Why was Shakespeare so successful in his times? How come, his plays drew the masses into the theatres? How did he manage to attract all these different groups of people with different backgrounds at the same time? These are the questions I will have in the back of my mind while writing this paper. I will examine one aspect of his style more closely, which I found in hisRomeo and Juliet.In doing so, I hope to give at least some small explanation of the reason of his overwhelming success.
It was probably in 1595 when Shakespeare wrote this famous tragedy. He was doing so, living in a society which was leaving the Middle Ages far behind and rapidly growing in complexity. The English society was splitting up into a huge variety of different groups and organisations. The Reformation produced a wealth of new religious groupings. Especially the Puritans were to become very influential in England. The rise of the middle class was taking place under the reign of queen Elizabeth, which was combining artisans, merchants and the more prosperous peasants and was accumulating new resources and capital. The aristocracy was changing: It was opening up for new members, mostly wholesalers who had earned a fortune with the profitable overseas trade. The decline of the ancient system of feudalism was highly advanced, which for the common peasant meant that he wasn't tied to his small piece of soil any longer. He was much more mobile now. Family structures were changing as well. The kin (that is the enlarged family) as the main organising factor was beginning to lose ground to the smaller nuclear family.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2.a. Courtly Love
- 2.b. Romeo the Petrarchan lover
- 3.a. Worldly Love
- 3.b. Juliet: "...how I love thy company."
- 4.a. The traditional position
- 4.b. Capulet - the old-style father
- 5.a. The new way
- 5.b. Friar Laurence - the Protestant monk
- 6.a. The timeless concept of love as sex
- 6.b. The Nurse: "Women grow by men."
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the various concepts of love present in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, offering insight into the playwright's success by examining how he incorporated diverse societal views on love and marriage into his work. The analysis focuses on the juxtaposition of different perspectives prevalent in Elizabethan England, highlighting Shakespeare's skill in appealing to a broad audience.
- Courtly Love vs. Worldly Love
- The evolving concept of marriage and its relationship to societal changes
- The influence of religious and social shifts on views of love and relationships
- The portrayal of diverse characters with contrasting perspectives on love
- Shakespeare's incorporation of contemporary ideas into his plays
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by posing questions about Shakespeare's widespread appeal. It highlights the backdrop of Elizabethan England – a society undergoing rapid transformation with shifts in religious affiliations (the rise of Puritanism), the growth of the middle class, the changing aristocracy, and the evolution of family structures from extended kinship to the nuclear family. These societal changes brought about new perspectives on love and marriage, a central focus of the paper. The chapter establishes the juxtaposition of various love concepts in Shakespeare's time as a key element contributing to the success of his works. The author posits that Shakespeare's masterful observation and incorporation of these different perspectives into his plays is the core of his popularity.
2.a. Courtly Love: This section delves into the concept of Courtly Love, a medieval ideal that still held sway during Shakespeare's time. It characterizes Courtly Love as an idealized, almost religious devotion to an unattainable, pure woman. The lover's pursuit is focused on love itself rather than the woman, entailing self-purification and the acceptance of hardship. The ultimate union is viewed as achievable only in the afterlife. The section connects this concept to the literary style of Petrarch, emphasizing the use of artificial language, conceits, and oxymorons to reflect the complexity of this idealized love.
Frequently Asked Questions: Romeo and Juliet - A Study of Love in Elizabethan England
What is the overall objective of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the diverse concepts of love presented in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It examines how Shakespeare successfully integrated various societal views on love and marriage into his work, appealing to a broad Elizabethan audience. The analysis focuses on contrasting perspectives of the era, highlighting Shakespeare's skill in portraying them.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes: the contrast between Courtly Love and Worldly Love; the evolution of marriage and its connection to societal changes; the impact of religious and social shifts on views of love and relationships; the portrayal of diverse characters with varying perspectives on love; and Shakespeare's incorporation of contemporary ideas into his plays.
What is the structure of the paper, as outlined in the table of contents?
The paper is structured as follows: An introduction setting the scene in Elizabethan England; a section on Courtly Love and its representation in the play, particularly through Romeo; a section on Worldly Love and its portrayal through Juliet; a section contrasting traditional and evolving views on family and marriage represented by Capulet and Friar Laurence respectively; and finally, a section exploring the concept of love as sex, exemplified by the Nurse's character. Each section analyzes specific characters and their perspectives on love within the broader societal context.
What is the context provided by the introduction?
The introduction establishes the historical context of Elizabethan England, characterized by rapid societal transformation: shifts in religious affiliations (the rise of Puritanism), the growth of the middle class, changing aristocratic structures, and the evolution of family structures. These changes significantly impacted views on love and marriage, creating a fertile ground for diverse perspectives that Shakespeare skillfully portrayed.
How does the paper define and analyze Courtly Love?
The paper defines Courtly Love as a medieval ideal still prevalent during Shakespeare's time. It's characterized as an idealized, almost religious devotion to an unattainable, pure woman. The focus is on the love itself rather than the woman, involving self-purification and the acceptance of hardship. The ultimate union is often viewed as achievable only in the afterlife. The analysis links this concept to Petrarchan literary style, noting the use of artificial language, conceits, and oxymorons to depict the complexities of this idealized love.
What other types of love are discussed besides Courtly Love?
Besides Courtly Love, the paper explores Worldly Love, contrasting it with the idealized nature of Courtly Love. It also analyzes the evolving concept of marriage and its relationship to societal shifts. The paper examines how Shakespeare presents different perspectives on love through various characters, such as the traditional Capulet and the more progressive Friar Laurence. Finally, it also examines the straightforward view of love as sex, reflecting a more earthy perspective.
What is the significance of the character analyses in the paper?
The character analyses are crucial to the paper's argument. By examining the perspectives of Romeo (Petrarchan lover), Juliet (representing a more earthly love), Capulet (representing traditional views on marriage), Friar Laurence (representing a more progressive, possibly Protestant view), and the Nurse (representing a pragmatic and somewhat cynical view of love and relationships), the paper demonstrates the wide range of perspectives Shakespeare incorporated into his play, contributing to its enduring appeal.
What is the overall conclusion implied by the paper's structure and summaries?
The paper suggests that Shakespeare's mastery lies in his ability to observe and incorporate the diverse and often conflicting perspectives on love and marriage prevalent in Elizabethan England into his work. This masterful portrayal of societal complexity and nuances is posited as the key reason behind the enduring popularity and impact of his plays, specifically Romeo and Juliet.
- Quote paper
- Thomas Eger (Author), 2001, Concepts of love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56314
