Context

• Fate and astrology 


  -Elizabethans believed in the power of celestial bodies (stars / moons/planets)

  -Queen Elizabeth had her own astrologist

  -Prologue begins this theme with “Star -crossed lovers”

  -Juliet is a Leo , embodies typical character traits
• Italy 


  -Romantic wild country

  -Women were sexually promiscuous

  -Men were violent + prone to duels

  -Male violence runs through the whole of the play

  -Juliet = lustfulness sexual promiscuity

  -Tybalt = Fiery easily provoked nature

  -All stereotypes of Italians

  -Italy is a warm country demonstrating the Conflict and violence that occurs within the play
• Great Chain of being 


  -God created the world with a clear hierarchal structure

  -King at the top

  -men higher than women

  -R+J violated great chain of being by waiting despite prohibitactions

  -Juliet Disobedience torwards her father represents how she was inferior to her father as a man going against the great chain of being