Sunday, July 10, 2016

What are two settings in the play Romeo and Juliet?

One critical setting of the play is the church. This setting is especially important because it is the neutral ground where Romeo and Juliet can meet. Not only is the church a neutral turf for both Montagues and Capulets, but it also is where the masculine and feminine worlds overlap. Consider: Romeo is always shown out on the streets of Verona. In the play (and in life, at certain times in history), the public world...

One critical setting of the play is the church. This setting is especially important because it is the neutral ground where Romeo and Juliet can meet. Not only is the church a neutral turf for both Montagues and Capulets, but it also is where the masculine and feminine worlds overlap. Consider: Romeo is always shown out on the streets of Verona. In the play (and in life, at certain times in history), the public world was a world mostly of men. They could go out to conduct business, get a drink, etc, while women were expected to be at home. Of course, that is where we see Juliet for most of the play, either in her family's house or her bedroom or her balcony. The only time we see her out in public is at church. 


Aside from being a setting where different worlds can overlap, the church is ironically a setting for some questionable decisions. Friar Lawrence chooses to marry Romeo and Juliet there, despite knowing the families would object. Here is also where he gives Juliet the advice and medicine to make her appear dead. Some of the critical choices that lead to the tragedy take place in this important setting.


A second important setting for the play is the Capulet's tomb. Like the church, there is some irony here. While the tomb is initially a horrifying setting of violence and death (consider the fight between Romeo and Paris and Romeo and Juliet finding each other's corpses) and a spooky place (think of Friar Laurence getting scared off when Juliet doesn't follow him out). However, it also becomes a place of forgiveness and reconciliation, as the two families vow to bury their feud with their children. 

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