Rene Barber
Voice Production and Speech
Tim Ryan


Romeo and Juliet Reading Assignment


I truly enjoyed reading Romeo and Juliet. I think it's an absolutely beautiful story, which practically anyone can relate to. I mean, honestly, who in the world hasn't been in love with someone, who they know deep inside, they should not be with? Everyone has been in that situation, it's an inevitable dilemma! This story has a way of giving off the feelings of comfort to whom-ever is reading it. I believe it's always nice to know that you're not alone when it comes to dealing with matters of the heart, and "true love." The play also touches base on categorization of humans in society. The controversy between the Montague's and Capulet's can very easily relate directly to our present times period's issues with race, ethnicity, and religious views when it comes to personal love affairs. Just as Romeo and Juliet were not to see each other because of their own personal social status, sadly today’s society is the exact same way. It just shows that history repeats itself, and something’s never change.

As for the language of the play, while it was undoubtedly very beautiful, it was rather difficult to understand in spots because it isn't quite as similar to the way we talk today. The obstacle that took me the longest to grasp was differentiation the iambic pentameter way of practically counting the rhythm of the verse as to reading it like a normal human being. Once I had that under control, and looked up some definitions of unfamiliar words, I was a lot more understanding of the text. I agree, this is definitely not a story that is to be read to you, it was made to be performed. You cannot sit down and expect to take in everything it has to offer, it just doesn’t make sense. You have to see it performed to you, this way you can get a hold of the intense family matters and hostility towards the different groups of people in the story.

The premise of the play, I believe, is the forcefulness of love leading to self-destruction. Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other so fast, and took things at a far more rapid pace then most people did back then. No matter what anyone says, there are many things about sexual exploration between two people that give cause for regret and hesitation, love can make you blind. While the play goes into further details of the passion for hate, as well as the passionate love, the story of the main characters, Romeo and Juliet, over-powers the obvious connection between hate, violence, and death. The connection with love and deadly violence doesn't become apparent until the end of the play, specifically Act V: Scene III, also known as "the death scene," when the two young lovers finish the story in a double homicide.

The part I would love to be casted in is Juliet. She is so confident, yet timid at the same time. She jumps into something, at such a young age, with no real experience. She learns more about herself in the time she knew Romeo than she probably ever did. Her love affair with Romeo gave her something to both live and die for. I feel I would be casted as her, because I do have a youthful look to myself. I do not come over maternal enough to play a part such as Lady Montague or the Nurse. Though I know I could pull off a character such as the Nurse, I just do not feel I look the part.