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William Shakespeare died at the age of approximately 50 on April 23, 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Brief summary of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most famous romantic tragedy in the world. Its protagonists, Romeo Montesco and Juliet Capulet, are two young Italians who fall in love but belong to families that are enemies.
The story takes place in the city of Verona, Italy, where these two rival families have an old grudge that causes constant disputes. Despite this, the two descendants of each family, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love at first sight and live a passionate and fleeting romance.
The entire story takes place in about six days; the lovers meet secretly, declare their love for each other and later, with the help of Fray Lorenzo, they secretly marry. After the wedding there is a confrontation between the Montagues and the Capulet where Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio, dies, assassinated by Teobaldo Capuleto, Juliet’s cousin.
By way of revenge, Romeo kills Teobaldo and later goes to Mantua, exiled.
Later, Julieta’s father decides to marry her to Count Paris. Fray Lorenzo helps her again, offering her a potion of hers to impersonate her dead. Juliet puts this plan into practice but Romeo never finds out about her ruse and believes her truly dead. Romeo then returns to Verona and, once in Juliet’s mausoleum, devastated by the death of his beloved, he drinks poison and dies.
Juliet, waking up and seeing her lover dead, takes her dagger and commits suicide.
Juliet’s key monologues
During the course of the story, Juliet, through different monologues, expresses her internal conflicts and her feelings towards Romeo. Below are some of her standout monologues, translated into Spanish.
ACT TWO, SCENE II: The famous balcony scene in the Capulet garden
This scene takes place after the protagonists met at a meeting. In this part of the monologue, Juliet expresses her frustration at learning that Romeo belongs to her rival family. She does it out loud, unaware that Romeo is under the balcony.
JULIET Romeo, Romeo! Why are you Romeo? Why don’t you deny the name of your father and mother? And if you don’t have courage for so much, love me, and I won’t have myself for a Capulet.
[…]
JULIET.—You are not my enemy. It is the name of Montague, which you bear. And what does Montague mean? He is neither foot nor hand nor arm, nor countenance nor any piece of human nature. Why don’t you take another name? The rose would not stop being a rose, and spreading its aroma, even if it had another name. In the same way my dear Romeo, even if he had another name, he would keep all the good qualities of his soul, which do not come to him by inheritance. Leave your name, Romeo, and in exchange for your name, which is not a substantial thing, take my whole soul.
Other monologues from the same scene
After some tribulations, Julieta comes to the conclusion that a person is more than their last name; likewise, Romeo’s family does not prevent him from loving or being lovable. She later finds out that Romeo heard her words. Later, both declare their love openly and the plan to get married comes up.
[…]
JULIET.—And who are you that, in the middle of the shadows of the night, you come to surprise my secrets?
[…]
JULIET.—If the cloak of night did not cover me, the blush of a virgin would rise to my cheeks, remembering the words that you heard me tonight. In vain I would like to correct or deny them… Vain resistance! Do you love me? I know you will tell me yes, and that I will believe it. And yet you could break your oath, because they say that Jove laughs at the perjurers of lovers. If you really love me, Romeo, say it sincerely, and if you think I’m easy and surrendered at the first request, tell me too, so that I’ll be elusive and frowning, and so you’ll have to beg me. I love you very much, Montague, very much, and don’t take me lightly, before I have to be more firm and constant than those who suffer disdain because they are cunning. I will confess to you that I would have kept more dissimulation with you, if you had not heard those words that, without thinking about it, they revealed to you all the ardor of my heart. Forgive me, and don’t judge lightness giving up so soon. The loneliness of the night has done it.
[…]
JULIET.—Don’t swear by the moon, which in its rapid movement changes its appearance every month. Don’t go imitating her fickleness.
[…]
JULIET.— (Looking out of the window again.) I’ll only say two words to you. If the end of your love is honored, if you want to get married, tell the messenger I will send you tomorrow, how and when you want to celebrate the sacred ceremony. I will sacrifice my life to you and I will go after you through the world.
SCENE V
In this monologue, Juliet shows her impatience while waiting for her nurse to bring her news of Romeo.
[…]
JULIET If she hasn’t found it? But if! How clumsy and lazy! Thought alone should be the nuncio of love. He runs faster than the sun’s rays when they drive away the shadows of the mountains. That’s why they paint love with wings. The sun is already halfway through his career. Three hours go by from nine to twelve, and he hasn’t come back yet. If she had youthful blood and soul, she would return with the words from her mouth; but her old age is heavy as lead.
ACT THREE, SCENE II
In this scene, Juliet again waits to hear from Romeo and mentions that she hasn’t consummated her marriage yet. Later, she receives the news that Romeo has killed Teobaldo. After the initial shock , she defends Romeo and again confirms her love for him.
[…]
JULIET.—Run, run to the house of Phoebus, winged steeds of the sun. Phaethon’s whip cast you into sunset. Come the sweet night to hang its thick curtains. Close oh sun! your penetrating eyes, and he lets my Romeo come to me in silence, and invisible throw himself into my arms. Love is blind and it loves the night, and in its mysterious light lovers keep their appointments. Come, majestic night, matron of humble and black tunic, and teach me how to lose in the soft game, where virgins pawn their chastity. Cover with your mantle the pure blood that burns on my cheeks. Come, night; come, Romeo, you who are my day in the middle of this night, you who before its darkness seem like a snowflake on the black wings of the raven. Come, dark night, friend of lovers, and return me to my Romeo. And when he dies You turn each piece of your body into a shining star, which serves as an ornament to your mantle, so that everyone falls in love with the night, falling out of love with the sun. I have already acquired the castle of my love, but I do not possess it yet. I am already sold, but not given to my lord. What a long day! as long as Sunday eve for the child who has to wear a new suit on him. But here comes my mistress, and she will bring me news of him.
ACT FOUR, SCENE I
In this scene, Juliet reveals to Fray Lorenzo her despair because her family wants to marry her to Count Paris. She also hints at her desire to stab herself to death if she can’t be with Romeo. At her request for help, Fray Lorenzo gives him her potion.
[…]
JULIET.—Father, don’t tell me they say such a thing, if at the same time you don’t think, in your wisdom and prudence, some way to avoid it. And if you don’t console me, I’ll know how to remedy myself with a dagger. You, in the name of the Lord, joined my hand with that of Romeo, and before this hand, where his seal was stamped by you, consent to another union, or I sully his faith, kill us this iron. Advise me well, or iron will sentence the lawsuit that neither your gray hair nor your science know how to resolve. Don’t stop; answer me or die
SCENE III
Already in her room, Juliet faces her fear of death, doubts Fray Lorenzo and expresses her uncertainty of not knowing if she will see Romeo again. Finally, she takes the potion. It is Juliet’s longest monologue in the play and perhaps the most dramatic.
[…]
JULIET Farewell! Who knows if we will see each other again! An icy fear runs through my veins and almost snuffs out my breath of life. Shall I tell them to come back? Mistress… But what is it to call her? I alone must represent this tragedy. Come to my hands, blister. And if this liquor did not produce its effect, would I have to be the count’s wife? No, no, never; you will know how to prevent it. Here, here I have it saved. (Pointing to the dagger.)
And if this liquor was a poison prepared by the friar to kill me and avoid his responsibility for having married Romeo? But my fear is in vain. If they say that he is a saint! Far from me such base thoughts! What if I wake up locked in the coffin, before Romeo gets back? How awful! In that narrow enclosure, without light, without air… I’m going to drown before he arrives. And the terrifying image of death… and the night… and the horror of the site… the tomb of my elders… those bones piled up for so many centuries… the body of Teobaldo that is rotting very close by… the spirits that, according to what they say , they interrupt… at night, the silence of that solitude… Oh, my God! Isn’t it easy that when I wake up, breathing those miasmas, hearing those lugubrious moans that usually make mortals torpor, those cries similar to the complaints of the mandrake when it is torn from the ground… Is it not easy for me to lose my reason, and start playing in my madness with the bones of my ancestors, or to strip the corpse of Teobaldo of its funeral veil? , or to crush my skull with the pieces of the skeleton of one of my illustrious elders? See… It’s the shadow of my cousin, who comes with bare steel, looking for his Romeo slayer. Stop, Tybalt! To the health of Romeo! looking for his slayer Romeo. Stop, Tybalt! To the health of Romeo! looking for his slayer Romeo. Stop, Tybalt! To the health of Romeo!
ACT FIVE, SCENE III
Juliet’s last monologues take place in this scene, when she wakes up in the Capulet mausoleum and discovers that Romeo has died of poisoning. Finally, she takes the dagger and commits suicide.
[…]
JULIET.—I will stay here. My husband! But what do I see? He has a cup in his hands. With poison she has hastened her death. Cruel! She didn’t leave me a drop to drink. But I will kiss your lips that perhaps contain some trace of the poison. He will kill me and save me.
(She kisses him.) I still feel the warmth of her lips.
[…]
JULIET.—I feel footsteps. It is necessary to abbreviate.
(Takes up ROMEO’s dagger.)
Sweet iron, rest in my heart, while I die!
END OF THE WORK
This Shakespearean masterpiece ends with the death of both protagonists and the account of all the events that occurred narrated by Fray Lorenzo. The death of the lovers stirs the rival families and puts an end to the disputes between the Montagues and the Capulet.
Bibliography
- Analysis of the literary work – Romeo and Juliet . (2011, September 1). Available at: http://mantd2012.blogspot.com/2011/09/analisis-de-la-obra-literaria-romeo-y.html
- Shakespeare, W. Romeo and Juliet. (2019). Mario’s books Available online at: https://www.librosdemario.com/romeo-y-julieta-leer-online-gratis/6-paginas
- Shakespeare, W. Romeo and Juliet . (Original version in English). Available online at: http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html
- Perrel, C. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare . (Reading Guide): Full Summary and Analysis . (2016). Spain. SummaryExpress.com
