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Book 7: Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

Finished February 8, 2022

I am reading this book with my British Literature students. I considered whether to include it in my project to finish a book a week. In the end, I decided to because 1) the reason I'm reading the book does not detract from the fact that I read the book, and 2) I will be reading all kinds of books during this year-long challenge: books of the Bible, childhood books I haven't read in decades, audiobooks, manuscripts, etc. and I don't want to get legalistic about what should be a joy.

I used to love the story of Romeo and Juliet better than the play. But I think that's because I had difficulty with the language. When I got more familiar with the language, I began to appreciate not just the magnificent story, but the way it was written. 

Shakespeare experienced young love. No one could understand it as well as he without having experienced it. That delightful aching ("Parting is such sweet sorry/The minutes are filled with years"), the delirium of discovering that the object of your desire desires you just as much, the impulsive yet pure emotion, the pledging of undying devotion ...  call me sentimental, but that's the good stuff. 

But there's so much more to this play. Shakespeare was a master of the subtle political joke, the back-handed compliment, and the portrayal of servants and common folk, to which the peasants in the audience could relate. With minimal stage direction, he could tell a story almost entirely in dialogue, and the reader can imagine it in rich detail.

Shakespeare's plays can be read through in around two to three hours (depending on how comfortable one is with Middle English). They are meant to be acted out in around two hours, so Romeo and Juliet is not a long tome. Taking my time and listening along with an unabridged dramatization, I found the story delightful. I was not impatient with the impulsive young lovers. I was on their side. I was swept up in their story, as well as that of the other characters, whose rash actions, bumbling scheming, and bravado (usually) came from a place of loyalty, but ended tragically.

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