Romeo and Juliet context

• When did Shakespeare live?

  1564-1616
• What period did Shakespeare write in?

  Renaissance period
• When was Romeo and Juliet likely written?

  Between 1597-1599
• What was the religious context of Romeo and Juliet?

  • Set in Catholic Italy during Protestant England
  • Religion central to Elizabethan life
  • Complex views on suicide and sin
  • Reflected Christian ideas of divine justice
• What is the Great Chain of Being?

  Hierarchical belief system ordering creation
• What was seen as causing chaos in society?

  Breaking social hierarchies
• What were the societal views on women during Shakespeare's time?

  • Seen as property
  • Objectified and expected to be passive
  • Valued for marriage and heirs
  • Few rights, controlled by male relatives
• How was marriage viewed in Shakespeare's time?

  As a social and economic contract
• What influenced love and relationships in Romeo and Juliet?

  • Petrarchan love (unrequited)
  • Courtly love (idealized, romantic)
  • Shift towards love-based marriages
• What role did astrology and superstition play?

  They were prominent in society
• How were the characters in Romeo and Juliet described?

  As "star-crossed" by destiny
• How was violence perceived in Elizabethan times?

  • Publicly accepted as entertainment
  • Seen as a moral problem
  • Evolved from glorifying to exploring psychological impacts
• What challenges do intercultural marriages present?

  They challenge traditional expectations
• What complications can political divisions cause in relationships?

  Romantic complications across political divides
• How do young people often challenge family expectations?

  By breaking generational expectations
• What do young people often reject in terms of marriage?

  Arranged or traditional marriage structures
• What do young people prioritize over familial pressures?

  Personal passion
• What do young people navigate in relationships?

  Complex generational value differences
• What is a characteristic of teenage emotional experiences?

  Emotional volatility
• What is the nature of first love often described as?

  Intense and all-consuming
• What societal pressures affect young romantic relationships?

  Pressure of societal expectations
• What do contemporary romantic negotiations challenge?

  Traditional gender roles
• What is essential in relationships regarding consent?

  Mutual respect
• What must individuals balance in romantic partnerships?

  Individual identity with romantic partnership
• What do individuals navigate within romantic connections?

  Personal agency
• What does breaking free from predetermined social scripts allow?

  Personal transformation
• What is the transformative power of genuine connection?

  It challenges personal and societal limitations
• What are the key themes of continuity in "Romeo and Juliet"?

  • Love as a revolutionary act
  • Youth challenging established structures
  • Emotional authenticity over social conformity
  • Universal human desire for connection despite obstacles
• What system governed women's status in Elizabethan England?

  Patriarchal system
• How did women's rights in marriage differ from men's in Elizabethan England?

  Women had no property rights in marriage
• How were single women viewed in Elizabethan society?

  Harshly judged
• What was expected of Elizabethan women within marriage?

  To obey their husbands
• What traits were conventional Elizabethan men expected to have?

  Strong, aggressive, and loyal
• How were women perceived emotionally and mentally in Elizabethan society?

  As frail and their opinions invalid
• What role did nurses play in wealthy Elizabethan families?

  They raised children until marriage
• What bond did wet nurses form with children?

  Close bonds, sometimes closer than mothers
• How does Juliet's defiance of her father reflect her autonomy?

  It shows her limited autonomy and fatal consequences
• How does Lady Capulet's obedience affect Juliet?

  It negatively impacts Juliet's choices
• How does Romeo's behavior challenge male stereotypes?

  He is criticized for being peaceful and submissive
• What does Romeo associate with his love for Juliet?

  He sees it as making him "effeminate" and weak