Format Mass Market Paperback, 283 pages
Published January 1st 2004 by Washington Square Press (first published 1595)
ISBN0743477111 (ISBN13:9780743477116)
edition language : english
original title: the Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Author : William Shakespeare
Description
Shakespeare's tragedy about two young star-crossed lovers named Romeo and Juliet, who defy their warring families' prejudices and dare to fall in love. Most touching love story of all time.
Review
Forbidden love and tragedy are the two things that make up William Shakespeare’s famous classic “Romeo and Juliet.” Romeo Montague is crashing the masquerade ball with his friends hoping to bump into a girl he has an eye for, Rosaline. Juliet Capulet is heading to the masquerade ball to meet a young man who would like to take her hand in marriage. When Juliet and Romeo bump into each other instead, they fall madly in love. The only problem is that they’re the members of two rival families. So how could they possibly be together? That’s when the complications start to rise…
This story takes place in the 1500’s, so some of the situations in the story wouldn't make sense in this day and age. Readers will find Juliet’s character a bit annoying in the beginning. She was very oblivious and unaware of her surroundings, but over the span of four years, her character started to mature and understand things better, which was like a tension and release. Romeo was obviously more mature than Juliet, and it kind of gave off the message that because she was so young and oblivious, he felt as if he could take advantage of her. Though the thought doesn't last for very long as readers start to get into the story. People will admire the pair’s passion and dedication though and it may inspire them to start thinking that way when it comes to love.
“Romeo and Juliet is said to be one of the greatest romance tragedies in history. People forget that the whole story was over a three-day period. Romeo was 17 and Juliet was 12. It just doesn't seem to add up. You've know someone for three days and you decide to kill yourself just because he has killed himself. That brings back the old "If he jumps off a bridge are you going to jump too?" saying.
Summary
This was a lot easier than I expected. I really enjoyed the beautiful writing. I feel like you could sing it really well, it's so lyrical. I didn't like some of the names, but what's in a name
Love conquers all, Romeo and Juliet left readers sorrow but heart-touch.
Quotes
“O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon.That monthly changes in her circled orb.Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”
Juliet
“O my love! my wife! Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty;”
Romeo
“Come, gentle night, — come, loving black brow'd night, Give me my Romeo; and when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of Heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night, And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
Juliet
“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.”
Juliet
“Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.”
Romeo
“Sometime she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck, And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades, Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anon Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, And being thus frighted swears a prayer or two And sleeps again.”
Mercutio
“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears;What is it else? A madness most discreet,A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.”
Romeo
“But soft, by yonder window breaks. It is the east and Juliet is the sun!”
Romeo
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
Friar Laurence
“What must be shall be”
Juliet
Reading level: mature
Rating : 3.5 star
