Origins :
Origins Arthur Brooke’s Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet (1562)
French prose version by Pierre Boiastuau (1562)
Italian version by Bandello (1554)
Luigi da Porto’s 1525 version of
Masuccio Salernitano’s 1476 tale
Modifications :
Modifications Brooke’s narrative is Will’s source
Theatrical compression
Mercutio’s brilliance
Nurse’s vulgarity, meddling and earthiness
Juliet’s age 13
Primary Distinction :
Primary Distinction LANGUAGE’s thematic presence
Names, verbal actions
Not Will being sly—rather, depicting rhetorical culture: HOW TO DO THINGS WITH WORDS
What do these characters do with words? :
What do these characters do with words? INSULT
INVITE
CONFESS (formally and informally)
CONJURE
CURSE
MAKE CONTRACTS
VOW
BANISH
Why words? :
Why words? Will’s irrational passion
Indulged upon to appeal to audience
The challenge of puns
Puns not just to prove authenticity of sentiments… :
Puns not just to prove authenticity of sentiments… Romeo and Juliet also pun
Romeo and “engrossing”
Juliet and “restorative”
Both the lovers with “die” orgasm
Expand language’s options
Aid reader’s contradictions and connections
Breathe life into the text—no mutually-exclusive meanings