marriage viewed in the context of morality during Shakespeare's time?


  Loving marriage was increasingly seen as the best way to achieve a moral life.
• What is courtly love and how is it depicted in Romeo and Juliet?


  Courtly love involves ideals like love at first sight and self-sacrifice, which are romanticized in the play.
• What are the rules of courtly love that a man is expected to follow?


  • The man cannot eat or sleep when in love.
  • The man forgets his old love when a new love comes along.
  • The man sends love letters or speaks in poetry when in love.