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Catriona's Reviews > Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
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The people who dislike this play are the ones who view common sense over being rational, and prefer to view the world in a structured way. One of the main arguments that come across is the 'meeting, falling in love, and dying all in a weekend when Juliet is but 13'. We all must die in the end, so wouldn't you want to in the name of love than of an awful disease?
Perhaps the two lovers weren't truly in love, but their last living moments were spent believing so, so what does it matter? How can one truly know if one is in love? Is it a feeling? In that case, what is a feeling? If you believe you are in love, then you may as well be, contrary to what others might say.
The argument with the 'weak' plot; Shakespeare didn't invent Romeo and Juliet. It was infact a poem which is constantly being adapted over time. Shakespeare did add in some aspects but the meeting in the ballroom, Tybalts death, the sleeping draught and such were already in the poem.
I personally love this play, purely because it's an escape from this modern world. I'm not saying I like the treatment of women, nor the fighting, but it's like a different world that i'm never going to experience, and reading it through Shakespeare's gorgeous writing makes Verona seem all the more romantic.
Perhaps the two lovers weren't truly in love, but their last living moments were spent believing so, so what does it matter? How can one truly know if one is in love? Is it a feeling? In that case, what is a feeling? If you believe you are in love, then you may as well be, contrary to what others might say.
The argument with the 'weak' plot; Shakespeare didn't invent Romeo and Juliet. It was infact a poem which is constantly being adapted over time. Shakespeare did add in some aspects but the meeting in the ballroom, Tybalts death, the sleeping draught and such were already in the poem.
I personally love this play, purely because it's an escape from this modern world. I'm not saying I like the treatment of women, nor the fighting, but it's like a different world that i'm never going to experience, and reading it through Shakespeare's gorgeous writing makes Verona seem all the more romantic.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
May 18, 2011
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Joanna
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Jun 17, 2011 08:43AM
Wow that was beautiful right there.
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You make a really good point about how even if they both weren't in love, they might as well be if they think they are. It's also not like they'll ever get to experience anything more or less real than what they had anyway. this is coming from someone who was bothered that romeo and juliet didn't really love each other and were pretty foolish( just my opinion). thanks for enlightening me though, haha!
Last week I was downloaded this eBook from http://www.mrpiggie.com/. I am really happy after reading the book and I agree with Catriona.
Though I'll admit I'm among the people who aren't a huge fan of this play, I think your review was well put. I'm aware that I'm overly rational sometimes and I'm not much of the "hopeless romantic" type so maybe that's why it didn't appeal to me as much.
I totally agree, I adore this play.
I fully and completely agree with your point of view on the literalist who are criticizing this marvelous piece of literature, and my personal favorite theatrical plays! The play of Romeo and Juliet is not meant to be looked at in a literal or realistic sense.
I love it ...its not just romantic but full of passion
"die in the name of love" no I don't want to fucking kill myself for a fucking boy.
Wow, that was a great review
You have a valid point! But that point comes across to people that have either fallen in love before or have the kind of mind that can focus on the larger aspect of the novel rather than the minor details....
Although I didn't like the text myself, I really enjoy reading your perspective
Poetry should not have to be rational. If so, what would be the point?
I agree with you. The people who criticize the plot of R&J miss the whole the concept of the contrasts that are exhibited in this piece. For instance, R&J meeting, love at first sight, marriage and death all in a week. Meditation Vs. spontaneity, wisdom vs. youthism, life vs. death, emotion vs. logic. etc.
I completely agree with you. People who don't like this play aren't able to see what it resembles or symbolizes. This play is to me indeed amazing because it is able to bring the concept of falling in love and sacrificing everything you have for your loved one. I mean isn't that what love is all about. It might not have been true love but as long as they were able to believe it was, their love was worth it. This play shows not only what life was like for people in that day but also it shows us that love is timeless and it is worth everything you have, even if it's only for a little while.
Preach! Lol you got the words out of my mouth.
Thank you for allowing me to see it that way... I love goodreads because people like you can always change my opinion :)
I think that what people don't understand with the whole idea that Juliet is “only 13" is that, in the time period this was written, people tended to die pretty young, so for people to marry in there young teenage years was completely normal. You made some really good points about their love. It doesn't really matter if they weren't truly in love. They thought they eere, and that's all that matters, even if they hadn't both died right after their wedding, because, as mentioned previously, people died very young in the time period. Their deaths also have an important effect on their families, as they end their dispute in the end, and if their children hadn't died, they probably never would have. Thank you for presenting these points to the people who don't understand some aspects of the book as much. I also discovered incredibly thought provoking points that I never realized before.
wow, this actually made me enjoy Romeo and Juliet when I read it. I used to think that it was dumb but it's not that bad.
You make a good point. But Romeo and Juliet should've just ran away when they had the chance. It's also not like they'll ever get to experience any love or anything.
I agree with you on how maybe Romeo and Juliet were just living in the moment. Maybe they thought they were in love and it does really look like they did love each other. I do think Romeo and Juliet is a good book to read because there is some really good life lessons in there.
Yes we all die but not for love if your not really in love you rather die from a disease because you have more years to think it all through not just i'm in love and kill yourself. When your in love you don't think about other things you just think about that person and your brain does not have time to process everything that's happening. Especially if your in a early stage your brain is not fully develop.
You make a really good point about how even if they both weren't in love, they might as well be if they think they are in love but in reality they don´t know if they are.This is coming from some one who was bothered or annoyed that Romeo and Juliet didn't really love each other and were pretty foolish about it .
You make a really good point about how even if they both weren't in love, they might as well be if they think they are. It's also not like they'll ever get to experience anything more or less real than what they had anyway. This is coming from someone who was bothered that Romeo and Juliet didn't really love each other and were pretty foolish( just my opinion). But you really enlighted my thoughts so thanks for that.
I completely agree with your opinion regarding the play, a lot of the audience who are being much too rational aren't developing the same amount of respect for the novel. Shakespeare made a timeless classic that combines love and tragedy that is now the basis for all cliches and sappy love stories. It's the greatest and worst novel all that once, which engages all readers with either love or bitterness.
I agree with you because many people have different perspectives when it comes to love and it helps people understand a difficult play. I continue to agree with you when it comes to the treatment of women because I believe all women should be treated with respect and marriage should be consensual.
I agree with you because many people have different perspectives when it comes to love and it helps people understand a difficult play. I continue to agree with you when it comes to the treatment of women because I believe all women should be treated with respect and marriage should be consensual.
I also like how Shakespeare was able to tell this very complicated and well written poem about forbidden love and how it allows the audience to escape the really world. I especially like how the audience are witness of how twisted fate was to Romeo and Juliet, it was a well told story.
I fully agree with you--the beauty of this play is the surreal feeling you experience while reading. People just don't seem to understand true love and what love can really drive you to do, and the theme of sacrifice is not really that far from reality.
Actually I am very rational, I just didn't like the play.
Exactly. I love this review.
See, that's my issue. They didn't die "in the name of love". They died because both Romeo and Juliet were emotional morons and wouldn't stop to think for half a second.
People are stupid to judge others. HOW THEY COULD KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T DO IT IN A REAL LIFE? So many suicidal events happen because of love. Really stupid.
thank you! honestly, anyone who judges r&j‘s “ridiculousness” or “stupidness” for its depiction of young lovers is just trying too hard to look smart by going on about the questionable validness of the couple’s love and holding the play to the standards of real life. the point is they just want to be together and their families stopping them is the tragedy. the plot isn’t the strongest, but it’s no doubt entertaining, especially with characters like mercutio to lighten the mood. not to mention these people ignore shakespeare’s beautiful writing by dismissing it as unimportant or not understandable. well, if these people want to delude themselves into being above everyone else for their negative opinion on a classic, that’s just a bit pathetic. ;)
Please recommend some good 10year old books for both genders
Well said, my friend, well said.
hey, that was very beautiful.
This is a great review. Every word, every thought.
Excellent review!
