5.9.- Culture: Romeo and Juliet

ROMEO AND JULIET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

There is no doubt that Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous plays¹ written by Shakespeare. When Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, this love story was  quite a popular legend in England. He adapted some details² such as Juliet´s age, which became 13 and made this legend into the most famous love play in the world.

But, why does the story take place³ in Italy (Verona) instead of England? In Shakespeare´s time all arts were receiving a great influence coming from Italy. The Renaissance⁴ had started in Italy and the English had become great admirers⁵ of  Italian culture. In fact, many of Shakespeare´s plays take place in Italy or are based on Italian stories.

Romeo and Juliet has been  described as the perfect love story for a long time. However⁶, it is not only about love and it is not a perfect love story at all. Romeo and Juliet deals also with hate⁷: the hate between two rival families which will end tragically. The main characters are young and hesitant⁸ and their story does not end in love, but in death⁹. But despite¹⁰ all this Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is one of the most important plays in English literature.

Vocabulary:

(1) plays: obras de teatro

(2) details: detalles

(3) take place: tener lugar

(4) Renaissance: Renacimiento

(5) admirers: admiradores

(6) However: sin embargo

(7) hate: odio

(8) hesitant: indeciso

(9) death: muerte

(10) despite: a pesar de

Imagen de Fran Dicksee en Wikimedia

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