There's a lot more comedic characters and double entendres in Romeo and Juliet than in Shakespeare's other tragedies; I've honestly always wondered if it were meant to be a dark comedy.
yea, I agree on the dark comedy. I think that's why his prologue tells the audience what will happen, let's them know the ending is dark and allows the story to be hilarious until Tybalt and Mercutio sword fight and tragedy begins.
Sorry but I don't see how this is a Catholic story. As a young lady, I really liked this play. However, in the last few years, I find these types of stories harmful to young people. It fills their heads with nonsense and encourages rash behavior.
The two lovers marry in secret, (against their parents wishes,) which goes against Church teaching. No one is permitted to marry in secret.
When things don't work out, they suicide, which breaks the commandments of God.
In the play, the priest and Romeo's friends describe him as a boy who lusts after one girl and then by evening he's madly in love with Juliet. His love is in his eyes. He's a bunch of uncontrolled passions and emotions.
I have never read the interpretation of this play in the way you have presented it. So, I'm surprised at this attempt to make it appear Catholic. Moreover, the numerous movies made with this play, display a lot of nudity and kissing, if anything, this play makes a mockery of being Catholic.
thanks for sharing. if i could offer something to consider when hearing Shakespeare would be the Catechism's teaching on interpreting scriptures (around paragraph 115), that there is literal and spiritual meaning. Because of the severe anti-Catholic laws at the time, Shakespeare had to use "masks" to disguise his message. For example, Romeo's first love interest that he so easily forgets is a symbol of the State church. Again, the exchange of when Romeo first sees Juliet is romantic and whimsical, but it is also layered with strong Catholic imagery that harkens to Isaiah's seeing the Lord in glory and having his sin purged before being commissioned as a Prophet (Isaiah 6). Later, when Romeo describes his love and plans for marriage, he uses phrases from John 1 (grace for grace) in how John describes Jesus and applies it to Juliet. These are purposeful allusions to powerful Catholic scriptures Shakespeare places on Romeo's lips to describe Juliet.
Thank you for the explanation, wow I never learned about the restrictions on Catholics in England, neither in history class nor during English Literature studies. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it.
one more item to consider. at the time, all Catholic marriages were illegal in England. And therefor performed in secret. Only when they had kids would there be a reason to go through the state service and register their marriage so that their kids would not be considered "bastards" under the law. So, Romeo & Juliet marrying in secret and not telling "the authorities" would line up with the Catholic experience in England at the time. Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, hope these make sense. thanks!
But there's so many dick jokes in it...
There's a lot more comedic characters and double entendres in Romeo and Juliet than in Shakespeare's other tragedies; I've honestly always wondered if it were meant to be a dark comedy.
yea, I agree on the dark comedy. I think that's why his prologue tells the audience what will happen, let's them know the ending is dark and allows the story to be hilarious until Tybalt and Mercutio sword fight and tragedy begins.
Sorry but I don't see how this is a Catholic story. As a young lady, I really liked this play. However, in the last few years, I find these types of stories harmful to young people. It fills their heads with nonsense and encourages rash behavior.
The two lovers marry in secret, (against their parents wishes,) which goes against Church teaching. No one is permitted to marry in secret.
When things don't work out, they suicide, which breaks the commandments of God.
In the play, the priest and Romeo's friends describe him as a boy who lusts after one girl and then by evening he's madly in love with Juliet. His love is in his eyes. He's a bunch of uncontrolled passions and emotions.
I have never read the interpretation of this play in the way you have presented it. So, I'm surprised at this attempt to make it appear Catholic. Moreover, the numerous movies made with this play, display a lot of nudity and kissing, if anything, this play makes a mockery of being Catholic.
thanks for sharing. if i could offer something to consider when hearing Shakespeare would be the Catechism's teaching on interpreting scriptures (around paragraph 115), that there is literal and spiritual meaning. Because of the severe anti-Catholic laws at the time, Shakespeare had to use "masks" to disguise his message. For example, Romeo's first love interest that he so easily forgets is a symbol of the State church. Again, the exchange of when Romeo first sees Juliet is romantic and whimsical, but it is also layered with strong Catholic imagery that harkens to Isaiah's seeing the Lord in glory and having his sin purged before being commissioned as a Prophet (Isaiah 6). Later, when Romeo describes his love and plans for marriage, he uses phrases from John 1 (grace for grace) in how John describes Jesus and applies it to Juliet. These are purposeful allusions to powerful Catholic scriptures Shakespeare places on Romeo's lips to describe Juliet.
Thank you for the explanation, wow I never learned about the restrictions on Catholics in England, neither in history class nor during English Literature studies. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it.
one more item to consider. at the time, all Catholic marriages were illegal in England. And therefor performed in secret. Only when they had kids would there be a reason to go through the state service and register their marriage so that their kids would not be considered "bastards" under the law. So, Romeo & Juliet marrying in secret and not telling "the authorities" would line up with the Catholic experience in England at the time. Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, hope these make sense. thanks!