On Romeo and Juliet

     I would like to start off by answering the question of what I would change if writing the play. I think I would end up doing everything differently, but not because I wanted to. If I wrote this play, no one would want to read it because somehow I do not seem to be able to write like Shakespeare. But besides that slightly important detail, I don't think I would change anything. I think everyone agrees that the language in this play is beautiful. Changing it to make it easier for younger people to understand would ruin it. The one thing I might do is change the Prologue. Why remind them what happens in the end? I would keep all the explanations of what's going on (These two families are fighting...) What if someone was hearing this story for the first time? I would want it to be a surprise for them, so although I would want them to know what was happening, why spoil the end by telling them the ending? I don't think I would be happy by changing the end, so that they end up alive. It was really frustrating to have everyone come at the wrong time, but I don't want them to run away, either. It was somehow very satisfying to see them all dead. Maybe because I knew that they were supposed to die. Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't change the Prologue. (In case you haven't noticed, I am not good at making decisions.)
     What did I like? There's not much I didn't like, actually. As I mentioned before, although I may not have always understood exactly what was happening, the language was still charming. The very first line I noticed was from Juliet at the end of the first Act. (Now I have to find it so I don't screw it up)

My only love, sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

Prodigious birth of love it is to me

That I must love a loathed enemy.

     While I had to read it more than once to understand completely, I still thought it was amazing! Then, after we finished that, it was pointed out that it was in iambic pentameter. Now, it's not only touching, but there is a further appreciation for the writing. (It would take me quite a while to come up with a rhyme like that)

     My favorite character was probably Friar Lawrence. He always helped out both Romeo and Juliet, and was trying to help the families by marrying them. He stopped both of them from killing themselves before the end. And he said things like "Holy Saint Francis!" He was the only one who is on both sides, really. Romeo and Juliet were wrapped up in themselves. The Capulets and the Montagues hated each other. Mecrutio sided more with the Montagues. Paris and Escalus didn't really help anyone, and Friar John screws everything up for everyone. How could you not like Friar Lawrence? Sure, it's frustrating that he can't save them, and that he couldn't send the letter properly. But I imagined the ending without Friar Lawrence, and it doesn't look too good. Who would be there that knew their story? There was the letter from Romeo, which basically killed him mother, and there was the nurse, who knew a little about the marriage but really thought Juliet had died. So who better to tell the story than our friend the Friar? Sure, he gives Juliet a highly suspicious potion, but it does what he promised. Our job is not to question why this little man is brewing strange potions in his cell, but to appreciate that he has them on hand, just in case someone needs to appear to be dead.

     After him, I don't know who I like better than others. Nurse was sort of strange, sometimes funny, but strange. Juliet more sensible than many of her relatives (any Capulet) and the Montagues, but she went a little crazy after Act II. There seems to be no point where she is not crying or yelling after that. She cries when she hears Romeo is banished, when she sees Friar Lawrence, and then is 'dead' until she actually dies. It's not the best way to be remembered. What she did say in the first two acts was usually either carefully thought or sounded delicate and beautiful. Romeo always seems to be running somewhere, acting quickly, or jumping around. Strangely enough, I always thought of him to be the more relaxed one. Then there's Mecrutio. At first he was slightly scary and strange. But now I just remember him, thanks to Stephanie, as a strange bird. He just said all this strange things. Sometimes they were funny and strange, and sometimes they were just strange. And everyone else was not that great. Paris and Escalus: not that great. Paris was sort of pushy and loud. Escalus didn't do that much, other than ride in at opportune moments. And how could anyones' favorite character be Tybalt? (My apologies to the person who had to be Tybalt. Anna, I believe) He ruined it for the poor Romeo and Juliet. He did make the story more interesting, but that doesn't mean I have to appreciate it. Let's see, who else? There are little people, like Peter, and the Musicians, and the Apothecary. I'm sure that they all would have been great had they been particularly easily remembered by me. Peter stood there a lot. (None of the servants are that memorable, except for the biting of the thumbs) I don't remember much of the Musicians, other than they wouldn't play a song for Peter. The Apothecary just sold him the poison, reluctantly. So they don't really compete for that spot. Then there's Benvolio. He's just a mischievous friend of Romeo. I thought he was a little more adventurous than Romeo, but not as crazy as Mecrutio. He always seemed to want to cheer Romeo up, get him into a better mood. I bet he was probably pretty sad after both Mecrutio and Romeo died.

     Is there anything else? Struggles? Obviously, line by line wasn't always clear. I think I probably got most of the picture, though. It made sense. Sometimes it was better to have to read a little slower, because it was easier to pick up little details, and appreciate the quality of the writing more.

A glooming peace this morning with it brings.

The sun for sorrow will not show his head.

Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;

Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished;

For never was a story of more woe

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

From Romeo and Juliet Act V, Scene III,  (317-322)