Romeo and juliet what is it about

Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt. Not quite. Tybalt has killed Mercutio. And in response, Romeo kills Tybalt. More than four hundred years after its premiere, why does the story of Romeo and Juliet endure? To answer that question, ask yourself a few others. Family name alone is enough to separate Romeo and Juliet and create tension with life-or-death significance.

For couples you know, age, income, race, and religion may also have destructive consequences. Most of us can relate to the tragedy of coming so close to something—a friend, an academic success, a romantic relationship—and then failing. The story of Romeo and Juliet is particularly poignant in that its lead characters learn their lesson moments too late.

Romeo and Juliet , when published in the late 16th century, was itself based on an older poem. The tradition of adapting the story has continued. Over the past years, the richness of this tragedy has inspired dance, film, theatrical parodies, orchestral interpretations, and even a rock musical. It is still acclaimed as the definitive film version of the tragedy. Director George Cuckor brouoght the story to the screen in It takes place in the suburb of Verona and trades swords and feuds for guns and street warfare.

Screenwriter Julian Fellows adapted the story in It stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer and replaces the feuding families with racially divided urban gangs: the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Audiences can see how violent gang warfare shatters the dreams of star-crossed lovers Maria Juliet and Tony Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet — A Russian theater commissioned the composer Sergei Prokofiev to turn the play into a ballet, which opened in Later filmed productions are available to view today, including versions with choreography by Rudolf Nureyev, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, and Leonid Lavrovsky.

Choreographer Matthew Bourne created an updated version in It was first performed in , in Paris. For centuries, artists have depicted scenes from Romeo and Juliet in their artwork. Take a peek behind the red curtain and discover the artistry and history behind the world of theater. Explore the playwriting process first-hand, learn about the cultural impact of performance, and read and perform some of the most influential works of the 20th century.

Shakespeare made the pursuit of love just as difficult as leading men to war, or solving your father's murder. Main Site Menu. Plot Test Youself. Juliet wakes up and sees Romeo dead. The Prologue The activity can be found on pages 2 and 3 and takes approximately 20 minutes.

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If you have any more questions please visit our FAQs If you would like to complete your booking on the phone instead, please call the Box Office on Take the survey. Romeo tries to stop them by leaping between the combatants. Romeo, in a rage, kills Tybalt. Romeo flees from the scene. Soon after, the Prince declares him forever banished from Verona for his crime.

Friar Lawrence arranges for Romeo to spend his wedding night with Juliet before he has to leave for Mantua the following morning. In her room, Juliet awaits the arrival of her new husband. The Nurse enters, and, after some confusion, tells Juliet that Romeo has killed Tybalt. Distraught, Juliet suddenly finds herself married to a man who has killed her kinsman.

But she resettles herself, and realizes that her duty belongs with her love: to Romeo. Morning comes, and the lovers bid farewell, unsure when they will see each other again. Juliet learns that her father, affected by the recent events, now intends for her to marry Paris in just three days. She counsels Juliet to proceed as if Romeo were dead and to marry Paris, who is a better match anyway. He concocts a plan to reunite Juliet with Romeo in Mantua.

The night before her wedding to Paris, Juliet must drink a potion that will make her appear to be dead. Juliet returns home to discover the wedding has been moved ahead one day, and she is to be married tomorrow. That night, Juliet drinks the potion, and the Nurse discovers her, apparently dead, the next morning. The Capulets grieve, and Juliet is entombed according to plan.

Its bearer, Friar John, gets confined to a quarantined house. Romeo hears only that Juliet is dead. They fight, and Romeo kills Paris. Just then, Friar Lawrence enters and realizes that Romeo has killed Paris and himself. At the same time, Juliet awakes.