Book Review and Synopsis Romeo and Juliet

Book Review

Title                                            : Romeo And Juliet                         

Author                                        : William Shakespeare

Edited by                                   : George Sampson

Number of Page                         : 238 page

Number of Smallroom    : viii

Size                                            : 17 x 11 cm

Price                                           : None

ISBN                                          : None

First Edition                              : 1936

Act                                             : 1 Act (V Scene)

                                                     2 Act  (V Scene)

                                                     3 Act  (V Scene)

                                                     4 Act  (V Scene)

                                                     5 Act  (III Scene)                                    

Published By                              : The Syndics of The Cambridge University Press

Printed in                                   : Great Britain at The University Press, Cambridge

Romeo and Juliet is an excelent introduction to tragedy because, as befits a tale of calamity in which youth perishes trough the stupidities of the old, it is swift, simple, complete and lovely. My personal opinion of this play was not as enthusiastic as it could have been. I think the personalities just weren`t interesting. In most books I can put myself in the characters` places, and really see what they`re thinking. But here, I found that I didn`t particularly care what they were thinking. Don`t get me wrong, I agree that this is a classic of English literature, but I think I liked it more for its storyline than for its characters. If we read the book, we will be shocked and moved by the faithful love between Romeo and Juliet, especially the everlasting spirit of humanism in them, as well as the artistic charm of spoken and written languages. That kind of humanistic spirit filling the Romeo and Juliet is what many works lack or don't have, which shows the high degree of thinking of this work. Humanism is a value of life, thinking and values and a lofty spiritual realm. It is worthy of following and practicing no matter when and what happened for its everlasting. Romeo and Juliet's pursuit of humanistic spirit shows more their dignity and values as human beings, which is why this play can touch human hearts. I will recommend this book to the others especially for younger readers who will study about Shakespeare play.

The Synopsis

The play, set in Verona, begins with a street brawl between Montague and Capulet supporters who are sworn enemies. The Prince of Verona intervenes and declares that further breach of the peace will be punishable by death. Later, Count Paris talks to Capulet about marrying his daughter, but Capulet is wary of the request because Juliet is only thirteen. Capulet asks Paris to wait another two years and invites him to attend a planned Capulet ball. Lady Capulet and Juliet's nurse try to persuade Juliet to accept Paris's courtship.

Meanwhile, Benvolio talks with his cousin Romeo, Montague's son, about Romeo's recent depression. Benvolio discovers that it stems from unrequited infatuation for a girl named Rosaline, one of Capulet's nieces. Persuaded by Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo attends the ball at the Capulet house in hopes of meeting Rosaline. However, Romeo instead meets and falls in love with Juliet. After the ball, in what is now called the "balcony scene", Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard and overhears Juliet at her window vowing her love to him in spite of her family's hatred of the Montagues. Romeo makes himself known to her and they agree to be married. With the help of Friar Laurence, who hopes to reconcile the two families through their children's union, they are secretly married the next day.

Juliet's cousin Tybalt, incensed that Romeo had sneaked into the Capulet ball, challenges him to a duel. Romeo, now considering Tybalt his kinsman, refuses to fight. Mercutio is offended by Tybalt's insolence, as well as Romeo's "vile submission," and accepts the duel on Romeo's behalf. Mercutio is fatally wounded when Romeo attempts to break up the fight. Grief-stricken and wracked with guilt, Romeo confronts and slays Tybalt.

Montague argues that Romeo has justly executed Tybalt for the murder of Mercutio. The Prince, now having lost a kinsman in the warring families' feud, exiles Romeo from Verona and declares that if Romeo returns, "that hour is his last." Romeo secretly spends the night in Juliet's chamber, where they consummate their marriage. Capulet, misinterpreting Juliet's grief, agrees to marry her to Count Paris and threatens to disown her when she refuses to become Paris's "joyful bride." When she then pleads for the marriage to be delayed, her mother rejects her.

Juliet visits Friar Laurence for help, and he offers her a drug that will put her into a death-like coma for "two and forty hours." The Friar promises to send a messenger to inform Romeo of the plan, so that he can rejoin her when she awakens. On the night before the wedding, she takes the drug and, when discovered apparently dead, she is laid in the family crypt.

The messenger, however, does not reach Romeo and, instead, Romeo learns of Juliet's apparent death from his servant Balthasar. Heartbroken, Romeo buys poison from an apothecary and goes to the Capulet crypt. He encounters Paris who has come to mourn Juliet privately. Believing Romeo to be a vandal, Paris confronts him and, in the ensuing battle, Romeo kills Paris. Still believing Juliet to be dead, he drinks the poison. Juliet then awakens and, finding Romeo dead, stabs herself with his dagger. The feuding families and the Prince meet at the tomb to find all three dead. Friar Laurence recounts the story of the two "star-cross'd lovers". The play ends with the families are reconciled by their children's deaths and agree to end their violent feud.