Why was Shakespeare so successful in his times? How come, his plays drew the masses into the theatres? How did he manage to attract all these different groups of people with different backgrounds at the same time? These are the questions I will have in the back of my mind while writing this paper. I will examine one aspect of his style more closely, which I found in hisRomeo and Juliet.In doing so, I hope to give at least some small explanation of the reason of his overwhelming success.
It was probably in 1595 when Shakespeare wrote this famous tragedy. He was doing so, living in a society which was leaving the Middle Ages far behind and rapidly growing in complexity. The English society was splitting up into a huge variety of different groups and organisations. The Reformation produced a wealth of new religious groupings. Especially the Puritans were to become very influential in England. The rise of the middle class was taking place under the reign of queen Elizabeth, which was combining artisans, merchants and the more prosperous peasants and was accumulating new resources and capital. The aristocracy was changing: It was opening up for new members, mostly wholesalers who had earned a fortune with the profitable overseas trade. The decline of the ancient system of feudalism was highly advanced, which for the common peasant meant that he wasn't tied to his small piece of soil any longer. He was much more mobile now. Family structures were changing as well. The kin (that is the enlarged family) as the main organising factor was beginning to lose ground to the smaller nuclear family.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2.a. Courtly Love
2.b. Romeo - the Petrarchan lover
3.a. Worldly Love
3.b. Juliet: " ...how I love thy company."
4.a. The traditional position
4.b. Capulet - the old-style father
5.a. The new way
5.b. Friar Laurence - the Protestant monk
6.a. The timeless concept of love as sex
6.b. The Nurse: "Women grow by men."
Research Objective and Themes
This paper examines how William Shakespeare successfully integrated diverse and evolving Elizabethan societal concepts of love and marriage into his tragedy Romeo and Juliet, arguing that this reflection of contemporary attitudes was a primary factor in his widespread popularity.
- Analysis of Elizabethan social structures and the transition from feudal to nuclear family models.
- Comparative study of "Courtly Love" and the emerging "Worldly Love" paradigms.
- Evaluation of patriarchal marriage conventions versus the rise of individualistic affection.
- Investigation of religious (Protestant/Catholic) influences on the portrayal of love.
- Examination of the commodification of love as purely physical desire.
Excerpt from the Book
3.a. Worldly Love
The spreading of humanism and individualism in Europe had consequences for the approach to love in literature. In the 16th century a new idea emerged: Worldly Love. Here, the longing for love isn't directed towards the beloved merely as an image of the absolute any longer. Rather, the loved one is loved for his or her unmistakable individual characteristics be they admirable, be they less so. In enjoying this person as an equal counterpart, love reaches its fulfilment. There is a realistic possibility of the reciprocation of affections confessed in the act of wooing. The lover might be successful with the lady losing her distance. Obstacles are not just taken for granted and accepted as a necessary means of one's purification. Instead, their overcoming is sought and marriage becomes the final aim.
Correspondingly, in the plays the characters talk differently. They no longer indulge themselves in eloquent images but have a plainer and soberer style. They also begin to behave in a much more active way. They don't simply accept their fate any longer but try to influence it through their actions.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the historical context of Elizabethan England and poses the thesis that Shakespeare's success stems from his skillful incorporation of contemporary social attitudes toward love.
2.a. Courtly Love: This chapter defines the medieval ideal of "Courtly Love" as a rigid, spiritualized concept of adoration often found in traditional poetry.
2.b. Romeo - the Petrarchan lover: The text analyzes Romeo’s early idealization of Rosaline as a classic manifestation of Petrarchan conventions and abstract devotion.
3.a. Worldly Love: This section introduces the shift toward "Worldly Love," characterized by individualism, mutual affection, and the pursuit of marriage as a realized goal.
3.b. Juliet: " ...how I love thy company.": The author positions Juliet as the antithesis of Petrarchan ideals, highlighting her practical, passionate, and determined approach to love.
4.a. The traditional position: This chapter explores marriage as a functional, collective decision-making process involving lineage and economic stability rather than romance.
4.b. Capulet - the old-style father: The author examines Capulet’s character shift, demonstrating how patriarchal authority and family stability prioritize status over a daughter’s individual consent.
5.a. The new way: This chapter details the socio-religious shift caused by Protestantism, which sanctified marriage and emphasized conjugal affection.
5.b. Friar Laurence - the Protestant monk: The text discusses how the Friar acts as a catalyst, blending religious authority with modern, moderate views on romantic commitment.
6.a. The timeless concept of love as sex: This section addresses the erotic subculture of Elizabethan London and the focus on sexual pleasure independent of romantic ideals.
6.b. The Nurse: "Women grow by men.": The author identifies the Nurse as a character who represents a purely physical, utilitarian perspective on relationships, contrasting sharply with the lovers' emotional bond.
Keywords
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Elizabethan Age, Courtly Love, Worldly Love, Petrarchan Style, Marriage, Protestantism, Humanism, Individualism, Patriarchy, Social History, Literature, Conjugal Affection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how William Shakespeare incorporated the diverse and shifting concepts of love present in Elizabethan society into his play Romeo and Juliet.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study investigates the juxtaposition of traditional medieval ideals, such as Courtly Love, against emerging humanist and Protestant views on marriage and individual choice.
What is the author's central research question?
The author seeks to explain the "secret" of Shakespeare's success by analyzing how he reflected the complex, dynamic social attitudes of his time within his character portrayals.
Which scientific method is applied in this analysis?
The author uses a historical-literary approach, connecting literary analysis of the play's text and characters with secondary socio-historical research on Elizabethan England.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers specific love concepts including Courtly Love, Worldly Love, traditional patriarchal marriage, the impact of Protestant thought, and the role of physical, sexual desire in the London of that era.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Shakespeare, Elizabethan Age, Courtly Love, Worldly Love, Individualism, and Social History.
How does the author characterize Capulet's approach to marriage?
The author presents Capulet as a traditional patriarch whose flexibility regarding his daughter’s marriage vanishes when the family's political stability and lineage requirements are threatened.
Why does the author consider Friar Laurence a "Protestant monk"?
Despite his Catholic role, the Friar is labeled a "Protestant monk" because he advocates for sincere, moderate affection and the legitimization of marriage, which aligns with the Protestant values of the time.
How does Juliet represent the "new way" of loving?
Juliet represents the shift towards "Worldly Love" through her active role in pursuing her partner, her prioritization of sincerity over clichés, and her rejection of the passive, unreachable lady model.
- Quote paper
- Thomas Eger (Author), 2001, Concepts of love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56314
