In what way does Romeo Juliet reflect the time in Which It was written and what is its relevance to a modern audience Essay Example For Students

In what way does Romeo Juliet reflect the time in Which It was written and what is its relevance to a modern audience? Essay To look at the time in which this play was written we have to look at the conditions I which it was written. Also we need to consider why it was written. Firstly four hundred years ago there were on electric lights, torches were dangerous and candles were expensive. So Shakespeare wrote most of his plays in public houses where candle light was free in the evening. But the problems with this are that it was a noisy atmosphere and he probably got a little bit drunk. So because of this there may be mistakes that we are unable to prove that they are mistakes. Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours. Said by Friar Laurence act four, scene one line one hundred and five, is an example of a possible mistake. Forty two hours doesnt fit the time scale of the play, twenty four hours would fit in to the play better. But Shakespeare may not have made such possible mistakes. All of his plays were written just once the actors only had heir lines so they had to learn when to speak carefully. It was only after Shakespeares death that the lines were put together as a whole script. During this process many mistakes could have been made. The theater in which the plays were to be preformed in would reflect the way in which it was written. Before Shakespeares time theaters were mobile moving from town to town. Also before Shakespeares time people had very little leisure time and so theaters were in very little demand. But around four hundred years ago rural urban migration was at a high and people started to have more leisure time. This was the industrial revolution. The first stationary theater was built around the turn of he 17th century. This was the Globe Theater, Shakespeares plays were written especially written because of the conditions that it was to be preformed in. It was a circular building with an open roof, this was because there was no artificial lights and if there were a roof it would be too dark to see what was happening. So the weather and time of day often delayed or canceled the performances. The stage was raised and had no back drops, it had two doors. These were used to show characters entering and leaving scenes. In-between scenes some of the scenery could be changed. Below the stage was space for the lower class audiences. There were quite bad conditions and there were no toilets so people went where they could. This was common, as drinking water was fatal, people drank mild beer instead. So they were often rowdy and had a short attention span. So between acts a chorus would go on stage to recap the story so far. There is an example of this at the start of act two. The chores enters and explains what has happened. This is also a way to show the passing of time and scenery can be changed in this time. Also around the edge of the theater set higher than the stage and the lower class audience was a balcony with seats for the high-class audience. They would have had to pay more to get these seats. On the balcony it would have been easier to see what was happening but it may have been harder to here over the noise from below. Dew to the noisy atmosphere actors repeated some things three times to make sure that the audience heard it. A well-known example of this is in act two, scene two, line thirty-three and said by Juliet. O Romeo, Romeo! Here fore art thou Romeo? Also because the audience surrounds the actors on three sides even if some members of the audience were paying attention they still might not hear what has been said. As their were no back drops, curtains and very few props, things the actors said had to inform the audience what time of day it was and where they were. A good example of this is where Benvolio in act three, scene one lines one and two, says. I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire: The day is hot, the capels are abroad, Blood Brothers Coursework Argumentative EssayRomeo and Juliet meet and get married within less than a day. Thinking about it, it doesnt seem to be a good idea. But they didnt think about it. They didnt think about the consequences. This part of the play that Shakespeare made to be about haste and the problems it causes are clearly shown here. They should have thought about what their families and Parises reactions would have been. These emotions as part of a play still attract a modern audience because the audience hasnt chanced, people are still the same and still have the same emotions and experiences. So the play doesnt need to change to have the same effect. Modern up dates of the play using modern language, weapons and places still have the same effect as the original. This is because the plot and themes are still included. Catharsis is some thing that means if you feel like doing something bad, if you see it done you dont want to do it your self, because you find the consequences of what you were going to do with out doing it. And now that you have a better view of what would happen you realize that it isnt worth doing. With this play being a tragedy with lots of people doing wrong the audience may see it and go home feeling better, not wanting to make the same mistakes which happen in the play. This play is very well written and is worth reading but better watched. The plot is quite complex but with the way in which it is written and the order that it is written in makes it understandable. This is a short summary of the plot. On Sunday morning two of the servants of each of the families are walking in the streets of Verona. An unfriendly gesture generates in to a town-sized battle. But the prince arrives and says if theirs any more fighting between the two families then they will pay with their lives. At this point we are introduced to Romeo who is miserable because of Roselyn who he loves but she doesnt love him back. Sunday evening the Capulets are having a party. Romeo, a Montague is eventually persuaded to go to the party, but he only agrees to go to see Roselyn. But while he is there he meets Juliet and finds that she is a Capulet, his only enemy. After the party Romeos friends are teasing him so he climbs over a wall in to an orchid. There he finds Juliet. Here they agree to get married only hours after meeting each other. The next morning Juliet sends her Nurse to ask Romeo when they are getting married. Later that day Friar Laurence marries Romeo and Juliet. Monday afternoon Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt. Because of this Romeo is banished. But that night he amongst other things sleeps with Juliet and leaves Vern for Mantua. On Tuesday morning old Capulet asks if Juliet will marry Paris, but when she says no he says if she doesnt marry Paris she is no longer welcome in his home. At this Juliet goes to see what the Friar can do. Here he explains his plan that she will drink a potion that will make her sleep for forty-two hours. And in that time he will send a message to Romeo explaining that Juliet is in a deep sleep and to come and collect her when she wakes up. The plan works but when Friar John doesnt manage to get the message to Romeo things start to go wrong. Romeo gets a message from a friend telling him that Juliet is dead. Romeo goes to Juliets tomb with a poison but Paris is guarding the tomb so Romeo kills him to get to Juliet. Here he drinks the poison and kills himself. Juliet wakes up and finding Romeo dead she kills herself to be with him. Because of Romeo and Juliet death the Capulets and the Muntagues agree to peace. This is a very satisfying play and one of Shakespeares best in my opinion. I preferred a modern version of the play because it was set in a modern city it made the play easier to understand and relate to modern society.