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A review by thefussyreader
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
5.0
No one is more surprised by this rating than me.
I was made to read Romeo and Juliet in about year 9 or 10 in school. I say 'made' because I had a distinct feeling of dislike towards it. At the age of 13/14 years old (Juliet's age in this play). I remember finding the title characters utterly pathetic. (Macbeth was more my cup of tea). But 12 or so years later, I have decided to reread this in my pursuit of reading Shakespeare's complete works.
Strangely, my opinion of this play has changed so utterly that I'm rather shocked. This was actually really, really good.
The storyline itself was great and the writing was quite possibly the best I've read of Shakespeare's. It was very lyrical yet very understandable. I enjoyed this so much and I can't believe it. I also loved how the lovers were the main focus, the only focus, and there weren't any silly subplots with useless characters.
The only thing I would change is that Romeo and Juliet knew each other for longer. If it were a love affair the lasted several months rather than one night, I would have no fault with this at all and would really love this play. Tbh, I'm not even that salty about their joint suicide, it was very beautifully done. I'm not a fan of instalove, but I'll allow it just this once, for the sake of art.
I may expand on this review when I have more time and have let the shock fade and the true brilliance of this play sink in. I may even be tempted to watch some movie adaptations.
There was a lot of standout line for me too.
"Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything, of nothing first create!"
"Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lover's eyes."
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall good night till it be morrow."
"I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when you have found him than he was when you sought him."
"No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man."
I was made to read Romeo and Juliet in about year 9 or 10 in school. I say 'made' because I had a distinct feeling of dislike towards it. At the age of 13/14 years old (Juliet's age in this play). I remember finding the title characters utterly pathetic. (Macbeth was more my cup of tea). But 12 or so years later, I have decided to reread this in my pursuit of reading Shakespeare's complete works.
Strangely, my opinion of this play has changed so utterly that I'm rather shocked. This was actually really, really good.
The storyline itself was great and the writing was quite possibly the best I've read of Shakespeare's. It was very lyrical yet very understandable. I enjoyed this so much and I can't believe it. I also loved how the lovers were the main focus, the only focus, and there weren't any silly subplots with useless characters.
The only thing I would change is that Romeo and Juliet knew each other for longer. If it were a love affair the lasted several months rather than one night, I would have no fault with this at all and would really love this play. Tbh, I'm not even that salty about their joint suicide, it was very beautifully done. I'm not a fan of instalove, but I'll allow it just this once, for the sake of art.
I may expand on this review when I have more time and have let the shock fade and the true brilliance of this play sink in. I may even be tempted to watch some movie adaptations.
There was a lot of standout line for me too.
"Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything, of nothing first create!"
"Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lover's eyes."
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall good night till it be morrow."
"I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when you have found him than he was when you sought him."
"No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man."