tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-19:360115palmedfirepalmedfirepalmedfire2011-02-16T04:20:27Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-19:360115:30273Read in 2011 #3 - Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (NOOKbook)2011-02-16T04:20:27Z2011-02-16T04:20:27Zpublic0So I decided that due to my obsession/fascination with the <a href="http://www.takarazuka-revue.info/tiki-index.php?page=Romeo+to+Juliette+%28Star+2010%29">musical version</a>, I felt a need to reread Romeo & Juliet. <br /><br />Now in the interest of being upfront and honest about such things, I am forced to admit that R&J has long been one of my least favorite of Shakespeare's plays. Even above and beyond the fact that I generally prefer his comedies to his tragedies, R&J has long struck me as less a 'timeless, epic tale of tragic love' and more a 'misguided lust makes teenagers do stupid shit' story. But I so completely buy Hoshigumi's version of the musical I thought it was only fair to give the original source another shot.<br /><br />General verdict is, no, I still dislike it greatly. Romeo especially reads as being motivated more by lust and overly romantic ideals of perfect love rather than genuine love for Juliet. There's nothing really different in how he talks about Juliet than in how he talked about Rosaline at the beginning of the play, except in the fact that she returns his affections. If the duel with Tybalt hadn't happened, I wonder if Romeo wouldn't have found his eye wandering once the initial rush of "ZOMG Twu Luv!" wore off.<br /><br />Juliet's love for Romeo I believe slightly more, if only because she's far more level-headed about it. I mean granted, she does do the whole "fake her death" thing, but that's because she doesn't want to break her marriage vows. Despite her nurse being all like "Oh Paris is such a better catch anyway" >.< And I realize it's <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ValuesDissonance">Values Dissonance</a>, but the fact that Juliet's only thirteen really squicks me.<br /><br />I think, when it comes down to it, R&J just isn't a story I can buy into on paper. Even most stage and screen productions leave me sort of flat. Ah well, I suppose I'm just not much of a romantic at heart<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=palmedfire&ditemid=30273" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments