Romeo and Juliet: Historical and Cultural Context

Study Notes

Romeo and Juliet begins with two armed servants from the Capulet and Montague households engaging in a brawl on the streets of Verona.
Two noblemen, a Capulet and a Montague, join the fight, bringing more weapons and escalating the violence.
Innocent bystanders try to intervene and call for help as the heads of the households arrive
The text mentions this is the third recent brawl between the families
Verona, a city in northern Italy, is described as an armed camp with frequent street fights
Violence in Europe: The Roman streets were once peaceful during the Pax Romana, but after the fall of the Roman Empire, there was an increase in violence during the medieval period
In medieval streets, villages were situated on hills for natural defense and had remnants of high walls
Strong rulers attempted to reduce civil violence by preventing noblemen from fighting each other and enforcing severe punishment for public fighting
Shakespeare's Italy lacked a supreme authority and a divided city states constantly waged war against each other
Verona is depicted as a violent city due to the absence of a strong central authority
Duels, which were formal affairs governed by an intricate code of behavior, emerged during the late Middle Ages as a way for noblemen to restore their honor
Marriage practices in Shakespeare's time were quite different from today: Marriages were motivated by financial, political, and military implications rather than love, and young people's ideas about whom to marry could cause conflict.
Paris, a city relative of the Prince, proposes to marry Juliet, who is only thirteen, and Capulet suggests waiting a couple of summers before pursuing the marriage.
Marriage alliances were important and preventing families from choosing those alliances could cause conflict.
The Friar's plan is for Romeo and Juliet's marriage to create a love alliance that will overcome the long-standing family feud.- Romeo is deeply in love with Rosaline, who is a Capulet and has taken a vow of chastity
He cannot be with Rosaline due to her vow and their family feud
Rosaline's vow is a serious commitment, making a relationship impossible
The text explores the origins of romantic love through the influence of Francesco Petrarch and his poetry
Petrarch, an Italian nobleman, was passionate about literature and was deeply inspired by chivalric romances
He wrote a series of love poems to Laura, a woman he could not have a relationship with
Petrarch's work defined the conventions of love poetry during Shakespeare's time, shaping society's perception of "noble love"
The printing press invention in the late 15th century allowed for mass production of books, spreading Petrarch's influence and shaping English society's attitudes towards love
Romeo's behavior and emotions mirror the Petrarchan rejected lover, with symptoms such as lack of appetite, insomnia, and deep sighs.

Description

Explore the historical and cultural context of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' through a quiz covering themes such as medieval violence, marriage practices, Petrarchan influence, and societal attitudes towards love during the time of the play. Test your knowledge of the societal backdrop against which the famous tragedy unfolds.