Shakespeare
Shakespeare
Shakespeare
Elizabethan theatre
An Introduction
William Shakespeare was a renowned English
poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564
in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is most
commonly celebrated on 23 April (see When
was Shakespeare born), which is also believed
to be the date he died in 1616.
Shakespeare in London
Shakespeare's Works
Altogether Shakespeare's works include 38
plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and a
variety of other poems. No original manuscripts
of Shakespeare's plays are known to exist
today. It is actually thanks to a group of actors
from Shakespeare's company that we have
about half of the plays at all. They collected
them for publication after Shakespeare died,
preserving the plays. These writings were
brought together in what is known as the First
Folio ('Folio' refers to the size of the paper
used). It contained 36 of his plays, but none of
his poetry.
Act I
Romeo and Juliet begins as the Chorus introduces
two feuding families of Verona: the Capulets and
the Montagues. On a hot summer's day, the young
men of each faction fight until the Prince of
Verona intercedes and threatens to banish them.
Soon after, the head of the Capulet family plans
a feast. His goal is to introduce his daughter
Juliet to a Count named Paris who seeks to marry
Juliet.
Act II
Romeo lingers near the Capulet house to talk
with Juliet when she appears in her window.
The pair declare their love for one another and
intend to marry the next day. With the help of
Juliet's Nurse, the lovers arrange to marry
when Juliet goes for confession at the cell of
Friar Laurence. There, they are secretly
married (talk about a short engagement).
Act III
Following the secret marriage, Juliet's cousin
Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo. Romeo
refuses to fight, which angers his friend
Mercutio who then fights with Tybalt. Mercutio
is accidentally killed as Romeo intervenes to
stop the fight. In anger, Romeo pursues Tybalt,
kills him, and is banished by the Prince.
Juliet is anxious when Romeo is late to meet
her and learns of the brawl, Tybalt's death, and
Romeo's banishment. Friar Laurence arranges
for Romeo to spend the night with Juliet before
he leaves for Mantua. Meanwhile, the Capulet
family grieves for Tybalt, so Lord Capulet
moves Juliet's marriage to Paris to the next
day. Juliet’s parents are angry when Juliet
doesn't want to marry Paris, but they don't
know about her secret marriage to Romeo
Act IV
Friar Laurence helps Juliet by providing a
sleeping draught that will make her seem dead.
When the wedding party arrives to greet Juliet
the next day, they believe she is dead. The
Friar sends a messenger to warn Romeo of
Juliet's plan and bids him to come to the
Capulet family monument to rescue his
sleeping wife.
Act V
The vital message to Romeo doesn't arrive in
time because the plague is in town (so the
messenger cannot leave Verona). Hearing
from his servant that Juliet is dead, Romeo
buys poison from an Apothecary in Mantua. He
returns to Verona and goes to the tomb where
he surprises and kills the mourning Paris.
Romeo takes his poison and dies, while Juliet
awakens from her drugged coma. She learns
what has happened from Friar Laurence, but
she refuses to leave the tomb and stabs
herself. The Friar returns with the Prince, the
Capulets, and Romeo's lately widowed father.
The deaths of their children lead the families to
make peace, and they promise to erect a
monument in Romeo and Juliet's memory.