“Romeo and Juliet seems to be a story with eternal appeal.How does Shakespeare shape the audience’s response in Romeo & Juliet?”

Throughout time, the story of Romeo and Juliet has certainly proved to withhold eternal appeal. Originating as an Italian poem, which was later translated into English and French, many historical and contemporary writers, inspired by the elaborate story, composed reworks of their own interpretation. One such rework, written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), has long been the most sought-after version of the story since his time. Today, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has endlessly been retold throughout many generations, ethnic groups and audiences. In the analysis of three key episodes from the story, this essay will investigate the methods Shakespeare undertakes to shape the audience’s responses in Romeo and Juliet, and attempt to establish a connection explaining why these responses make Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet a story with eternal appeal.

The first episode which will be analysed, is the opening section of Act 2, Scene 3; Friar Lawrence’s speech (II, iii, 1-30). I...