context

• The Play


  Written in London in the mid 1595

  It was first performed in 1597

  It was likely that Romeo and Juliet was first acted by the Lord Chamberlain's Men at the Theatre

  Influenced by Italian story Romeus and Juliet in 1562
• Italy


  Set in Italy, Verona because it allowed

  
  

  Shakespeare to explore themes, events and characters that he could not within an English setting.

  
  

  Italy was intimately connected to Catholicism since the Pope lived in the Vatican city of Rome

  Relations between the Pope and the Church of England had become adversarial.

  
  

  Italy was considered by many to be a less moral place and more sinful, also more free.

  English artists admired Italy's romance and setting it in Italy helped to promote a romantic feel
• Religion

  England was protestant but Shakespeare set the play in a Catholic country- helps to make the Friar a less respected figure in his Catholic role

  
  

  Protestant English people were likely to vilify Italians

  
  

  In 1536 and 1541 Henry VIII initiated the dissolution of monasteries and friaries seizing property from the Catholic church.

  
  

  The wealth of monasteries and friaries was perceived to be immoral

  
  

  Friars were one of the most powerful symbols of the Protestant critique of pre-Reformation Christianity.

  The Friar was Catholic and less respected

  Shakespeare's father practiced Catholicism (he had some sympathy for Catholics)

  Some see the Friar as foolish and untrustworthy but some see him as wise as he ultimately does bring the family together

  
  

  Christians believed that the body and soul belonged to God.

  
  

  Suicide was considered a mortal sin and would have been shocking (create drama)

  
  

  During this time salt water was one of the central ways to cleanse and purify

  
  

  The play could be a subtle plea from Shakespeare to let people choose their faith in peace (he explores the meaningless battle between Protestant and Catholic)
• Petrarchan Love


  In 1590s the sonnet was the primary arena for the expression of romantic love.

  
  

  Petrarch was particularly famous for his poem expressing his obsessive but unrequited love.

  The poetic voice's love is presented as both intense and hopeless
• Love

  Elizabethans thought that immoderate love was like a disease.

  
  

  Love and sex were seen as two different things

  
  

  Common Elizabethan notion that loving passionately is wrong and threatening.

  
  

  The element of true romantic love being expressed would have been rare

  
  

  The audience would think Mercuitio is sensible treating love as an enemy and keeping it at a distance

  The would think there was something wrong with Romeo- too serious about love.
• Marriage


  Marriage was inspired by wealth, social class and potential political allies

  For the rich it was much more about securing wealth and ties with other powerful families

  Marriage formed an alliance to boost families wealth

  Marriages with a nobility were often not love matches but family arrangements so love was not always part of a relationship

  Less about love more about family duty

  The importance of parental consent was hotly debated in the latter part of the 16th century

  1597- issue of marriage being illegal in the absence of parental consent was reviewed (received heavy support but failed to pass into law)

  
  

  The presentation of the young feelings would have been of great interest to an Elizabethan audience as, at the time of writing the play, there was much debate in England about arranged marriage and the extent to which the feelings of the individuals betrothed should be considered

  
  

  In terms of ensuring the legitimacy of a marriage, the consummation of marriage was vital

  Consummation was highly important- Henry VIII annulled two of his marriages on the basis that he had not engaged in sexual relations with the women.

  
  

  Divorce was unknown

  
  

  In the 16th century marriages were usually arranged

  
  

  Noblemen and young rich girls were commonly married at 13/14
• Friendship


  Friendship between men was considered the highest form of social relationship even going beyond the institution of matrimony (marriage)
• Mothering and Wet nurse

  Wet nurses were hired by wealthier women.

  
  

  Rich ladies, unlike poorer women, were alienated from the labours of child rearing.

  
  

  However some affluent women were reticent to hire wet nurses because they were renowned for being ill-mannered

  The nurses loose morality is seen in the jokes she makes about Paris.
• Homo sexual Relations


  Was not frowned upon in the Elizabethan era

  Even James I engaged in it

  Notwithstanding the fact that sodomy was stink banned though not punished
• Family and Children

  Infant mortality was very high in the 16th century so children were cherished

  Children were cherished but the father expected absolute obedience.

  
  

  Violent chastism of children was the social norm

  
  

  Fathers had the right to control their daughters until marriage (then the husband did)

  
  

  Family life for fathers was one of power

  Your husband was your Lord and you were his property

  Lady Capulet was also Capulets property and would have feared his wrath as much as Juliet

  
  

  Children were subservient (inferior) to adults and were raised to respect and obey adultsIn terms of when Capulet berated Juliet (Act 3 Scene 5), the audience would not be surprised and would agree that Capulet is perfectly obliged to treat her this way.

  
  

  Juliet reflects the passive role of women at the end of the 16th century- often left in the dark with their lives controlled for them
• Feasts


  The wealthy entertained on a lavish scale.

  Capulets feat is about his wealth and power

  Common motive for feats was to display power
• Duelling


  Duelling had always been a popular sport

  
  

  During this time duelling with swords increased in popularity with the introduction and increased availabilty of the rapier into Elizabethan society.

  The rapier was lighter but equally deadly and had a lethal nature

  
  

  Duels became a fashionable way to resolve arguments.

  
  

  It was illegal to openly fight in the streets.

  
  

  Shakespeare repeatedly mentions terms associated with Spanish duelling to hint at the growing threat of the Spanish armada

  
  

  Society was surrounded by conflict and the treat of the conflict
• Astrology


  The belief that the movement of the stars affects the course of human lives.

  
  

  Even Elizabeth had her horoscope drawn up

  
  

  Shakespeare's audience would have thought it was inauspicious that Juliet took the poison in the month of July as it was a bad time to take medicine.

  
  

  They had a strong sense that their lives were mapped out and stars chose their destiny.

  
  

  Many in the audience would simultaneously believe in God and the stars.

  
  

  At the end of the 16th century the rise of science resulted in a decline in peoples belief in astrology
• Elizabethan Theatre


  People usually went three times a weak

  
  

  They didn't go to watch plays they went to listen

  
  

  Tragedies ended in death

  Comedies ended in marriage

  
  

  Aristotle made the rules followed by dramatists on what makes up a tragedy.

  perepetia- reversal of fortune (killing of Tybalt)

  catharsis- the cleansing of all corruption with the death of a tragic hero

  This produces pity and fear in the audience

  Shakespeare follows this therefore death is inevitable.
• The Elizabethan Audience


  The audience would feel sympathy for the characters despite their cations due to the horrific circumstances under which they died.

  
  

  The audience would always know what the ending would hold (the prologue) however watched the play in order to understand what resulted in the ending taking place.

  
  

  The audience would have largely seen the lovers as protagonists but also foolish and young and the tragedy as inevitable.
• Status

  Nobility was the highest level

  
  

  50% of the population lived at subsistence level (lowest estate)

  
  

  During this period status lay with the old and although the nurse has low status she reminds us how this society was governed by the old.

  Respect for elders was strong but Shakespeare undermines in this play.

  
  

  "Penny Stinkards"- the poorest/illiterate of the audience. (Shakespeare uses repetition to clarify the plot to them)

  
  

  A young teenage boy would have played Juliet, if a women did it would be considered blasphemy
• Queen Elizabeth


  She was an absolutist monarchy- her decision was law and she did as she pleased.

  
  

  She was protestant so controlled the church
• What does the term "courtly love" refer to?

  Romantic liaisons between knights and ladies
• What characterized courtly love during the Middle Ages?

  Rituals between knights and married ladies
• How did the customs of courtly love influence moral values?

  They shaped the moral ire of the day
• What governed marriages during the medieval period?

  Money, class, or alliance
• What shift occurred in marriage customs during the early modern period?

  Marriages began to be based on love
• How did Shakespeare's plays reflect the conflict in marriage customs?

  They dramatized the choice between arranged and love marriages
• What was required for a couple to marry in Shakespeare's England?

  Blessing of the church or banns read
• What were the "banns" in the marriage process?

  Announcement of intent to marry in church
• What was the status of female characters in Shakespeare's plays?

  They were in a minority
• How were theatres perceived by authorities in London?

  They were tolerated but not permitted in the City
• How many people could the Globe Theatre accommodate?

  3,000 audience members
• What special effects were used in the Globe Theatre?

  Ghostly characters emerged from a trapdoor
• Masculinity in Elizabethan England

  The male was leader of the household, was seen as more important, controlled economic resources for their family and made all decisions
• Femininity in Elizabethan England

  Women didn't have many jobs or responsibilities, men were seen to 'look after' the women
• Family during Elizabethan times

  Family was known to be the most important role of society, love wasn't considered an important reason to get married but was recognised that love could come during married life
• Marriage in Elizabethan times

  Marriage was mostly arranged and was between neighbours and friends for the nobles
• Marriage in Elizabethan times

  Marriage was mostly arranged and was between neighbours and friends for the nobles
• Marriage in society in Elizabethan times

  People were able to take their stand in marriage, wives were regarded as properties to husbands and to be depend on males their whole lives
• Religion Elizabethan times

  State of religion was Protestantism but there were some catholic practices were allowed
• what are the two key scenes that show patriarchal society?

  Act 1 scene 2 (where Capulet asks Paris to marry Juliet)

  
  

  Act 3 scene 5 (where Capulet is aggressive towards Juliet, as she refuses to marry Paris)
• Why is Juliet a bad daughter?

  -She is marrying without consent

  -She is marrying someone who she knows her father will hate

  -She disobeys her father
• Why is Capulet a bad father?

  His erratic, volatile behaviour towards Juliet in act 3 scene 5
• "my fingers itch" (act 3 scene 5)

  Capulet is too frustrated by Juliet's disobedience, and wants to throw a punch