Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare based his play “Romeo and Juliet” on an earlier poem written by Arthur Brookes. It was called “Romeus and Juliet”. The poem was adapted into a play by Shakespeare. In the play he explores strong emotions like love and hate, this stays in it throughout the play. “Romeo and Juliet” is set in a place called Verona in Italy. Shakespeare set it in Italy as this to him was the centre of the renaissance; Shakespeare showed how Italy was a very cosmopolitan country.

Shakespeare creates tension prior to act one scene five in the form of a sonnet “two star crossed lovers who’s death buries their parents strife” this shows that Shakespeare already mentions the fatal consequences of Romeo and Juliet meeting to the audience. However I don’t think this is a good idea as the audience then knows what will happen as a conclusion of the events that will take place and this might not keep people interested. Shakespeare also introduces a fight scene right at the start of the play. The Montague servants reach a conflict between the Capulet servants. When Benvolio (cousin of Romeo) says to Tybalt (nephew of lord Capulet) “peace” Tybalt replies “peace, I hate the word all Montague's