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Romeo and Juliet
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In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a violent world, in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud.
In this death-filled setting, the movement from love at first sight to the lovers’ final union in death seems almost inevitable. And yet, this play set in an extraordina ...more
In this death-filled setting, the movement from love at first sight to the lovers’ final union in death seems almost inevitable. And yet, this play set in an extraordina ...more
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Paperback, Folger Shakespeare Library Edition, 301 pages
Published
January 1st 2004
by Simon Schuster
(first published 1595)
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Marti Dolata
Best read as a horror story for the parents of teenagers.
Amaya
You can even find translated versions on SparkNotes.
Community Reviews
Showing 31-60
Start your review of Romeo and Juliet
4/11/20 update: I introduced the teens in my house to my beloved (1968) Franco Zeffirelli (RIP, 6/19) version of this tale last night, me with the book out to read along and, you know, help them understand what the heck was going on sometimes; not always appreciated: "Dad!!" When I taught the play to high schoolers I taught decades ago I must have used a slightly censored school version of the film without Romeo's bare butt and the flash of Juliet's breasts, which surely would have been accompan
...more
“Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
It is hard to critique Romeo & Juliet since it is like family. It was the first Shakespeare many of us were introduced to. It seems like family. But reading Shakespeare this year in rough order, I see as Romeo & Juliet follow Richard II, Shakespeare grown large, lyrical, bold, steady, and sharp. He has mastered not just drama, but tamed English. He has broken poetry to his will. He re-oriented the st ...more
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
It is hard to critique Romeo & Juliet since it is like family. It was the first Shakespeare many of us were introduced to. It seems like family. But reading Shakespeare this year in rough order, I see as Romeo & Juliet follow Richard II, Shakespeare grown large, lyrical, bold, steady, and sharp. He has mastered not just drama, but tamed English. He has broken poetry to his will. He re-oriented the st ...more
“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father refuse thy name, thou art thyself thou not a Montegue, what is Montegue? tis nor hand nor foot nor any other part belonging to a man
What is in a name?
That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,
So Romeo would were he not Romeo called retain such dear perfection to which he owes without that title,
Romeo, Doth thy name!
And for that name which is no part of thee, take all thyself.”
Shakespeare’s template for star-cr ...more
Deny thy father refuse thy name, thou art thyself thou not a Montegue, what is Montegue? tis nor hand nor foot nor any other part belonging to a man
What is in a name?
That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,
So Romeo would were he not Romeo called retain such dear perfection to which he owes without that title,
Romeo, Doth thy name!
And for that name which is no part of thee, take all thyself.”
Shakespeare’s template for star-cr ...more
Feb 19, 2016
Sana
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
adult,
young-adult,
romance,
v-emotionally-moving,
boring-af,
endless-pain,
historical-romance
First read: 2 stars
Second read: 4 stars.
I think I enjoyed it way more this time because I wasn't chosen to read the balcony scene as Juliet with a guy everyone shipped me with who was Romeo, thank you God. (Holy shit was that the most embarrassing reading I EVER did) ...more
Second read: 4 stars.
I think I enjoyed it way more this time because I wasn't chosen to read the balcony scene as Juliet with a guy everyone shipped me with who was Romeo, thank you God. (Holy shit was that the most embarrassing reading I EVER did) ...more
If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.
Teenage Proclivity for Conjugation: "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, J.A. Bryant Jr.
Upon each re-reading I always wonder why Shakespeare does not reveal the reason that the families hate each other. We are told that the households are alike in dignity (social status). We are even provided with a "spoiler alert" when we learn that the "star crossed lovers" will commit suicide, resulting in a halt to the feuding between the ...more
Teenage Proclivity for Conjugation: "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, J.A. Bryant Jr.
Upon each re-reading I always wonder why Shakespeare does not reveal the reason that the families hate each other. We are told that the households are alike in dignity (social status). We are even provided with a "spoiler alert" when we learn that the "star crossed lovers" will commit suicide, resulting in a halt to the feuding between the ...more
Well, this has always been one of my least favorite Shakespearean tragedies.
I suppose I've always felt that Shakespeare depends mostly on performance; it's not meant to be read until it's been seen at least once. And though I've seen one movie adaptation of this play as a child, I don't think I've seen quite enough to form an opinion. So instead of reading this in full, I listened on audiobook.
And you know what? I think it wasn't enough. I think I needed to see this again before listening to i ...more
I suppose I've always felt that Shakespeare depends mostly on performance; it's not meant to be read until it's been seen at least once. And though I've seen one movie adaptation of this play as a child, I don't think I've seen quite enough to form an opinion. So instead of reading this in full, I listened on audiobook.
And you know what? I think it wasn't enough. I think I needed to see this again before listening to i ...more
ACT 5. S CENE 1.
M ANTUA .
A STREET .
[ Enter ROMEO]
Now is Romeo where I am.
Yesterday was I where Romeo was.
Started this on the train from Mantua to Verona yesterday, continued on the way back to Mantua, and finished it today on the train from Mantua to Parma. This is perfect reading for a train trip, the rhythm of the words goes well with the rhythm of the train...
I particularly love the verbal jousting:
'Why, then is my pump well-flow’red.'
'Well said! Follow me this jest now till thou hast wor ...more
M ANTUA .
A STREET .
[ Enter ROMEO]
Now is Romeo where I am.
Yesterday was I where Romeo was.
Started this on the train from Mantua to Verona yesterday, continued on the way back to Mantua, and finished it today on the train from Mantua to Parma. This is perfect reading for a train trip, the rhythm of the words goes well with the rhythm of the train...
I particularly love the verbal jousting:
'Why, then is my pump well-flow’red.'
'Well said! Follow me this jest now till thou hast wor ...more
I was thinking the other day and decided, "Hey! Why don't I write up a review for the world's possibly most effed up play ever. Why not?" So I'm going to. As you can probably tell this will not be eloquently written and in fact, I do not give a flying purple monkey about the romanticism behind the idiocy that went down that one week in Verona, (It all happened in on week!), because this play has bothered me since forever and it isn't about to change now! On with the review!
SPOILER ALERT!!
Over th ...more
SPOILER ALERT!!
Over th ...more
The three things I took away from this reading...
1. Romeo and Juliet is and reads like an early work of Shakespeare's (whether or not you believe he wrote it), and so the scene executions are occasionally clunky and it lacks the subtly of his later work.
2. Regardless, the story moves you. When two people love one another and are kept from loving one another something must stir within your heart, otherwise you may want to get your heart checked out.
3. The third thing I took away was a questionin ...more
1. Romeo and Juliet is and reads like an early work of Shakespeare's (whether or not you believe he wrote it), and so the scene executions are occasionally clunky and it lacks the subtly of his later work.
2. Regardless, the story moves you. When two people love one another and are kept from loving one another something must stir within your heart, otherwise you may want to get your heart checked out.
3. The third thing I took away was a questionin ...more
So, in the 16th century, 13-year-olds were able to fall in love and commit suicide, all in less than a week. Now, they get upset if they don't get the 1.000 likes they want on social networks. Newbies.
This is the greatest love story of all times. Yes, it happened in less than a month (and there are men that after 10 years of being in a relationship, still aren't ready to get married). I can't imagine what would have happened in a six-month marriage. “New home, a couple of kids—a challenge to mot ...more
This is the greatest love story of all times. Yes, it happened in less than a month (and there are men that after 10 years of being in a relationship, still aren't ready to get married). I can't imagine what would have happened in a six-month marriage. “New home, a couple of kids—a challenge to mot ...more
I was in the staff room a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, I stand out from the other student teachers. In fact, given I’m nearly 50 and male and they are nearly 25 and female, I imagine I look like one of those incredibly sad men that react to mid-life in ways other than looking for a new career.
Anyway, one of the teachers (a retired man who works covering absent teachers and seems to be there every day) asked me what I did before becoming a student teacher and then why in God’s name I would eve ...more
Anyway, one of the teachers (a retired man who works covering absent teachers and seems to be there every day) asked me what I did before becoming a student teacher and then why in God’s name I would eve ...more
Never have thirteen year olds sounded so elegant and poetic yet acted like the biggest dumb dumbs
It was good to read this again and remember this was the first play that made me feel maybe, just maybe I could read Shakespeare. I think of Shakespeare as high art but this play spoke to me in a way that I was less baffled by the language; reading it again, especially the romantic scenes between Romeo and Juliet have a today feel about it.
Having said that, reading it again, I also see that there was so much I had previously missed. Like, I hadn’t clocked how young Juliet is; it’s not exactly h ...more
Having said that, reading it again, I also see that there was so much I had previously missed. Like, I hadn’t clocked how young Juliet is; it’s not exactly h ...more
I studied Romeo and Juliet for exams when I was around fifteen. I remember appreciating the story then, so I thought it was about time for a reread.
This story is so beautifully tragic. It is bound to move you at some point in the tale, unless of course, you have a heart of stone. When two people are deeply in love and then they are kept away from each other, there has to be something that stirs within you. It did for me. This play is not just entirely about two lovers, it teaches us how incredib ...more
This story is so beautifully tragic. It is bound to move you at some point in the tale, unless of course, you have a heart of stone. When two people are deeply in love and then they are kept away from each other, there has to be something that stirs within you. It did for me. This play is not just entirely about two lovers, it teaches us how incredib ...more
I read this in 8th grade English class. We had to read this out loud. After we read it, we watched the black and white movie of the same and the teacher had blacked out the morning after coitus scene since they showed his butt. I mean, butts are so salacious, right? Anyway, small town politics.
It was my first introduction into Shakespeare and the language was difficult. I didn't have the vocabulary skills yet to appreciate it. Plus, we had tons of vocab words to go with it. I eventually saw the ...more
It was my first introduction into Shakespeare and the language was difficult. I didn't have the vocabulary skills yet to appreciate it. Plus, we had tons of vocab words to go with it. I eventually saw the ...more
“A plague o' both your houses!
They have made worms' meat of me”
Shame on me, but this is actually the first time I’ve read Romeo and Juliet because ‘I already know what happens!’ Well surprise past-me, because you were completely ignorant of the violent acts and the passionate emotions that this play is filled with.
The dirty mind of Juliet’s Nurse (Wormwood nipples like what?!), Romeo’s love-sickness about Rosaline ( “Oh heavy lightness!” Romeo chill kid), and the absolute crueln ...more
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
“Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.”
...more
Shakespeare writes beautifully, but that does not save this mushy tale. I had seen countless versions in Indian movies before I actually read it.
Exacly! ...more
The Romantic Age
This one is entering her teens,
Ripe for sentimental scenes,
Has picked a gangling unripe male,
Sees herself in a bridal veil,
Presses lips and tosses head,
Declares she's not too young to wed,
Informs you pertly you forget
Romeo and Juliet.
Do not argue, do not shout;
Remind her how that one turned out.
- Ogden Nash
Exacly! ...more
2.5/5. This book wasn't for me. I knew what I was getting into but I had no choice. I had to read it for school, and every single scene was a struggle. The characters made the worst decisions and then wrote it off as being "young". Have to say that this play was a disappointment, I absolutely loved Hamlet. But Romeo and Juliet just fell flat for me. Full review to come.
...more
Mar 02, 2007
Matt
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Honestly, who doesn't like a love story?
How someone can go and get two degrees in English and not read Romeo and Juliet, I have absolutely no idea. Why I would take it upon myself to read Shakespeare when I’m under no obligation, I’m afraid only fellow writers and lit geeks will understand.
It’s among the best-known stories in history, even for people who’ve never come within a mile of the Bard’s plays. Two lovers are kept apart by their feuding families. They must thus pursue their love in secret. But it’s not called The Tragedy of Ro ...more
It’s among the best-known stories in history, even for people who’ve never come within a mile of the Bard’s plays. Two lovers are kept apart by their feuding families. They must thus pursue their love in secret. But it’s not called The Tragedy of Ro ...more
This is my second time reading the play. The first time I read it and hated it, hence why I find the movie to be better than the book. I thought since I’d grown older and loved many adaptions of the play I might be able to love it more. While I didn’t HATE it, I didn’t love it either. Sure, there are patches of beautiful writing but it’s not as consistent as with some of his other works. Sure, it does have some humour, but everything happens so quickly I wasn’t able to connect to any characters.
...more
This is overrated. A bit. Just a tiny bit.
ROMEO: Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace!
Thou talk’st of nothing.
MERCUTIO: True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,
Which is as thin of substance as the air
And more inconstant than the wind.
My memories from my high school literature classes are largely a blank. Books held no interest for me. I spent one year skipping my classes completely. And when I did drag myself to class, I almost never did the reading. A quick look through the Cliffnot ...more
Subject: MR. MERCUTIO
FROM THE OFFICE MR REGINALDO OXFORDINGTON
VERONA DEVELOPMENT BANK (VDB).
FAIR VERONA
TRANSFER OF ($25,200.000.00) TWENTY FIVE MILLION, TWO HUNDREN THOUSAND SCUDI ROMANI.
I AM REGINALDO OXFORDINGTON, THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF VERONA DEVELOPMENT BANK HERE IN FAIR VERONA WHERE WE LAY OUR SCENE. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR AUDITING, I DISCOVERED A FLOATING FUND IN AN ACCOUNT OPENED IN THE BANK BY MR MERCUTIO AND AFTER GOING THROUGH SOME OLD FILES IN THE RECORDS I DISCOVERED THAT THE OWNER ...more
FROM THE OFFICE MR REGINALDO OXFORDINGTON
VERONA DEVELOPMENT BANK (VDB).
FAIR VERONA
TRANSFER OF ($25,200.000.00) TWENTY FIVE MILLION, TWO HUNDREN THOUSAND SCUDI ROMANI.
I AM REGINALDO OXFORDINGTON, THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF VERONA DEVELOPMENT BANK HERE IN FAIR VERONA WHERE WE LAY OUR SCENE. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR AUDITING, I DISCOVERED A FLOATING FUND IN AN ACCOUNT OPENED IN THE BANK BY MR MERCUTIO AND AFTER GOING THROUGH SOME OLD FILES IN THE RECORDS I DISCOVERED THAT THE OWNER ...more
This is my first Shakespeare and I'm definitely ready for more of them!
...more
This was a decent love story and all, but I'm pretty sure this Shakespeare dude tooooootally ripped off Twilight. I mean, like, how obvious could you be, Shakespeare? A'duh. If I wrote this book I would've totally made them vampires, but totally not like the Twilight vampries because I'm super original. My vampires would be made of cereal and their only vulnerability would be milk. And, like, Benvolio would be Capt'n Crunch and Mercutio would be the Trix rabbit and Romeo would be Edward and that
...more
Being one of the most famous plays through all time, Romeo and Juliet still captivates readers and audiences around the world. This is a fine example of the fact that time doesn't really have to change us. We can still understand and identify with great stories from a long time ago. Romeo and Juliet is a play that centers around forbiddem love between two young, rebellious people. But the play is much more than that.
...more
2 Stars
Read this for school and didn't like it at all. ...more
Read this for school and didn't like it at all. ...more
Star-crossed lovers have become completely cliché as a result of Shakespeare's classic Romeo and Juliet and perhaps this is for the wrong reasons. As pointed out in Shakespeare's Sexual Comedy: A Mirror For Lovers by Hugh Richmond, the naïveté of Juliet and the flightiness of Romeo may have been intended as a counter-example to what true and enduring love should look like, especially since this is a tragedy that ends in the deaths of the protagonists.
Romeo starts out the play already head over ...more
Romeo starts out the play already head over ...more
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William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard"). His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been tr
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“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triump die, like fire and powder
Which, as they kiss, consume”
—
3528 likes
And in their triump die, like fire and powder
Which, as they kiss, consume”
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
—
3146 likes
More quotes…
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
