Romeo and Juliet Thrift Study Edition

By William Shakespeare

Even those who have never read or seen Romeo and Juliet recognize the star-crossed lovers' names as symbols of forbidden romance. Shakespeare's enduring drama takes place during a sultry Italian summer, in a city already boiling with the enmity between two families. Tensions rise further when an irresistible passion develops between members of opposite sides and the play's mood alternates between hope and despair. Romeo and Juliet was among the author's most popular plays during his lifetime, and it remains one of his most frequently produced dramas. Furthermore, its youthful characters and romantic plot make it an appealing introduction to Shakespeare for younger readers. A definitive survey, this Dover Thrift Study Edition offers the drama's complete and unabridged text, plus a comprehensive study guide. Created to help readers gain a thorough understanding of Romeo and Juliet's content and context, the guide includes: • Scene-by-scene summaries
• Explanations and discussions of the plot
• Question-and-answer sections
• Shakespeare biography
• List of characters and more
Dover Thrift Study Editions feature everything that students need to undertake a confident reading of a classic text, as well as to prepare themselves for class discussions, essays, and exams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Mar 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9780486112640

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is arguably the most famous playwright to ever live. Born in England, he attended grammar school but did not study at a university. In the 1590s, Shakespeare worked as partner and performer at the London-based acting company, the King’s Men. His earliest plays were Henry VI and Richard III, both based on the historical figures. During his career, Shakespeare produced nearly 40 plays that reached multiple countries and cultures. Some of his most notable titles include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. His acclaimed catalog earned him the title of the world’s greatest dramatist.

Book preview

EDITIONS

Romeo and Juliet

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Contents

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

Act I

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Act II

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Scene VI

Act III

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Act IV

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Act V

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Dramatis Personae

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.

PARIS, a young nobleman, kinsman to the Prince.

An old man, of the Capulet family.

ROMEO, son to Montague.

MERCUTIO, kinsman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo.

BENVOLIO, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo.

TYBALT, nephew to Lady Capulet.

FRIAR LAURENCE, a Franciscan.

FRIAR JOHN, of the same order.

BALTHASAR, servant to Romeo.

PETER, servant to Juliet’s nurse.

ABRAHAM, servant to Montague.

An Apothecary.

Three Musicians.

Page to Paris; another Page; an Officer.

LADY MONTAGUE, wife to Montague.

LADY CAPULET, wife to Capulet.

JULIET, daughter to Capulet.

Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona; kinsfolk of both houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants.

Chorus.

SCENE:Verona; Mantua.

PROLOGUE.

Enter Chorus.

CHOR.

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows

Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.

The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,

And the continuance of their parents’ rage,

Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,

Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;

The which if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Verona. A public place.

Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, with swords and bucklers.

SAM.

Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals.¹

GRE.

No, for then we should be colliers.

SAM.

I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.

GRE.

Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o’ the collar.²

SAM.

I strike quickly, being moved.

GRE.

But thou art not quickly moved to strike.

SAM.

A dog of the house of Montague moves me.

GRE.

To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand: therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn’st away.

SAM.

A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall³ of any man or maid of Montague’s.

GRE.

That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

SAM.

‘Tis true; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall.

GRE.

The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.

SAM.

’Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be civil with the maids; I will cut off their heads.

GRE.

The heads of the maids?

SAM.

Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt.

GRE.

They must take it in sense that feel it.

SAM.

Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and ’tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.

GRE.

’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John.⁴ Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of Montagues.

Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR.

SAM.

My naked weapon is out: quarrel; I will back thee.

GRE.

How! turn thy back and run?

SAM.

Fear me not.

GRE.

No, marry: I fear thee!

SAM.

Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.

GRE.

I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.

SAM.

Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.

ABR.

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAM.

I do bite my thumb, sir.

ABR.

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAM.

[Aside to CRE.] Is the law of our side, if I say ay?

GRE.

No.

SAM.

No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.

GRE.

Do you quarrel, sir?

ABR.

Quarrel, sir! no, sir.

SAM.

But if you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.

ABR.

No better.

SAM.

Well, sir.

Enter BENVOLIO.

GRE.

[Aside to SAM.] Say ‘better’: here comes one of my master’s kinsmen.

SAM.

Yes, better, sir.

ABR.

You lie.

SAM.

Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing⁵ blow

[They fight.

BEN.

Part, fools!

[Beating down their weapons.

Put up your swords; you know not what you do.

Enter TYBALT.

TYB.

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?⁶

Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.

BEN.

I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,

Or manage it to part these men with me.

TYB.

What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,

As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:

Have at thee, coward!

[They fight.

Enter several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens and Peace-officers, with clubs.

FIRST OFF.

Clubs, bills,⁷ and partisans! strike! beat them down!

Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues!

Enter old CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULET.

CAP.

What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!

LA. CAP.

A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword?

CAP.

My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,

And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Enter old MONTAGUE and Lady MONTAGUE.

MON.

Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not, let me go.

LA. MON.

Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.

Enter PRINCE ESCALUS, with his train.

PRIN.

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,

Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,—

Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,

That quench the fire of your pernicious rage

With purple fountains issuing from your veins,

On pain of torture, from those bloody hands

Throw your mistemper’d weapons to the ground,

And hear the sentence of your moved prince.

Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,

By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,

Have thrice disturb’d the quiet of our streets,

And made Verona’s ancient citizens

Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,

To wield old partisans, in hands as old,

Canker’d with peace, to part your canker’d hate:

If ever you disturb our streets again,

Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.

For this time, all the rest depart away:

You, Capulet, shall go along with me;

And, Montague, come you this afternoon,

To know our farther pleasure in this case,

To old Free-town, our common judgement-place.

Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

[Exeunt all but MONTAGUE, LADY MONTAGUE, and BENVOLIO.

MON.

Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?

Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?

BEN.

Here were the servants of your adversary

And yours close fighting ere I did approach:

I drew to part them: in the instant came

The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared;

Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,

He swung about his head, and cut the winds,

Who, nothing hurt withal, hiss’d him in scorn:

While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,

Came more and more, and fought on part and part,⁸

Till the Prince came, who parted either part.

LA. MON.

O, where is Romeo? saw you him to-day?

Right glad I am he was not at this fray.

BEN.

Madam, an hour before the worshipp’d sun

Peer’d forth the golden window of the east,

A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad;

Where, underneath the grove of sycamore

That westward rooteth from the city’s side,

So early walking did I see your son:

Towards him I made; but he was ware of me,

And stole into the covert of the wood:

I, measuring his affections⁹ by my own,

Which then most sought where most might not be found,

Being one too many by my weary self,

Pursued my humour, not pursuing his,

And gladly shunn’d who gladly fled from me.

MON.

Many a morning hath he there been seen,

With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew,

Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs:

But all so soon as the all-cheering sun

Should in the farthest east begin to draw

The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,

Away from light steals home my heavy son,

And private in his chamber pens himself,

Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out,

And makes himself an artificial night:

Black and portentous must this humour prove,

Unless good counsel may the cause remove.

BEN.

My noble uncle, do you know the cause?

MON.

I neither know it nor can learn of him.

BEN.

Have you importuned him by any means?

MON.

Both by myself and many other friends:

But he, his own affections’ counsellor,

Is to himself—I will not say how true—

But to himself so secret and so close,

So far from sounding and discovery,

As is the bud bit with an envious worm,

Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,

Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.

Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,

We would as willingly give cure as know.

Enter ROMEO.

BEN.

See, where he comes: so please you step aside;

I’ll know his grievance, or be much denied.

MON.

I would thou wert so happy by thy stay,

To hear true shrift. Come, madam, let’s away.

[Exeunt MONTAGUE and LADY.

BEN.

Good morrow, cousin.

ROM.

Is the day so young?

BEN.

But new struck nine.

ROM.

Ay me! sad hours seem long.

Was that my father that went hence so fast?

BEN.

It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?

ROM.

Not having that which, having, makes them short.

BEN.

In love?

ROM.

Out—

BEN.

Of love?

ROM.

Out of her favour, where I am in love.

BEN.

Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,

Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!¹⁰

ROM.

Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,

Should without eyes see pathways to his will!

Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?

Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.

Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love:

Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!

O any thing, of nothing first create!

O heavy lightness! serious vanity!

Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!

Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!

This love feel I, that feel no love in this.

Dost thou not laugh?

BEN.

No, coz, I rather weep.

ROM.

Good heart, at what?

BEN.

At thy good heart’s oppression.

ROM.

Why, such is love’s transgression.

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast;

Which thou wilt propagate,¹¹ to have it prest

With more of thine: this love that thou hast shown

Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.

Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;

Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;

Being vex’d, a sea nourish’d with lovers’ tears:

What is it else? a madness most discreet,

A choking gall and a preserving sweet.

Farewell, my coz.

BEN.

Soft! I will go along:

An if you leave me so, you do me wrong.

ROM.

Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here;

This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.

BEN.

Tell me in sadness, ¹² who is that you love?

ROM.

What, shall I groan and tell thee?

BEN.

Groan! why, no;

But sadly tell me who.

ROM.

Bid a sick man in sadness make his will:

Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill!

In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.

BEN.

I aim’d so near when I supposed you loved.

ROM.

A right good mark-man! And she’s fair I love.

BEN.

A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.

ROM.

Well, in that hit you miss: she’ll not be hit

With Cupid’s arrow; she hath Dian’s wit,

And in strong proof¹³ of chastity well arm’d,

From love’s weak childish bow she lives unharm’d.

She will not stay¹⁴ the siege of loving terms,

Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes,

Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold:

O, she is rich in beauty, only poor

That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store.

BEN.

Then she hath sworn that she will still¹⁵ live chaste?

ROM.

She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste;

For beauty, starved with her severity,

Cuts beauty off from all posterity.

She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,

To merit bliss by making me despair:

She hath forsworn to love; and in that vow

Do I live dead, that live to tell it now.

BEN.

Be ruled by me, forget to think of her.

ROM.

O, teach me how I should forget to think.

BEN.

By giving liberty unto thine eyes;

Examine other beauties.

ROM.

’Tis the way

To call hers, exquisite, in question more:¹⁶

These happy masks that kiss fair ladies’ brows,

Being black, put us in mind they hide the fair;

He that is strucken blind cannot forget

The precious treasure of his eyesight lost:

Show me a mistress that is passing¹⁷ fair,

What doth her beauty serve but as a note

Where I may read who pass’d that passing fair?

Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget.

BEN.

I’ll pay that doctrine,¹⁸ or else die in debt.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A street.

Enter CAPULET, PARIS, and Servant.

CAP

But Montague is bound as well as I,

In penalty alike; and ’tis not hard, I think,

For men so old as we to keep the peace.

PAR.

Of honourable reckoning¹⁸ are you both;

And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long.

But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?

CAP.

But saying o’er what I have said before:

My child is yet a stranger in the world;

She hath not seen the change of fourteen years:

Let two more summers wither in their pride

Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.

PAR.

Younger than she are happy mothers made.

CAP.

And too soon marr’d are those so early made.

The earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she,

She is the hopeful lady of my earth:¹⁹

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;

My will to her consent is but a part;

An she agree, within her scope of choice

Lies my consent and fair according

Reviews for Romeo and Juliet Thrift Study Edition

[judithrs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare. Folger Shakespeare Library. 1992. As I said above, this was a book club selection. Cannot remember when I last read this play, but I loved reading it this time. How can I forget how much I love Shakespeare?!! After I read the play, I found a BBC Radio production with Kenneth Branagh playing Romeo and Judie Dench playing Nurse! I really enjoyed reading along as I listened and got more out of the play the second reading. I sort of wanted to listen to it again, but instead decided to watch Zeffierlli’s movie and am so glad I did. A great way to enjoy Shakespeare!

[jonfaith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

O teach me how I should forget to think

I was prepared to be underwhelmed by a jaded near fifty return to this plethora of love-anchored verse. It was quite the opposite, as I found myself steeled with philosophy "adversity's sweet milk" and my appreciation proved ever enhanced by the Bard's appraisal of the human condition. How adroit to have situated such between two warring tribes, under a merciful deity, an all-too-human church and the wayward agency of hormonal teens. Many complain of this being a classic Greek drama adapted to a contemporary milieu. There is also a disproportionate focus on the frantic pacing in the five acts. I can appreciate both concerns but I think such is beyond the point. The chorus frames matters in terms of destiny, a rumination on Aristotelian tragedy yet the drama unfolds with caprice being the coin of the realm. Well, as much agency as smitten couples can manage. Pacing is a recent phenomenon, 50 episodes for McNulty to walk away from the force, a few less for Little Nell to die.

Shakespeare offers insights on loyalty and human frailty as well as the Edenic cursing of naming in some relative ontology. Would Heidegger smell as sweet? My mind's eye blurs the poise of Juliet with that of Ophelia; though no misdeeds await the Capulet, unless being disinherited by Plath's Daddy is the road's toll to a watery sleep. The black shoe and the attendant violent delights.

[sdtaylor555 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a big Shakespeare fan, so I won't rate any of his works very high

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Romeo and Juliet- Manga Classics – by William Shakespeare, by Stacy King, Crystal S. Chan (Adaptation), Julien Choy (Art), Akanovas (Lettering), Jeannie Lee (Lettering)There is no need to go into the synopsis or plot of one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays. We all know the basics of this story by now. Many have read the play in school or have seen a stage or movie adaptation at one point. So, I think it is safe to skip the analysis. For me, Manga is something I flat out ignored for years because I presumed without ever giving it a fair chance that it would not be something I’d enjoy. Then I discovered it was often geared towards teens or young adults, which was yet another strike against it. But, by sheer accident, I discovered Manga covered a lot of areas, and was much more complex than I’d given it credit for. Having gotten to an age where I’ve dipped my toes in many different genres, and sub-genres, I find that the ‘I’ve outgrown this’ or ‘aged out of’ attitude closes off many unexplored avenues and because I like to think I’m open minded, I’ve begun to reconsider areas I’ve previously closed off. As a result, I’m having a lot of fun learning about Manga, Graphic Novels, and Comics. Much to my surprise, I’ve found a nice selection of classic stories, in Manga/Graphic Novel format. After recently reading a memoir by Olivia Hussey, the actress who portrayed Juliet in the famous Zeffirelli 1968 film, this play was on my mind quite a lot. So, when I noticed this Manga version on Netgalley, it grabbed my attention immediately. For anyone who may be thinking the dialogue is 'updated' with more modern dialect, you’d be wrong. This is the same script you’d find in the original play- except there are no stage directions. Instead, those are replaced by images, which works out much better than I’d have imagined. The artwork is spectacular, as is the adaptation. Obviously, a great deal of thought went into how to present this classic in Manga form, and I’d say it came off beautifully. Granted, I’m still a novice at this, but I was pleased with the presentation. I did have a few technical issues, since this one is not in Kindle/ MOBI format. I had to use Adobe Edition, which is a pain, and the scrolling was terrible, especially since, of course it’s back to front. Several times my screen jumped to the end of the book and caused a great deal of frustration.Shakespeare is still difficult to read and adjusting to this format made it an even bigger challenge. It took me a good long while to get through it. (If anyone has a suggestion on how to make this less daunting- please feel free to offer me some suggestions.) However, despite the heaviness of the drama, and the extra effort it required to read the book, I was impressed, and enjoyed reading this classic with the well-drawn illustrations and art work which certainly enriched and enhanced my experience.Despite the disdain of melodrama- I liked all the angst between Romeo and Juliet- but not that sad ending! It still makes a great cautionary tale- even after all these years. 4 stars

[libstaff2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.25 StarsA fanciful retelling of Romeo and Juliet in Manga format. Emotive artwork and much of the dialogue is in true Shakespeare form. A nice addition to the Manga Classics series. Keep up the good work! For classics and adaptation fans.Net Galley Feedback

[michael_rose-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like most, I imagine, I was forced to read this in high school (freshman year, specifically). I was no fan of Shakespeare at the time, though I've since come around somewhat. While I've not read it since, I've no real desire to. They're just a couple of horny teenagers thinking they're experiencing true love and all that. For that reason, this work does not entertain me as one might want. However, I do appreciate what it's lent to our culture, and specifically to derivative works. Without this book, we would not have West Side Story, which I do happen to be fond of.

[heycaye · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I would've given a star for the crazy plot. But then again, that's what makes this unforgettable. The story's crazy. Also, Shakespeare's as smooth as usual, especially in the language of love. I can see why this has become a classic.

[df5b_roberts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ah, my favorite classic.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful language, classic Shakespeare.

[meditationesmartini · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As long as you remind yourself that this is teen melodrama and not tragedy the essential vapidity of the central relationship and the frustratingly buried deeper and more complex relationships--actually all Romeo's, with Mercutio but also Benvolio, Tybalt, the priest--don't get in the way of good tawdry enjoyment. Now I think about it, Romeo's like a cryptohomoerotic sixteenth-century Archie.

[katieloucks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

great classic

[bluedelirium · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This review is for the Frankly Annotated First Folio Edition, with annotations by Demitra Papadinis.The layout of the book is fantastic, making it easy to keep your place in the play when checking on the notes. The notes themselves are fantastic, going in depth and not leaving out the dirty jokes. A thoroughly enjoyable and educational edition!

[therebelprince · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The definitive edition of this play for 21st century academics. Weis is an intelligent editor who shows an objective viewpoint when looking at textual cruxes, and really provides a decent overview of the scholarship on the text. Perhaps the introduction doesn't cover the text in a literary analysis sense, but I suppose there are more highschool-oriented texts out there for that. Very good, and - while not perhaps in my Top 5 of the current Arden series - an example of what the Arden editions aspire to be.

[dr_cicle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was pretty good but some parts were confusing.

[maxernst11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Publiekslieveling, maar ik vond het niet altijd overtuigend, soms zelfs stroef. Bevat uiteraard weergaloze passages. Vertaling van Komrij.1595, bekend verhaal, midden XV?, maar wel afstand van moralistische behandeling,exuberante po?zie, evolutie van romantische komedie naar tragedie, maar heel vlot alsof het door Shakespeare zelf niet serieus werd bevonden. Twee stijlen: hoogdraven-mani?ristisch en rijper en sober. Thema is de roekeloze hartstocht; daarom een noodlottragedie: ondergang buiten hun wil om (bij de andere tragedies komt de ondergang door een tekort aan krachten of een gebrek).Huis van Montague tegen het huis van Capulet in Verona. Julia is 14 jaar.Boodschap van de prins tegen geweld I,1 (?Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace?, p 1012); omschrijving liefde I,1 (?Love is a smoke rais?d with the fume of sighs:/Beining purg?d, a fire sparkling in lovers? eyes;/Being vex?d, a sea nourish?d with lovers? tears:/What is it else? A madness most discreet,/A choking gall and a preserving sweet.?, 1013)Hoogtepunt: de dialoog Romeo-Julia II,2 en III,5Vlottere taal dan de vorige, maar toch ook stroeve delen; opvallend korte, komische entractes.

[antao-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Teenage Proclivity for Conjugation: "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, J.A. Bryant Jr. Published 1998.

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 two families. In addition, we receive the clue that the feud has gone on for a long time (ancient grudge) However, the omission of the reason for the feud leaves us wondering and imagining a variety of scenarios--just as Shakespeare must have intended. I think it is important for an author to leave a mystery for the reader to explore. In Star Wars there was a sense of mystery about the Force, what was it. Are there any reasons needed, ever? The humankind's history is filled with feuds which are completely pointless... "Ancient grudge", servants' street fight -- and general desire to feel better than someone else. Isn't this very pointlessness that Shakespeare intended the viewers to see?

The rest of this review can be read elsewhere.

[thebookmagpie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's okay. And I love the Queen Mab speech. And look, Shakespeare's SHAKESPEARE. Man knows how to write. And I get that it's not a love story and that Shakespeare knows this. Just. Everyone in this story needs to calm down like forty notches. It's histrionic. And I love Catcher in the Rye, so when I say something's histrionic, I mean it.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like the nurse. I still don't think these dumb kids loved" each other."

[delta351 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This updated Folger's edition is very readable, yet still contains all of the explanatory picture from the previous editions.I sometimes was able to read several pages without referencing the footnotes on the left page. I also thought the suggested books for further reading were helpful, as they highlight major themes of this classic.

[engpunk77 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I don't get the hype. I find Romeo to be completely annoying and the story is just frustrating. Worse is trying to see modern film adaptations of the same story, where life-or-death lost messages is impossible. I don't see the point in reading this story except to promote cultural literacy (in which case, a plot summary would suffice).

[mrsdanaalbasha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The play, set in Verona, begins with a street brawl between Montagues and Capulets who are sworn enemies. The Prince of Verona intervenes and declares that further breach of the peace will be punishable by death. Later, Count Paris talks to Capulet about marrying his daughter, but Capulet is wary of the request because Juliet is only thirteen. Capulet asks Paris to wait another two years and invites him to attend a planned Capulet ball. Lady Capulet and Juliet's nurse try to persuade Juliet to accept Paris's courtship.

Meanwhile, Benvolio talks with his cousin Romeo, Lord Montague's son, about Romeo's recent depression. Benvolio discovers that it stems from unrequited infatuation for a girl named Rosaline, one of Capulet's nieces. Persuaded by Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo attends the ball at the Capulet house. However, Romeo instead meets and falls in love with Juliet. After the ball, in what is now called the "balcony scene", Romeo sneaks into the Capulet courtyard and overhears Juliet on her balcony vowing her love to him in spite of her family's hatred of the Montagues. Romeo makes himself known to her and they agree to be married. With the help of Friar Laurence, who hopes to reconcile the two families through their children's union, they are secretly married the next day.

Juliet's cousin Tybalt, incensed that Romeo had sneaked into the Capulet ball, challenges him to a duel. Romeo, now considering Tybalt his kinsman, refuses to fight. Mercutio is offended by Tybalt's insolence, as well as Romeo's "vile submission," and accepts the duel on Romeo's behalf. Mercutio is fatally wounded when Romeo attempts to break up the fight. Grief-stricken and wracked with guilt, Romeo confronts and slays Tybalt.

Montague argues that Romeo has justly executed Tybalt for the murder of Mercutio. The Prince, now having lost a kinsman in the warring families' feud, exiles Romeo from Verona and declares that if Romeo returns, "that hour is his last." Romeo secretly spends the night in Juliet's chamber, where they consummate their marriage. Capulet, misinterpreting Juliet's grief, agrees to marry her to Count Paris and threatens to disown her when she refuses to become Paris's "joyful bride." When she then pleads for the marriage to be delayed, her mother rejects her.

Juliet visits Friar Laurence for help, and he offers her a drug that will put her into a death-like coma for "two and forty hours." The Friar promises to send a messenger to inform Romeo of the plan, so that he can rejoin her when she awakens. On the night before the wedding, she takes the drug and, when discovered apparently dead, she is laid in the family crypt.

The messenger, however, does not reach Romeo and, instead, he learns of Juliet's apparent death from his servant Balthasar. Heartbroken, Romeo buys poison from an apothecary and goes to the Capulet crypt. He encounters Paris who has come to mourn Juliet privately. Believing Romeo to be a vandal, Paris confronts him and, in the ensuing battle, Romeo kills Paris. Still believing Juliet to be dead, he drinks the poison. Juliet then awakens and, finding Romeo dead, stabs herself with his dagger. The feuding families and the Prince meet at the tomb to find all three dead. Friar Laurence recounts the story of the two "star-cross'd lovers". The families are reconciled by their children's deaths and agree to end their violent feud. The play ends with the Prince's elegy for the lovers: "For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

[floratina · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

READ IN ENGLISH

I suppose this is an absolute must-read for everyone who has ever been to high school. I read it in my fifth year and actually I really couldn't understand what gave this story it's marvelous reputation.

May Contain Some Spoilers!

Maybe it was more normal in those days, as I'm not the slightest a professor when it comes to both English Literature/Plays and English History, but it seems at least a bit weird, to run away and kill yourself over someone you've only just met and everything. Yes, there is of course a lot of drama in it, and presumably it is better to see it on stage than to read it, but I had expected more from this story, as it is so extremely famous!

[wealhtheowwylfing · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Note: this is only four stars compared to other Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet is not the best play he ever wrote, but it is far and away better than almost anything else in the English language.

[elizabeth1929-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ah. The tragic story of Romeo and Juliet. After years and years of hearing what its about, I finally got to read the story for myself. And what a wonderfully tragic story is was. First thing that surprized me was the sexual stuff. Well, I didn't know it was referring to sexual stuff until the teacher pointed it out, but still. I also realised how unrealistic this play is. I mean, two people falling in love at first sight, getting married before the week is over, and dying because of each other is something that I don't see happening in real life. And I'm so glad it doesn't.

[katie1802 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love this! Romeo can be an idiot sometimes, their families are jerks and the Friar seriously screwed up but you have to love it all.

Favourite Quote ;

Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright, it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear, beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.

[nolabelsunleashed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite writes by William Shakespeare, along with Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice. Forbidden love, yet desire to be together. An elaborate plan that would have worked, had one been a little more patient as it pertained to Juliet waking up. The epitome of a romantic tragedy but not without lessons. The main one being that some feuds should be squashed.

[dinadansfriend · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While designing a board game based in Verona, Italy in the 1400's, I ended up reading the play 14 times. It stands up very well. If you're looking for a brilliant treatment in a film, the Francesco Zefferelli version is near perfect. Try to get a version that doesn't edit the Tibault/Mercutio sword-fight, a magnificent dramatic sequence. But for reading aloud in an evening, this is a great experience as well. Should I tell you that the male brain isn't fully matured until the age of 26? It is germane to the plot.

[tiffanyak_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great romantic tragedy, which I had to read for my Intro. to Drama class. This is one of those works of Shakespeare that has been done in a multitude of forms and variations, so it is quite likely that everyone has a rough idea of the story. Still, you really cannot replace the original. There is a lot of unbelievable story to it, which can overdo it to the point of being distracting, but overall the language and story are so supremely memorable that it automatically qualifies as a must-read. As to the edition itself, I found it to be greatly helpful in understanding the action in the play. It has a layout which places each page of the play opposite a page of notes, definitions, explanations, and other things needed to understand that page more thoroughly. While I didn't always need it, I was certainly glad to have it whenever I ran into a turn of language that was unfamiliar, and I definitely appreciated the scene-by-scene summaries. Really, if you want to or need to read Shakespeare, an edition such as this is really the way to go, especially until you get more accustomed to it.

[newskepticx · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is a tragedy in the sense that Shakespeare did so much better with his other plays. This one is weak. The amount of coincidence is down right ridiculous, Shakespeare plays way too much into the "love" for a tale that is supposed to be cautionary(or so I think it might've been senseless fighting between two families led to tragic deaths, never really capitalizes on it til the end). It's also the standard for classic love story although it is nothing of the sort. I despised it.

[richestgirls-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I give this book 5 stars because it uses creative and expresses a true form of writing that makes you want to read more until you've read the whole book!!