SECOND WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE INTER-SCHOOL CONTEST

• Historial Background:

Ashcroft, Dame Peggy*

Bernhardt, Sarah*

Burbage, Richard*

Burton, Richard*

Campbell, Mrs. Patrick*

Cronyn, Hume*

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders*

Dench, Judi*

Evans, Dame Edith Mary*

Evans, Maurice*

Forbes-Robertson, Sir Johnston*

Gambon, Michael*

Garrick, David

Hiller, Dame Wendy*

Hopkins, Sir Anthony

Kean, Edmund*

Kemble, Fannie*

Kemble, John Phillip*

Macready, William Charles*

Mansfield, Richard*

O'Toole, Peter*

Olivier, Laurence Kerr, 1st Baron Olivier of Brighton

Redgrave, Sir Michael

Scofield, Paul*

Siddons, Sarah Kemble

Terry, Dame Ellen Alicia

Thompson, Emma*

Thorndike, Dame (Agnes) Sybil.*

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

The story is, of course, about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been at odds with each other for decades. The story combines swordfighting, disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humor, and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love.

In Verona, Italy in the late 1500's, two powerful families the Montagues and the Capulets have been feuding with each other for years. Old Capulet, Juliet's father, throws a party to which he invites to all his friends. The Montagues are not invited of course, but Romeo devises a plan to get a look at Rosaline; a young girl he has been pursing. He disguises himself and slips into the party. Once inside, his attention is stolen; not by Rosaline, but by Juliet. Romeo falls instantly in love, but is disappointed when he finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet notices Romeo too, but she is unaware that he is a member of the hated Montagues.

Not able to believe that the one who caught her eye is a member of the enemy family, Juliet goes out onto her balcony to tell the stars about her strong but forbidden love. At the same time, Romeo is lurking in the bushes below. He overhears Juliet confess her love for him to the heavens. No longer able to control his powerful feelings, Romeo reveals himself to her and admits that he feels the same. The very next day, with the help of Romeo's friend Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet are secretly married.

On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave Juliet, who is devastated by the loss of her love. Juliet's father, not knowing of his daughter's marriage, decides to marry her to another young man named Paris.

In despair, Juliet consults with Friar Laurence. He advises her to agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her. She does as the Friar says and is put into the vault by her heartbroken parents.

Bad news travels fast. Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly kills. Nothing will stop him from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last breath next to his sleeping wife.

Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous impact on both the Montagues and the Capulets. The families are hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to never fight again.

• Questions about the book:

From days ago, Romeo was so melancholic. He was crying and he didn't want to hear or talk to any of his friends. He was always alone and nobody knew what was he thinking about.

That her daughter was still a little girl, but he was an important man who could make her so happy; and that it was an excellent opportunity to the family. So he accepted his offer.

Romeo was cautivated by Juliet. It was the first time that they saw each other, and they fall in love at the moment.

Caulets announced her little daughter marriage with Dave Paris.

Because Montagues & Capulets were two powerful families, who have been feuding with each other for years. Their hate was the biggest one in that time.

Because, he was an important man who could make her little daughter so happy; and it was an excellent opportunity to the family. Her suitor was Dave Paris.

She compared him to a falcon.

Because he wanted stop the hate between the Capulets & Montagues, getting the peace with their children marriage.

On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave Juliet Verona.

He advises her to agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her.

Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly kills. Nothing will stop him from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last breath next to his sleeping wife.

Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous impact on both the Montagues and the Capulets. The families are hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to never fight again.

Second Stage:

Yes, I agree with this opinion, because if he had been really in love with her, he would have fought until he could be with her. If there is a true love between two persons, it will never makes one of them to forget or replace the other with a third person.

In old days this situations was more acceptable than in our days. Today there are lots of factors that make it very difficult. Currently, people and society think and live different than the way Romeo and Juliet used to live. Prejudices have been increasing from those days until the present.

I personally think that it isn't a good idea to get married before getting a diploma, before getting a carrier or a profession. Young persons are the present and the future of their nations; so, marriage makes it more difficult for a person to study. Marriage is a serious compromise that has to be taken with a mature mentality, if not, it will bring lots of problems that will destroy the couple and its children.

I really think that the menssioned suicides for love, are not really for love. The desesperation and the fear of being alone, or losing someone who we think we really love, makes us to take this senseless decision. Love never destroys, it creates.

It was late to make up their quarrel. Hate killed themselves.

It's very sad that some of them had to die to achive peace, and forget the hate.

Heaven found a way of killing a hate with love.