Characters
Escalus, Duke of Verona.
Paris, a young patrician, is his relative.
Montagues and Capulets are the heads of two families at war with each other.
Uncle Capulet.
Romeo, son of Montague.
Mercutio, relative of the Duke, friend of Romeo.
Benvolio, nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo.
Tybaldo, nephew of Capulet's wife.
Lorenzo, Giovanni - Franciscan monks.
Balthasar, Romeo's servant.
Samson, Gregorio - Capulet servants.
Pietro, servant of Juliet's nurse.
Abramo, Montague's servant.
Pharmacist.
Three musicians.
An officer.
Page Mercutio.
Paris's page.
Signora Montague.
Signora Capulet.
Juliet, daughter of Capulet.
Juliet's nurse.
Verona citizens, relatives and relatives of both warring families, masks, guards and servants.
The location is Verona, one scene of Act V is Mantua.
Prologue
The Choir enters.
Choir
Two noble families, equal
Venerable ones, they lived in Verona,
But hatred tormented them for a long time, -
They were always at odds with each other.
Their strife led them to vengeance,
And their hands were stained with blood;
But they produced two hearts,
To the evil of enmity, burning with love,
And the sad fate of two loving people
The ancient discord has ceased.
The names of those fierce struggles,
Lovers' death, their passionate love's strength, -
This is what we will depict for you here,
I ask you for two hours of patience,
And if we miss something, we'll give it to you
We are in action on the stage of explanation.
Act I
Scene 1
City square in Verona. Samson and Gregorio enter, armed with swords and shields.
Samson
Gregorio, I guarantee that we will not allow anyone to spit in our faces!
Gregorio
Still would! The face is not a spittoon.
Samson
I want to say that when we are angry, we will quickly draw our swords from their scabbards.
Gregorio
And while you are alive, don’t get into trouble.
Samson
When I'm pissed off, I'm quick to strike.
Gregorio
But it won’t be long before you can be riled up enough to get hit.
Samson
Every dog from the Capulet house drives me crazy.
Gregorio
To go out means to move, and to be brave means to stand strong; therefore, if you lose your temper, you will become afraid and run away.
Samson
The dog of the house of Capulet will make me stand strong; I’ll definitely hit the wall, fighting off every man or girl from this house.
Gregorio
Well, it’s clear that you are a weak slave: only the weakest are pinned to the wall.
Samson
Right; Therefore, women, as weaker vessels, are always pushed against the wall. I will push the Montague servants away from the wall, and I will push the maids against the wall.
Gregorio
But our masters are quarreling, and we are only their servants.
Samson
It does not matter. I will show myself as a tyrant: having beaten the men, I will not give mercy to the girls either: I will rip off their heads.
Gregorio
Will you rip the girls' heads off?
Samson
Well, yes, or their virginity, take it as you wish.
Gregorio
Those who feel should understand.
Samson
They will feel me; I stand up for myself; I'm known to be a healthy piece of meat.
Gregorio
It's good that you're not a fish; If you were a fish, you would be no good for hell. Take out your tool: there are people coming from the Montague house.
Abramo and Balthazar enter.
Samson
My weapon is drawn. Start a fight, and I will be behind you and support you.
Gregorio
Yes, you will run away!
Samson
Don't worry about me.
Gregorio
I'm not worried about you, damn it! Worry about you!
Samson
Let the law be on our side: let them begin.
Gregorio
I will furrow my brows as they pass us; let them take it as they wish.
Samson
That is, how dare they. I will bite my finger on them, and it will be a shame for them if they put up with it.
Abramo
Are you the one who bit your finger on us, sir?
Samson
(addressing Gregorio)
Will the law be on our side if I say yes?
Gregorio
Samson
No, sir, not on you, I just bit my finger.
Gregorio
Do you want to start a quarrel, sir?
Abramo
A quarrel? What quarrel? No, sir.
Samson
If you wish, I am at your service, sir. I am in the service of a master who is no worse than yours.
Abramo
And no better.
Samson
Okay, sir.
Benvolio appears in the distance.
Gregorio
Admit it's better. Here comes one of my master's relatives.
Samson
Yes, better, sir.
Abramo
Samson
Take out your swords if you are men. Gregorio, remember your famous blow.
(They fight.)
Benvolio enters.
Benvolio
Be gone, fools! Sheathe your swords; you don't know what you're doing.
(Knocks the swords out of their hands.)
Tybaldo enters.
Tybaldo
With a sword in hand, among these worthless servants!
Turn around, Benvolio, look
To your death.
Benvolio
I bring peace
No more. Sheathe your sword
Or help me separate this bastard.
Tybaldo
You take out your sword and talk about peace!
I hate that word just as much
Like hell, like all the Montagues and you.
Coward, defend yourself!
(They fight.)
Various adherents of both families enter, then citizens come running with sticks and reeds.
First Citizen
Hey! halberds, clubs and reeds!
Beat them! Down with the Montagues, Capulets!
Enter Capulet in a dressing gown and Signora Capulet.
Capulet
What's all this noise? Give me my long sword!
Signora Capulet
Crutch, crutch! Why do you need your sword?
Capulet
Sword, I say! Old Montague is coming,
He waves his blade,
With a threat to me.
Enter Montague and Signora Montague.
Montagues
Wretched Capulet!
(To my wife.)
Let me in!
Signora Montague
You won’t take a single step;
I won’t allow you to attack the enemy.
The Duke and his retinue enter.
Duke
Rebels, enemies of peace,
Disgracing their swords with blood
Fellow citizen! Hey! – don’t they hear?.. People, animals,
Extinguishing the fire of their enmity
Destructive purple jets
From your veins! On pain of torture, stop
Weapons from bloody hands
And listen to the angry prince.
Three times already internecine strife,
Of trifles, you old Capulet,
And you, Montagues, disturbed the peace
On the streets of Verona, forcing
Its citizens, sedately taking off their attire,
Grab the old reeds,
So that in your inveterate enmity
Take part, when again?
Dare to break the silence
On the streets, then you are with your life
Responsible for the outraged world.
This time let everyone else
They go away; you, old Capulet,
Come with me, and you, Montague, to our
The court of justice will come to us, in the afternoon,
To listen to our further orders.
Everyone - get away from here, under penalty of death!
The Duke, his retinue, Capulet with Lady Capulet, citizens and servants leave.
Montagues
Who reignited the old enmity?
Were you here when the quarrel arose?
Benvolio
No; your enemy and your servant
They were already gathered when I approached;
I wanted to separate them, but at that moment
Fiery Tybaldo appeared,
With a sword in hand; he insulted me
Waving your sword over your head
Through the air that only whistled
In response to him, as if with contempt.
While we were exchanging
With blows; more and more flocked
People from two warring sides,
To take part in the general dump,
Until our Duke separated them.
Signora Montague
Have you seen Romeo today?
I'm so glad that he wasn't there
During this fight! Where is he?
Benvolio
Signora,
An hour before at the golden window
The sun showed its face to the East,
Excited, I went out to wander
And in that fig grove to the west
It lies from the city, I saw
At such an early hour Romeo wandered.
I headed towards him, but I
Having noticed, he disappeared into the thicket of the forest.
I realized, judging by myself, that he
Is in that state of mind
In which we wish the more strongly
To get away from everyone, the more they look for us;
And, busy with himself, he didn’t
Disturb him by giving in to his thoughts.
I was glad to avoid meeting with him
Who ran from me, wanting to hide.
Montagues
We've seen him in the grove many times,
During the hours of the morning; cold dew
Romeo strengthened there with tears
And he added new clouds to the clouds
Through the mists of your deep sighs.
But only the farthest edge of the east
Illuminated by the all-pleasing sun,
There's barely any shady cover
He will begin to lift from Aurora’s bed,
My sad son is in a hurry to go home, -
And he locked himself in his room alone;
He drives the daylight out of there,
He closes all the windows there tightly
And creates an artificial night.
Romeo's dark despair
It will bring such despondency,
If no one saves him with advice,
It will not eliminate the cause of his melancholy.
Benvolio
Do you know her, my dear uncle?
Montagues
I don't know and I can't find out
From Romeo himself.
Benvolio
Have you tried
Persistently question him?
Montagues
I asked myself and through friends,
But in his feelings here he is his own adviser;
Is it good - I won’t say
But only he is so secretive, inaccessible,
Like a kidney where a worm is already sitting,
When she hasn't unfolded yet
In the air of beautiful petals
And she didn’t devote her beauty to the sun.
When would we just know why?
He is sad, if only we could save him.
Romeo appears in the distance.
Benvolio
Ah, here he is. Go away; will try
Find out his sadness, but I can’t guarantee.
Montagues
Oh, if only you could achieve what she did
Summoned in it! Let's go, let's go, wife.
The Montagues and Signora Montagues leave.
Benvolio
My cousin, good morning!
Romeo
Benvolio
Romeo
Ah, sad hours
So they drag on! Isn't that my father?
Did you leave here in a hurry?
Benvolio
Yes, that was him. Why does sadness last so long?
Your watch?
Romeo
The absence of
Which gives them a fast flow.
Benvolio
Romeo
Benvolio
Romeo
Deprived
Reciprocity.
Benvolio
Love like this
Beautiful in appearance, it should be
So hard, painful in fact.
Romeo
Alas, love, although it is blind,
Without eyes she will find which way to go
Reach us and rule over us.
Where will we have lunch? - Woe is me!
What kind of fight was there? However, no
Don't say: I heard everything; with enmity
There are so many worries involved here,
But more of them with love... Oh, love
Cruel! O loving malice!
Something created out of nothing!
Oh, sad fun, vanity
Serious, formless chaos
Beautiful shapes, lead feather,
Brilliant smoke, freezing flame,
Ailing health, sleepless sleep,
Which cannot even be called a dream!
This is how I feel love
Not feeling any joy in such love.
Aren't you laughing?
Benvolio
No, I'd rather cry.
Romeo
What is this about, kind soul?
Benvolio
About the sorrow that oppresses your soul.
Romeo
The cause of this sorrow is love.
I feel heavy from my own sorrows,
And you want to add yours to them,
Their excess will be strengthened by compassion.
Love is the smoke that rises from sighs;
She is the fire sparkling in the eyes
Lovers; in anxiety, this is the sea,
Which their tears feed.
What's next? That is cunning madness,
The bitter bile that suffocates us,
And the sweetness that sustains us.
Goodbye.
Benvolio
Wait, and I will go with you, -
It's a shame for me when you leave like that.
Romeo
I've lost myself, I'm not Romeo
He's not here, he's out there somewhere...
Benvolio
Tell
Seriously, who is the one you love?
Romeo
Demand that a sick person
In suffering, he made a will:
How the word will amaze the sick!
But, my cousin, I will tell you seriously:
I love a woman.
Benvolio
With your guess
I hit the target.
Romeo
Oh, you are a skilled shooter! –
Beautiful is the one I love so much.
Benvolio
The better the target, the easier it is to hit it.
Romeo
Well, here, cousin, you made a mistake: in her
You can't hit Cupid's arrow,
Diana's intelligence is given to her, innocence is in her
Protected by indestructible armor,
A child's bow of love won't hurt her.
She is indifferent to speeches of love,
Can't stand impudent eyes
Sometimes saints cannot be seduced.
Oh, she is rich in beauty - together
She is poor because when she dies,
Wealth is wasted in vain.
Benvolio
Or did she vow to remain a virgin?
Romeo
Yes; and will lead to a big loss
Such abstinence is fruitless:
After all, the whole offspring in it will die,
Losing my existence in advance.
She is pure, beautiful and smart, -
But is this what all these perfections are for?
So that, having plunged me into despair,
How can she earn bliss in heaven?
She took a vow of celibacy;
I am killed by that harsh vow,
Although I live and talk about it.
Benvolio
Listen, friend, forget about her and think about it.
Romeo
Oh, teach me how to do this!
Benvolio
Give free rein to your eyes, to other beauties
Pay attention.
Romeo
Here's a remedy - more often
I remember her beauty!
So masks that the faces of beautiful women
They touch, they make us think
About the beauty hidden underneath.
He who is blind cannot forget
Treasures of lost sight.
Oh, show me the beauty -
Out of the ordinary - and her beauty
It will only serve as a memory book for me,
Where will I read the features of another,
What surpasses her in beauty?
Goodbye; you can't teach me
You are oblivion.
Benvolio
I will teach or I will
I am indebted to you until my death.
Scene 2
Street. Enter Capulet, Paris and a servant.
Capulet
The same fine was imposed on Montague,
Like me; and us, two old men,
I think it would not be difficult to live in peace.
Paris
You are both deeply respected,
And it’s a pity that your discord continues.
But why are you interested in my matchmaking?
Will you tell me?
Capulet
What I said before:
That my daughter barely entered the world,
She is not yet fourteen years old;
When the beauty fades for another two years -
The time has come for her to be a bride.
Paris
There are mothers younger than her.
Capulet
But they fade too early.
I buried all my hopes
She is my only hope in the world.
But, my dear Paris, please her,
Try to achieve her love:
My consent is concluded
In the consent and choice of Juliet.
Today I give an evening feast,
According to the old custom of the family,
And I invited many guests
Of those whom I love; including
You will be my welcome guest.
And I'm waiting for you; come this night
To my humble home, to the earthly stars
There to see whose bright shine
The radiance of the heavenly stars eclipses.
I have that pleasure waiting for you,
Why do young men feel so much in the spring,
When she, blooming, goes
Behind the boring slow winter.
There in a flower garden of young buds
You will enjoy their beautiful view;
Listen to everyone and take a closer look -
And choose the best one.
And my daughter will be there among others
Just for the record: she is nothing before them.
Let's go, Count;
(servant)
and you hurry up and go
Around town; search and invite
Everyone who is written here on this list;
(giving the note)
Tell them that I’m waiting for them with affection and greetings.
Capulet and Paris leave.
Servant
Find those whose names are written here? And here it is written that the shoemaker should take the arshin, and the tailor the awl; for the fisherman to use a brush, and the painter to use a net. I was sent to find those whose names are written here; but I can’t find who exactly is written down here. I must turn to learned people. Oh, here they are by the way!
Enter Romeo and Benvolio.
Benvolio
One fire is lost in another,
Suffering will be reduced by suffering;
If your head is spinning,
Make her spin again;
One sorrow will be healed by another:
Let new poison enter your eyes -
And the old infection will disappear.
Romeo
Your plantain is useful here.
Benvolio
Romeo
For damaged bone
Your legs.
Benvolio
Are you crazy?
Romeo
No, he didn’t, but worse than he did:
I am imprisoned, I am deprived of food,
I'm tormented, exhausted.
(To a suitable servant.)
Hello Darling.
Servant
Hello, sir. Tell me, please, can you read?
Romeo
My fate is in my misfortune.
Servant
You could learn this without books, but I ask if you can read what is written.
Romeo
Yes, if I know the letters and language.
Servant
You answer honestly. Happy stay.
(Wants to leave.)
Romeo
(Is reading.)
“Signor Martino with his wife and daughters; Count Anselmo and his beautiful sisters; widow of Signora Vitruvio; Signor Placenzio and his dear nieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; my uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my beautiful Rosaline; Libya; Signor Valenzio and his cousin Tibaldo; Lucio and cheerful Elena."
Wonderful society. Where is it invited?
Servant
Romeo
Servant
For dinner, at our house.
Romeo
Servant
To my master's house.
Romeo
I should have asked first of all who your master is.
Servant
I will answer you without asking questions. My master is a noble and wealthy Capulet; and if you are not of the Montague family, I beg you, come and drink a glass of wine. Happy stay.
Benvolio
At the Capulet party there will be
And your dear Rosaline,
And the first beauties of Verona:
Go there and, with an impartial gaze,
Compare her with others who
I will point out, and the white swan is yours
It will turn out to be a simple crow.
Romeo
If they become infected with such heresy
My eyes, then let them die;
Let their tears turn into fire,
Heretics and apostates will be burned!
To have another beauty
More beautiful than my beloved?
No, the sun, contemplating everything in the world,
I haven't seen another one like her.
Benvolio
You haven't seen others with her yet,
She alone owned your gaze;
On the cups of your crystal eyes
Weigh her appearance with the appearance of others -
And you will find very little beauty
The one that has captivated your gaze until now.
Romeo
I'll go there, but not for that
To admire other beauties:
I will admire mine there.
Scene 3
A room in the Capulet house. Signora Capulet and the nurse enter.
Signora Capulet
Nurse, where is my daughter? Call
Her to me.
Nurse
my innocence
When I was twelve, I swear I called.
Lamb, fluttering bird!
Oh God, where is she? - Juliet!
Juliet enters.
Juliet
What else is there? who's calling?
Nurse
Juliet
I'm here. What do you want?
Signora Capulet
That's the problem…
Nurse, leave us; we need
Talk in private. - Wait, come back.
I remembered that you should
Be present during our conversation.
You know that Juliet has grown up...
Nurse
I will count her years hour by hour.
Signora Capulet
She is not yet fourteen years old.
Nurse
Yes, it is true. I'm ready to give
Fourteen of my teeth, that's it.
(Fourteen is just for decoration here,
I only have four of them). How many
What's left until Peter's Day?
Signora Capulet
More
There are a little over two weeks left.
Nurse
Well, exactly two, or a little, but only
She will be fourteen years old
On the eve of Peter's Day; my Susanna
She is the same age - may she rest in peace
All Christian souls are Lord!
Susanna is with Him; I was unworthy
Have it. So, I say,
What on the night before Peter's Day to Juliet
Just turning fourteen.
Yes, exactly, I remember it firmly.
Now eleven years have passed
Since the earthquake; We
Then she was weaned from the breast.
I will never forget that day; of all
He remained memorable days of the year for me.
I smeared wormwood on my nipples -
And she sat down with her by the wall of the dovecote,
In the sun. You weren't there that day:
You went to Mantua with your husband.
(What a good memory I have!)
When the child tasted the breasts,
With wormwood, and felt bitterness, -
Poor thing, how wrinkled she is!
She dropped her chest, and at that very moment
Suddenly our dovecote began to shake.
I’ll get away quickly, God forbid, just my legs!
Eleven years have passed since then -
She already knew how to stand then.
No, what am I! I could walk and run,
Clinging to something. She
I bruised my forehead the day before
Same day; and my husband is a funny guy
There was a dead man - he picked up the child
And he says: “Your face fell,
But when you become smarter,
And the fool, I promise you, stopped
Immediately she cried and said: “Yes.”
You see how a joke helps.
Even if I lived a thousand years,
I wouldn’t forget this to the death.
"Isn't that right, baby?" - he asked; baby
She held back her tears and said, “Yes.”
Signora Capulet
Enough about this, stop it
Please.
Nurse
I'll stop, signora.
But I can't stop laughing
I just remember how, having left my crying,
She said: “Yes,” but she had
A huge lump appeared on my forehead -
She hurt herself painfully and began to cry.
He tells her: “I fell on my face,
Today you, when you grow up,
Then you will fall backwards. Is that right, baby?”
She restrained herself and said: “Yes.”
Juliet
You too, please, restrain yourself.
Nurse
OK.
I won't do it anymore. God bless you!
Of the children I fed,
You were the most beautiful of all.
Oh, if only I could wait for your wedding.
Signora Capulet
This is the subject I want
Talk. Juliet, daughter, tell me
Do you wish to get married?
Juliet
To me
He does not dream of this honor.
Nurse
Honor!
If only I were not your nurse
I was the only one, then I would say
That you sucked in the mind with milk.
Signora Capulet
So now think about marriage.
There are respectable gentlemen in Verona,
Mothers who are younger
You, Juliet; yes, me too
I was already a mother in those years,
What kind of girls do you remain in?
Here's the thing: young Count Paris
He wants your hand.
Nurse
Ah, Juliet,
Here's a man! such and such a person
What equal cannot be found in the world!
Picture, wax!
Signora Capulet
In Verona flower beds
There is no such flower in the summer.
Nurse
Yes, truly a flower, just as a flower is!
Signora Capulet
What do you tell me, Juliet? Can you
Will you love him? Today we have
You will see Paris at the evening.
Then read the whole book carefully
His faces, look at his features,
What are inscribed by the hand of beauty,
And notice how they all agree
One with the other; and if anything is unclear
You'll see that you can read his eyes -
Then you will understand everything unclear.
For the completeness of that precious book,
Unrelated, she needs a cover
As precise as the depth for a fish,
And outer beauty should
Give a glimpse of beauty from the innermost gaze.
For most it becomes more valuable
The whole book is from the richness of the binding;
The advantages here are shared with her,
In the eyes of the crowd, clasps, gilding;
So exactly everything that the count has,
In alliance with him, you will share in no way
Without losing what she had.
Nurse
Without losing! there is only one profit -
After all, women get fat from men.
Signora Capulet
Well, speak quickly, Juliet,
How do you like Paris's love?
Juliet
I will look at him to love him,
When love can be aroused,
Moreover, I will let my eyes look,
As much as you like.
A servant enters.
Servant
Signora, the guests have gathered, the dinner table is set, they are waiting for you, asking for the signorina, cursing the nurse in the pantry. The turmoil is terrible, I have to go serve. For God's sake, go quickly.
Signora Capulet
Let's go now. - Juliet, the Count is already there!
Nurse
Go, my light, to your happy days,
I wish you happy nights.
Shakespeare's most popular work. Everyone needs to know its contents so as not to look uneducated. I communicate with people: it seems that someone killed someone or killed themselves... Yes! Themselves. But why? Under what circumstances? If you don't have time to read the whole play, watch this video. In it I briefly retell its contents. Those. After watching this short story, you will know as much about the book as the person who read it. Today on the agenda is Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare wrote this tragedy a long time ago - at the end of the 16th century - 400 years ago. I took as a basis stories written by various authors about the death of two Verona lovers with the same names. So. Medieval Italy. The cities of Verona and Mantua in northern Italy. There are 44 km between them. There are two influential families - the Montagues and the Capulets. They are at odds. And for a very long time. More out of habit. Nobody remembers who started this feud and when. But tradition is a stubborn thing. They are at odds...and that's it. Moreover, even the servants from these two families are also at enmity with each other. So at the very beginning of the play they started a fight in the city square of Verona. Benvolio (from the Montague family) and Tybalt (Capulets) came to this fight and also began to fight with swords. The local duke appears and orders everyone to disperse on pain of death. Everyone leaves. Romeo appears and communicates with cousin Benvolio. Romeo says that he suffers from love for the girl Rosaline. Benvolio consoles him a little. The head of the Capulet family tells the young Count Paris that in 2 years, as soon as his daughter Juliet turns 15, he will marry her to him. In the meantime, he says, come to the party that I’m organizing today. Capulet gives his servant a list of guests to be invited to the party. The servant is “overjoyed” - what should he do with this list if he doesn’t know how to read? Although it is unclear who prevented him from telling the owner about this. Well, God bless him. The servant goes outside in the hope of meeting someone who can read and sees Benvolio with Romeo. - Sirs, can you read? Please read. Romeo took the list in his hands. - And where is everyone invited? - To a party with my master. If you're not from Montague, come too. Benvolio trolls Romeo: “Go, go to the party. Your love Rosalina will be there. If you compare her with other Verona beauties, maybe you’ll fall in love with someone else!” Romeo replies that he will not go to look at other girls, but to enjoy his Rosaline. Juliet's mother, Juliet and her nurse communicate. Juliet is almost 14 years old. The only child in the family. Mother says that it’s time, my dear, to marry you off. After all, at your age I was your mother for a long time! Romeo (by the way, he is 2 years older than Juliet, i.e. he is 16 years old) with his friends Benvolio and Mercutio, wearing masks so as not to be recognized, come to the Capulet party. But Tybalt (Capulet's nephew) recognizes Romeo's voice and wants to fight. Capulet himself tells him that only good words are circulating about Romeo in Verona. Therefore, don’t bother him - let the guy have fun. Meanwhile Romeo saw Juliet. The previous love - Rosalina - instantly ceased to exist. They talked a little and kissed goodbye. That's how fast it all is! And when Juliet ran away, he found out that she was the daughter of Capulet (the enemy of his family). “Damn it,” thought Romeo. Juliet didn’t waste any time either. I asked the nurse who the guy was. She found out and said: “Romeo is the son of Montague.” “Damn it,” thought Juliet. When the party was over and everyone had left, Romeo jumped over the fence and went to Juliet's room. He understood that if he was caught there, he would certainly be killed. Juliet spoke out loud to herself from the window about her love for Romeo. He heard and said that he was here. God, how fast they do it! - I love you! - And I love you! - Tomorrow at 9 am I will send a man to you, you will tell him where and when we will get married. - Fine! Even before dawn, Romeo came to the priest Brother Lorenzo. He says: - Marry us today! - You and Rosalina? - No. With Juliet, daughter of Capulet! - Yo-mayo! What about Rosaline, whom you loved? - I don’t love Rosaline anymore, I love Juliet. I want to get married. - Hmmm... Youth... In the morning, the nurse finds Romeo to find out the necessary information. Romeo tells Juliet to come to her brother Lorenzo in the evening. He first confesses her, and then marries them. In the evening Juliet came to church. Romeo and the priest were already waiting for her. They got married and ran away. An hour (!) after the wedding, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio met Tybalt and his friends. Provocation, fight. Romeo tried to stop it. After all, Tybalt an hour ago became his relative. But... Tybalt wounds Mercutio and runs away. The wound turned out to be severe. Mercutio dies. Tybalt returns. Then Romeo grabs the sword and kills Tybalt in a fight. After this, fearing the wrath of the Duke of Verona, Romeo runs away. Citizens, Montagues, Capulets, and the Duke gather near the dead. The Duke decides to expel Romeo from the city for murder. The nurse tells Juliet that her new husband killed her cousin Tybalt. And Romeo himself was expelled from the city. At first the girl is outraged by Romeo's action, but then she thinks that if he had not killed Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed him. But – what’s strange. She speaks with such bitterness about being expelled from the city, as if it were tantamount to death. There's probably something I don't know. In my understanding, well, they expelled me: I’ll go to another city, so what? And she is killed because of this. If anyone knows what the catch is, write in the comments. Juliet tells the nurse that she wanted to have sex with him tonight, but he was expelled. What should we do now? - I'll bring you your Romeo. I know where he's hiding. You'll get fucked some more. 13 years old! Kick!!! Friar Lorenzo informs Romeo of the Duke's verdict. - You were expelled from Verona! - Oh no! Better than death! - You're a fool! You were only expelled from Verona, but the world is big. - No. Verona is the world for me. “What an idiot,” thinks Lorenzo. The nurse comes: - Where is this happiness? - Yes, there he is, lying on the floor in snot! - Mine is the same! Lorenzo says to Romeo: “Are you a woman or a man?” Get a hold of yourself! You should be happy. It was not Tybalt who killed you, but you who killed him. The Duke did not sentence you to death, but to exile. You will go to Mantua (44 km from Verona). You'll wait there. Let's tell the families that you are married. They'll go crazy. Let's ask the Duke for forgiveness and everything will be fine. We will keep in touch through a servant. The nurse went crazy: - God, how smart you are, Lorenzo! Juliet's father promises Count Paris that he will marry his daughter on Thursday. Still, there is mourning in the family. Therefore, since today is Monday, you need to wait at least until Thursday. At night Romeo came to Juliet. The author does not write anything about this, but it is clear that they did not play chess. In the morning Romeo left. This was their last meeting when both were in good health. Mother comes to Juliet’s room: “Are you grieving for your brother?” - Yeah! - Nothing. I have a friend in Mantua who will poison Romeo. But I have even better news for you! - Yes? Which? - On Thursday you will marry Paris! - Yes, it’s such a joy. When the father found out that Juliet did not want to marry Paris, he began to tear out the hair on his ass. Listen to how he communicated with his daughter: - Rebellious creature! Your birth is a curse for us. If you don't marry Paris, get out of the house! Get the hell out! Even if you beg, die under the fence! The mother says: “You are not my daughter.” Well, parents! Or a translator. Juliet asks her nurse for support. She replies that Paris is a great groom. Romeo is a dishrag compared to him. Marry Paris! The girl goes to the priest for advice. He tells her that there is one remedy - a special poison. If she drinks it, she will appear dead for two days. And when she wakes up, Romeo will be nearby and take her away. Juliet immediately agrees to this. Lorenzo said to drink poison on Wednesday night. Somehow, as the days go by, everything becomes unclear. When Juliet returns from the priest, it’s suddenly Wednesday. Those. Tuesday got lost somewhere. Tomorrow is the wedding. In the evening the girl drinks poison. Just in case, he puts a dagger nearby. If suddenly the remedy doesn’t work, she can always stab herself with it. Drinks poison. The next morning Juliet is found dead. Of course everyone is upset. A servant brings sad news to Romeo in Mantua. He goes to the pharmacist and buys poison from him. Moreover, the pharmacist initially refuses to sell, because according to the laws of Mantua, selling poisons is punishable by death. But money matters a lot. Even complex differential equations on the exam. The fact is that Brother Lorenzo, after giving the poison to Juliet, immediately sent an envoy to Mantua to deliver a letter to Romeo, in which he spoke about his plan. The envoy was unable to deliver the letter. Therefore, Romeo did not know anything that his Juliet was actually sleeping and not dead. In the evening, Romeo comes to the crypt where Juliet lay. Paris was already there, bringing flowers to Juliet. Romeo: - Listen, friend, get out of here. No time for you now! Paris: - I will fight with you! - OK! Paris dies. Romeo carries his body into the crypt. There he sees his Juliet. With all the signs of a living person. But... Dunce... Can't distinguish a dead body from a living one. I made a separate video about this. A touching farewell scene, and Romeo drinks poison. Brother Lorenzo enters the crypt. Juliet wakes up asking where her husband is. Lorenzo says that he is lying nearby. Dead. - Let's get out of here! I hear people coming here! - No. I'll stay. And you go. And the priest leaves. Like this. He took it and left. Juliet tries to drink the remaining poison from Romeo's bottle, but it doesn't work. She kisses him, thinking that maybe there is poison on her lips. Does not work. Then he takes Romeo's dagger and... stabs himself. The next morning, all of Verona was at the Capulet crypt. Moreover, Montague says that his wife died that night out of sadness about her son. What the hell is sadness, dear author? He was alive and well. 40 km from here. Why die? The Duke of Verona interrogated Friar Lorenzo. He told everything he knew. And then the Duke gouged the Montagues and Capulets for causing so many deaths because of their stupid enmity. Then Capulet extended his hand to Montague. He shook it. They promised each other that they would erect gold monuments to Juliet and her Romeo. Notice I said “Juliet and her Romeo.” This is exactly how the author ends his play in the original. In his opinion, the image of Juliet is the main one in the tragedy. And Romeo is so-so...
Probably, in all of world literature there is no such famous and great work that has not lost its relevance over the centuries as the play “Romeo and Juliet”. Who wrote this immortal creation is known to all educated people today. One of the tragedies that made William Shakespeare famous is Romeo and Juliet. Its author, a famous playwright, is recognized as the greatest of the genius personalities of the Renaissance. His story about Romeo and Juliet is permeated with a bright feeling of love, conquering not only many years of human enmity, but also death.
History of creation
"Romeo and Juliet"... Who wrote the brilliant work? It is known that before the creation of this play, several legends and short stories by other authors already existed about the love of two representatives of warring clans. Shakespeare's tragedy was based on three short stories. The earliest was written in 1562 by Arthur Brooke, a famous playwright. It was called "The Tragic Story of Romeus and Juliet." This poem is considered the direct source of the plot on which Romeo and Juliet is based.
Who wrote another prototype of Shakespeare's play is also known from the history of literature. It was the short story “Romeo and Juliet”, created by one of the famous Italian writers of the 16th century, Matteo Bandello. Even later, the Italian writer and historiographer Luigi Da Porto wrote the short story “The Story of Two Noble Lovers,” which almost completely repeated the plot of Shakespeare’s play.
As you know, William Shakespeare only slightly changed his previous works, for example, in the early plays the action took place over a longer period of time - about nine months. In Shakespeare, according to the plot, five days are allocated for everything that happens.
"Romeo and Juliet". Summary
In the play, the author describes the events that take place in the Italian city of Verona. Two warring clans, two families - the Montagues and the Capulets - have been competing with each other for a long time. Their enmity either subsides or resumes again. The last outbreak begins with a squabble among the servants, then turns into a real massacre. Romeo Montague, the heir to one of the families, does not participate in the bloodshed; he is busy thinking about winning the noble beauty Rosaline, whose heart he wanted to conquer. His friends - Mercutio and Benvolio - are trying in every possible way to distract him from his heavy thoughts, but Romeo continues to be sad.
At this time, a cheerful holiday is planned in the Capulet family. These people do not have aristocratic roots, but they are very wealthy, and with the help of organized balls they strive to further demonstrate their wealth and luxury. A relative of the Duke himself is invited to their celebration - Count Paris, who falls under the spell of the beautiful Juliet and asks the head of the family for her hand. Juliet's father gives his consent, despite his daughter's young age. Juliet is only 13 years old.
At this time, Romeo's friends invite him to put on a mask and sneak into the Capulet house for a ball to have fun. Romeo agrees. One of the relatives of the Capulet family - Tybalt - recognizes Romeo as the son of Montague, with whom there is enmity. But at this time Romeo sees Juliet, falls in love with her at first sight and forgets about his former lady love Rosaline. Juliet also falls in love with Romeo, they hide from everyone and take an oath of devotion to each other.
Late in the evening after the ball, Juliet goes out onto the balcony and begins to talk out loud about her feelings for Romeo, he hears her words and confesses his reciprocal attraction to her. The lovers are planning to get married. Early in the morning, Brother Lorenzo, a minister of the monastery of St. Francis, helps them with this.
At the same time, Mercutio and Tybalt meet by chance. A quarrel breaks out between them, and Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo is forced to avenge the death of his friend, he kills Tybalt. After this, the young man hides so as not to incur the wrath of the Duke. He is forced to flee the city. Before this, Romeo spends the night with Juliet, the approach of dawn means their separation. Listening to the morning chirping of the larks, they say goodbye.
The Capulet family is determined to marry Juliet to Count Paris, and the bride's parents begin preparations for the wedding. The girl, in desperation, seeks consolation from her brother Lorenzo, and he offers her an insidious plan - to drink a drink that will plunge her into a deep sleep similar to death. Juliet will sleep, meanwhile everyone will think that she has died, and thus the fatal wedding will be avoided. Romeo is sent a letter warning him of this plan. Unfortunately, the messenger does not have time to warn Romeo due to the quarantine due to the plague, and the news of Juliet's death arrives earlier. Romeo returns to Verona to say goodbye to his beloved.
At the sight of the dead Juliet, not knowing that she is just sleeping, Romeo drinks poison, unable to imagine life without her. Juliet wakes up when Romeo is already dead. In despair, she considers herself guilty of the death of her beloved, snatching his dagger and striking herself in the heart. When the rival Montague and Capulet families learn of the tragedy, they negotiate peace - the death of their beloved children softens their hearts, and the hostility ceases. The love of Romeo and Juliet becomes atonement for all the evil the clans caused to each other.
William Shakespeare. "Romeo and Juliet". Who wrote the masterpiece
There is very little information about the life of the most talented English playwright William Shakespeare. He did not keep a diary, did not write down his memories and corresponded with practically no one. All documents bearing his signature or at least some recording made by his hand have enormous historical value.
In the small English town of Stratford, which is located on the banks of the Avon River, in 1564.
His father, a wealthy merchant, went bankrupt when William was fifteen years old. From this age he was forced to earn his own living. In 1585 William Shakespeare went to London. There he changed several professions. For example, he guarded the horses while noble gentlemen watched the performances. Then he joined the theater, where he sometimes replaced the prompter, rewrote some roles and made sure that the actors went on stage on time. Such work in the future helped him stage amazing plays, since he knew the backstage very well.
Gradually, after serving for several years, he ensured that he was given small roles on stage. Then he himself began to write and stage plays. Shakespeare is famous for his poems and sonnets. In addition to “Romeo and Juliet”, he has some other immortal creations - “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Macbeth”, “The Taming of the Shrew”, “Hamlet”, “King Lear”, “Twelfth Night”, “Much Ado About Nothing” and others. In total, 37 Shakespeare plays, 154 sonnets and 4 poems are known.
William did not invent many of his texts, but simply reworked real events - it is thanks to this talent that his works are known for their truthfulness and vitality. Shakespeare's work conveys the breath of that time - the humanistic ideas of the Renaissance. His works are thoughtful, his heroes are spiritual and strong people, they struggle with human passions and vices.
One of the main ideas of the brilliant Shakespeare: people should be assessed not by status and titles, not by level of wealth or position, but by thoughts, actions and human qualities. Shakespeare’s contribution to world culture is difficult to overestimate; his works are still relevant today, they are winning the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
William Shakespeare died at the age of 52 in 1616. He is buried in his hometown, Stratford. Numerous fans and tourists still come to his grave. Perhaps life in the town would have completely come to a standstill if the “Shakespearean” industry had not been organized in it - every sign in the city certainly points to the genius of William Shakespeare. Crowds of tourists come to Stratford every year to pay homage to the grave of the great writer and playwright.
Theater productions
The play “Romeo and Juliet” has been staged thousands of times on many stages around the world. Perhaps this play can be called one of the most popular in the repertoires of many world theaters. In Russia, the play “Romeo and Juliet” was staged at the Satyricon Theater named after. A. Raikin, in the theater. Pushkin and many others. The main characters are played by the most talented actors, great directors undertake to stage this play.
Shakespeare, “Romeo and Juliet” is that eternally relevant timeless classic, the production of which can be considered an honor for any theater. Musicals on the theme of unhappy lovers are constantly updated, sometimes the most unexpected details are introduced into the tragedy, the production is interpreted by the most talented people in the most unexpected way. West Side Story is one of the adaptations of Shakespeare's classic play, which premiered worldwide in 1957. The play “Romeo and Juliet” (author - Shakespeare) is a treasure of world culture; it constantly attracts many admirers of the talent of the great master.
Romeo and Juliet in cinema
Since 1900, almost since the advent of cinema, Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet in particular) has been filmed a huge number of times. Almost every year, films about the tragedy of lovers are made in different countries of the world. In France and the USA, in Great Britain and Spain, in Mexico, Belgium, Italy, Argentina, Brazil and Portugal, Romeo and Juliet are played by the best actors of world cinema. In the USSR, the film-ballet “Romeo and Juliet” was filmed in 1983, the main roles were played by Alexander Mikhailov and Olga Sirina. The last film co-produced by the USA and Italy was released in 2013. It was a success in many countries around the world and was recognized as one of the best at the end of the year.
Music
Many academic works have been written based on Shakespeare's immortal play. In 1830, the opera “Romeo and Juliet” by V. Bellini appeared, in 1839 - a symphonic poem; in 1938, a ballet to the music of Prokofiev was published.
In addition to operatic and classical versions, there are many compositions by rock bands and pop performers. Songs about Romeo and Juliet were performed by V. Kuzmin, A. Malinin, S. Penkin. The title of the play is used in the titles of albums of different groups.
Translation in literature
The work “Romeo and Juliet” (translation in Russian and not only) has been republished many hundreds of times. Based on the immortal play, short stories by G. Keller and a novel by Anne Fortier were published. The creation “Romeo and Juliet” first appeared in Russian in the second half of the 19th century. The translation by I. Raskovshenko is considered one of the best. Translations by Grekov, Grigoriev, Mikhalovsky, Sokolovsky, Shchepkina-Kupernik, and Radlova were popular among readers. The work “Romeo and Juliet” (the original was in English) translated by B. Pasternak was received especially warmly. This option is far from the most accurate, but the most beautiful and poetic. It was Pasternak who wrote the lines “But the story of Romeo and Juliet will remain the saddest in the world...”.
Curious facts
Until now, tourists in Verona are offered to visit the houses of Romeo and Juliet, and even their graves. In fact, it is known that these attractions have nothing to do with Shakespeare's literary characters. However, in the courtyard of the house where Juliet supposedly lived, there is a statue of her, cast in bronze. Local legend says that anyone who touches her breasts will find happiness and love.
Another interesting fact is that in Italy, when talking about Shakespeare’s play and its characters, it is customary to mention first the girl’s name and then the guy’s name - Juliet and Romeo. For the Russian language, it is more common to use names in the title in reverse.
Juliet's balcony is an important detail of any production or film about the legendary lovers. However, it is known that in Shakespeare’s original version it is not about the balcony - Romeo simply listened to her speech from the window. However, over time, Juliet’s balcony became one of the significant details of all productions about lovers. Guides in Verona still show numerous tourists exactly the balcony on which Juliet stood.
Historical figures or literary characters?
The story of Romeo and Juliet is beautiful and very tragic. Many researchers, historians and literary scholars are concerned with the question of whether the characters in Shakespeare's play actually lived. It is known that some personalities really existed - for example, Escala, mentioned by Shakespeare, was in reality Duke Bartolomeo I della Scala. It is approximately established what year is described in the play - 1302.
Italy of that time was indeed characterized by various conflicts, when various clans competed for titles and nobility of the family. The American historian Olin Moore devoted several years to studying the legend of the lovers, and thanks to his research, it was possible to find out that precisely in those years in question, there really were two clans with very similar surnames in Verona - Dal Capello and Monticoli. There was actually a confrontation between them, which was explained by the different parties whose adherents these families were. The history of the city indicates that in fact there lived a girl who did not reciprocate the feelings of a high-ranking official and married a poor young man, despite pressure from relatives. took revenge on them, and the lovers died during torture, never admitting any guilt and not parting even after death.
It is quite possible that the story of unhappy lovers described by Shakespeare in his tragedy was based on real events, but slightly changed by the author and decorated with artistic details for greater expressiveness.
Symbol of eternal love
The tragedy about two unhappy lovers, written by the great W. Shakespeare, has not lost its relevance for several centuries. The story took place more than four hundred years ago, but the theme still lives on in numerous theatrical productions, in sculpture and painting, in music and cinema. Perhaps all of humanity with its diverse culture would have become noticeably poorer if Shakespeare had not written his brilliant work.
The story of Romeo and Juliet is the most touching and beautiful story known to the world. Young people are recognized as a symbol of high feelings, devotion and fidelity, eternal love and its power over death and time. This play has many fans - there is a Museum of Love, which displays all the exhibits that testify to the veracity of the story of Romeo and Juliet. There are clubs for fans of legendary lovers. You can even write a letter to Juliet - in one of her clubs there are special secretaries who receive messages in different languages, read them and respond on behalf of Juliet.
On February 14, this club chooses the most touching and romantic story, and the author of the letter receives a gift from Juliet. A thirteen-year-old girl, stricken by deep feelings, is revered by her fans as the one who can bless lovers, give them confidence and bring them true happiness.
In Verona, the legend of lovers is very popular to this day - there is a travel agency and a hotel named after Juliet, pastry shops sell cakes of the same name, guides give tours of mansions that supposedly belonged to the Montague and Capulet families. The name “Romeo and Juliet” is given to champagne, confectionery, furniture, flowers and aromas - everything that one wants to consider romantic and beautiful. In general, you can see that the industry also supports the Romeo and Juliet brand with pleasure and benefit - their story sells well, and manufacturers cannot help but take advantage of this.
It doesn’t really matter whether Shakespeare’s heroes actually existed; people still want to believe in a fairy tale, not lose hope and dream of a feeling as strong and pure as Romeo and Juliet. As long as we are able to love, the story of Romeo and Juliet will remain one of the most popular and most romantic in world culture.
Characters Escalus, Prince of Verona. Count Paris, a young man, a relative of the prince. Montagues) Capulets) heads of two warring houses. Uncle Capulet. Romeo, son of Montague. Mercutio, relative of the prince, friend of Romeo. Benvolio, nephew of Montague, friend of Romeo. Tybalt, nephew of Lady Capulet. Brother Lorenzo) Brother Giovanni) Franciscan friars. Balthasar, Romeo's servant. Samson) Gregorio) servants of the Capulets. Peter, the nurse's servant. Abram, Montague's servant. Pharmacist. Three musicians. Paris's page. First citizen. Lady Montague, wife of the Capulets. Juliet, daughter of Capulet. Juliet's nurse. The townspeople of Verona, male and female relatives of both houses, mummers, guards, servants. Chorus. The location is Verona and Mantua. PROLOGUE The choir enters. Chorus Two equally respected families In Verona, where events greet us, They are waging internecine battles And do not want to stop the bloodshed. The children of the leaders love each other, But fate sets up intrigues for them, And their death at the grave doors Puts an end to irreconcilable discord. Their life, love and death and, moreover, the World of their parents on their grave For two hours will make up the creature Played out before you. Be more merciful to the weaknesses of the pen - the game will try to smooth them out. ACT I Scene 1 Verona. Square. Enter Samson and Gregorio, servants of the Capulet, with swords and shields. Samson Gregorio, an agreement: do not be ashamed in front of them. Gregorio What are you doing? Vice versa. Whoever I meet, I will disgrace myself. Samson Let's give them a bath! Gregorio We'd like to get away with it ourselves. Samson I'm quick to hand when I get boiling. Gregorio Boiling you is not a quick thing. Samson When I see the Montague mongrels, I boil like boiling water. Gregorio Boil - you'll leave. You boil it and it runs away like milk. But the brave one will resist - he won’t budge. Samson Before the mongrels from Montague's house, I will resist - I won't budge. I will grind everyone into powder: both the good guys and the girls. Gregorio Just think, what a hurricane! Samson Every one of them. Well done to the side, and the girls in the corners and in the cracks. Gregorio The quarrel is a master's quarrel and between male servants. Samson No matter. I'll handle the men's, then I'll take on the women's. I will show everyone my strength. Gregorio And the poor girls? Samson As long as the girls have enough urine. I, thank God, am not a small piece of meat. Gregorio It’s a good thing you’re not a fish, otherwise you’d be a salted cod. Hurry, where is your sword? There are two Montagues over there. Samson Ready, the sword is out. Get 'em. I will not leave you. Gregorio What kind of conversation is this? How! To chicken out and show your heels? Samson Don't worry about me. Gregorio There's something to worry about! Samson Let's get them mad. If they start a fight first, the law will be on our side. Gregorio I'll make an angry face when I pass by. Let's see what they do. Samson I will bite my nail at their address. They will be disgraced if they remain silent. Abram and Balthazar enter. ABRAM Is it because of us that you are biting your nail, sir? Samson I'm biting my nail, sir. ABRAM Is it because of us that you are biting your nail, sir? Samson (in a low voice to Gregorio) If this is confirmed, is the law on our side? Gregorio (in a low voice to Samson) No way. Samson No, I'm not biting my nail at your expense, sir. And I'm biting my nail, sir. Gregorio Are you looking for a fight, sir? ABRAM Me, sir? No sir. Samson If you're stuffed, I'm at your service. I live with the gentlemen no worse than yours. Abram But not the best either. Gregorio (to the side, to Samson, noticing Tybalt in the distance) Speak to the best. There's one of the owner's relatives. Samson The best, sir. Abram You are lying! Benvolio enters. Samson Fight if you are men! Gregorio, show them your great kick. They fight. BENVOLIO Weapons away - and quickly to your places! You don't know what you're doing, you fools. (Knocks their swords out of their hands.) Tybalt enters. Tybalt How did you get into trouble with this peasant? This is your death - turn around, Benvolio! Benvolio I want to reconcile them. Put down your sword, Or let's separate them together. Tybalt I hate the world and the word "world", Just as I hate you and all the Montagues. Wait, you coward! They fight. The adherents of both houses enter and join the fight; then the townspeople with clubs and halberds. First Citizen Come here with a club and stakes! Loopy! Down with the Montagues and the Capulets! Enter Capulet in a dressing gown and Lady Capulet. CAPULET What's all this noise? Where is my fighting sword? Lady Capulet A crutch for him! The sword was missing! Capulet Give me the sword! Montagues are in the yard And he raised his weapon at me. Enter Montagues and Lady Montagues. Montague You, Capulet, are a rogue! Let me go, wife! Lady Montague I will not let anyone take a step near the fighters! The prince enters with his retinue. Prince Traitors, killers of silence, Contaminating iron with brotherly blood! Not people, but likenesses of animals, extinguishing the fire of mortal strife with streams of red liquid from the veins! Who am I telling? Under pain of torture, throw away your swords from inglorious hands and listen to the prince's will. Three times, under the influence of nonsense words, both of you, the Capulets and the Montagues, disturbed the peace of the streets with massacres. Having taken off their robes, Verona's advisers clutched blunt halberds three times in their senile hands, Deciding the litigation of decrepit antiquity. And if you ever run into each other again, you will pay me with your life for everything. This time let the people disperse. You, Capulets, follow me, and I am waiting for you, Montagues, in Villafranca on this matter during the day. So, on pain of death, disperse! Everyone leaves except Montague, Lady Montague and Benvolio. Montague Who started this argument again? Tell me, nephew, you were there, weren’t you? Benvolio I have already found our servants with the enemy's servants in the midst of hand-to-hand combat. As soon as I began to separate them, suddenly Furious Tybalt ran in with a sword and began to wave it over his head. He challenged me to a fight, and the wind whistled mockingly in response. While we were alternating blows, With a crowd of people running to the call, the prince appeared and separated the fighters. Lady Montague Where is Romeo? Have you met him? Wasn't he here? Is he really unharmed? Benvolio Madam, an hour before the sun lit up the window of the east with gold, I went out for a walk in restlessness. Crossing the sycamore grove, At the western gate I came across your son. He was walking there so early. I walked after him. Having recognized me, he disappeared into the depths, And since he was looking for solitude, I left him alone. Montagues They often saw him there in the morning. He wanders and the dewy vapor of the meadows multiplies the pairs of tears and the haze of sighs. However, as soon as the sun opens the bed canopy in Aurora’s bedroom, My son gloomily trudges home, rushes into his secret corner, and with curtains in broad daylight turns it into an artificial midnight. Where does this persistent darkness come from? I want to understand but I just can’t understand. Benvolio Do you know the reason, dear uncle? Montague I don’t know and can’t find out. Benvolio Did you approach him with questions? Montague What about it! Me and best friends. But he is impenetrable to questioning and is as protected from everywhere as a worm-bitten bud, which will not drive out the leaf and will not reveal the core to the sun. Are you asking if I know the reason? If I knew the essence of this sadness, I would heal the patient with something. Romeo enters. Benvolio Here he is. You are here as if by accident. You'll see, I'll get to the secret. Montague Let's go wife. Let's leave them alone, Like a confessor with a confessor. The Montagues and Lady Montagues leave. Benvolio Romeo, good morning! ROMEO Is it morning? Benvolio Tenth hour. ROMEO How long is the hour of melancholy! What is it, my father has not left? BENVOLIO Yes, your father. What melancholy lengthens your hours, Romeo? Romeo Longing for someone who could cut them down. Benvolio Are you homesick for love? Romeo No. BENVOLIO Do you love? ROMEO Yes, and I yearn for love. Benvolio Oh, this gentle-looking love, As in fact evil, is inexorable! Romeo How immediately, despite his blindness, Finds a vulnerable heel! -Where are we going to have lunch? - How much blood! Don't talk about the landfill. I heard. And hatred is painful and tenderness. And hatred and tenderness are the same ardor of the Blind, the forces that arose from nothing, Empty burden, heavy fun, Discordant collection of harmonious forms, Cold heat, mortal health, Sleepless sleep, which is deeper than sleep. This is what, and worse than ice and stone, is my love, which is heavy for me. Aren't you laughing? Benvolio No, I'd rather cry. ROMEO What about, my friend? Benvolio In response to your tears. Romeo What evil we do with kindness! I’ve had enough of my own melancholy, And you hurt me with your participation. With your worries about me, you have doubled my sadness. What is love? Madness from fumes. Playing with fire leads to fire. An inflamed sea of tears, Thought for the sake of thoughtlessness, A mixture of poison and antidote. Goodbye, my friend. BENVOLIO Wait, you are too fast. I'll go too, but let's finish the conversation. ROMEO I have lost myself and I am not here. Romeo is gone, Romeo will not be found. Benvolio No, tell me not jokingly: who do you love? ROMEO Were there still jokes? Benvolio Of course not. But who is she, no joke? ROMEO Tell the sick man at his bedside that it is time to die in earnest. She's no joke woman, mate. Benvolio I knew it, and I hit you not in the eyebrow, but in the eye. Romeo A dashing shooter, but the maiden is not about us. Benvolio The better the aim, the more accurately we aim. ROMEO These words are not applicable here. She has the soul of Diana, Cupid is not afraid of a virgin and is funny. She will not give in to the tenderness of her gaze, not for any mountains of gold. Beauty, she will take her world of beauty untouched to her grave. Benvolio What, she took a vow of celibacy? Romeo Alas, she gave and will cope with the task. From this maiden and her fasting there will be emptiness left in posterity. She is such a strict saint, That I have no hope for happiness, She lives in righteousness, but I am finished: I am not alive in the world, I am dead. Benvolio I advise you to stop thinking about her. ROMEO So advise me how to stop thinking. Benvolio Give freedom and space to your eyes - Admire others. Romeo This is a way to recognize the more perfection she has. In the slits of black masks, the women's faces sparkle with whiteness with greater force. The blind man always remembers the preciousness of his lost sight. And in the features of the Beauties I will read a reminder of the one who is without comparison the best. I still haven’t learned to forget. Benvolio I will teach you, no matter how hard you try. They leave. Scene 2 Street. Enter Capulet, Paris and a servant. Capulet Montague and I were fined. Would it be difficult to live in harmony? Paris Yes, it's strange. Two venerable elders - And for some reason they are always at knifepoint. However, you did not give me an answer. CAPULET I will repeat what I have already said: After all, my daughter is still just a child, She is not yet fourteen years old. Wait another two years, and we will declare our daughter a bride. Paris They marry younger than she. Capulet But this early maturity is harmful. My hopes were devoured by the grave, And heaven only saved my daughter. Face her, dear Paris, - That’s all you need for us to get along. Find out her wishes in advance, And I bless you in advance. Tonight we have a reception - We are setting up an annual celebration. A lot of people will gather here. We will be glad to see you. You will find yourself at a rich congress, Like the stars of the night, shining brides And you will witness fun, Similar to the flood of waters in April, When their round dance surrounds you And you find yourself among the beauties, You decide which one has struck your imagination with greater power. Without the right to such praise, the Daughter will also be at the ball that night. Let's go, Count. (To the servant, giving him the note.) And you, low swindler, go through all the invitees on the list. Tell the guests whose name is here that the entrance to us is wide open for them. Capulet and Paris leave. Servant. "Go around the list, go around the list"! Who will understand this list? Or maybe it says here that a shoemaker’s job is a yardstick, and a tailor’s job is a last. "Go through the list"! Or maybe it says here that fish are caught with a brush, and roofs are painted with seines. "Tell the guests whose name is here"! Tell me, whose name is here? There are people who can do this. Yes, here they are! Easy to remember. Enter Benvolio and Romeo. BENVOLIO Be silent, my friend. Fire is met with fire, Trouble is cured with trouble and illness, With circling the circling is stopped, And you argue with misfortune in the same way. Try to grab a new infection, And the old one will never be remembered. ROMEO Plantain is also good. BENVOLIO What's that got to do with it, my friend? Romeo With broken legs. BENVOLIO Are you crazy? ROMEO No, not crazy at all, But on a chain, like someone crazy, Tortured and in a straitjacket. Servant Hello, sir. Are you a master reader? ROMEO Oh yes! Your lot according to the warehouses of misfortunes. Servant Thank you for your frankness. But we need those that are written. ROMEO Where are you going? I was joking. Let me read it. (Reads.) “Call Signor Martino with his wife and daughters; Count Anselmo with his beautiful sisters; Dowager Mrs. Vitruvio; Signor Placenzo and his dear nieces; Mercutio with his brother Valentine; Uncle Capulet with his wife and daughters; lovely niece Rosaline; Livia; Signora Valenzio with his brother Tybalt; Lucio and his playful Elena." Great choice! Where are they waiting? Servant Over there. Romeo Where? Servant Come to our house for dinner. ROMEO To whose house? Servant Master's house. ROMEO About all this I should have asked you first. Servant I'll tell you that myself. My master is the rich Capulet. Maybe you've heard? If you are not related to the Montagues, come and have a drink with us. (Exits.) Benvolio The Capulets, in addition to Rosaline, Your sweetheart, will have at the ball the most prominent beauties of Verona. Let's go there. When you compare them with your peahen with an open mind, She will seem like a crow to you. ROMEO Oh, if you are such blasphemers, the pupils of my God-apostate eyes, Let your tears turn into flames And you burn like heretics! Has God really offended me with my eyesight, so that I don’t see the sun in the sky? Benvolio But you haven’t even once put this beauty of the sun on the scales. Look around at those who are more beautiful, And you are unlikely to sing the same thing. Perhaps your only diamond will turn out to be a simple piece of glass. ROMEO Let's go to the ball, but not to the review of the meeting, But for the sake of one who is beyond description. They leave. Scene 3 A room in the Capulet house. Enter Lady Capulet and the Nurse. Lady Capulet Nurse, rather: where is Juliet? The nurse, I swear by my former innocence, called. Juliet, where are you? What a fidget! Where did my little darling go? Juliet enters. Juliet Well, what else? Nurse Mother is calling you. Juliet I'm here. What, mother, do you want? Lady Capulet Now. Nurse, come out for a minute, we'll talk. However, wait, don’t go, you’d better listen. My daughter has grown up quite a bit. Nurse Have mercy, I will count her summer to an hour. Lady Capulet She is not fourteen years old. Nurse I will pawn my fourteen teeth, even though there are only four of them, and there are none. How long until Peter's day? Lady Capulet More than two weeks. Nurse With or without excess, that’s not the debate, but she’ll get a blowjob at fourteen on Peter’s Day, I’m telling you right. She and Susanna - God rest her! - were the same age. But I wasn’t worth it, and God took it away. And she got a blowjob at fourteen on Peter’s Day, don’t doubt it, I remember it well. This shaking of the earth, you now count, is eleven full years. And in the midst of the turmoil, as I remember now, I excommunicated her. I rubbed my nipples with wormwood and sat down near the dovecote in the sunny heat. You and their honor were in Mantua, tell me, what is the memory! She, darling, grabbed the wormwood from her nipple and rolled away - God forbid! At this very time, the dovecote in front of me tumbled, and, of course, God forbid, I left there. And this case is now fully eleven years old. She was already getting on her feet then - what am I saying, on her feet! - she was already running and walking, by God, really, the true Lord! Now I’ll tell you, she hurt her forehead at that time. And here is my husband... may he rest in heaven, he was a terrible joker!.. he took the child in his arms and said: “It’s not good to fall on your face,” he says, “Julinka.” When you grow up, you will, he says, strive to fall on your back. “Will you?” - speaks. So what do you think? My little one wiped away her tears and answered him: “Yes.” Just think, what a laugh! I will live a thousand years and never forget. “Will you, he says, lie on your back, Dzhulinka?” And she, as if nothing had happened, answers him: “Yes.” Lady Capulet Enough chatter! Shut up please! Nurse I'm listening, madam. But tell me, isn’t it hilarious? She calmed down in a minute and, without hesitation, answered him “yes,” but the lump was hefty, the size of a pigeon’s egg, and she was crying with burning tears. “It’s not good to fall on your face, he says. Will you grow up, will you, he says, fall on your back? Will you?” - speaks. And this baby answers him “yes” and immediately calms down. Juliet Calm down, nurse, and you too. Nurse I obey, I won’t do it anymore. Of my pets, you were the prettiest. If only I could live to see your wedding, it would be a joy! Lady Capulet Before the wedding? And we're talking about the wedding. Then she came. Tell me, Juliet, how would you feel about marriage? Juliet I did not think about this honor. Nurse About this honor? Just think! It’s a pity, I’m your nurse, otherwise one could say that you sucked your brain in with milk. Lady Capulet So think about it. Younger than you, they become mothers in Verona, And I gave birth to you even earlier. So, in a hurry and briefly: Paris has wooed us for you. Nurse Well, this, my young lady, is a man of glory! Such a man that you will travel the whole world - you will not find a better one. Not a person, but a picture. Lady Capulet A flower such as Verona has never seen. Nurse Flower, no word. There is no word, flower. Lady Capulet What do you say? Is he after your heart? You will study it today at the ball. Read, as in a book, on his face Hints of affection and charm. Compare his features like writing, Measure the depth in each, And if anything remains in the fog, Look for interpretation of everything in the eyes. This is where you have a complete vault of bliss, And the binding is only missing. Like a fish - the depths, with the same strength The picture requires a beautiful frame, And the golden contents of books Need golden clasps, That's how you, thinking about your husband, will not become smaller or worse. Nurse You won't become smaller! More, madam, more. Men make women fat. Lady Capulet Well, will you take care of his special one? Juliet I don't know yet. We need to do a test. But this is only for you. I'm just following your orders. A servant enters. Servant Madam, the guests have arrived, food is served, they call you and they don’t hear you, everyone asks the young lady what’s going on in the pantry, they scold the nurse, and everything is upside down. I'll run to the guests. Do me a favor, please immediately. Lady Capulet Let's go. The servant leaves. Hurry, Juliet! The Count is already there. Nurse Good nights in addition to good days! They leave. Scene 4 Street. Enter Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio with five or six mummers, torchbearers and a boy with a drum. ROMEO Shall we read the greeting in verse, Or should we enter without further ado? Benvolio No, that is not in use nowadays. We can do without Cupid With a woolen bandage over his eyes, With a Tatar bow made of moulted shingles, Who looked so ridiculous that the ladies were scarier than scarecrows. We won't have to torment anyone with Impromptu speeches using a prompter. We will not dance to their tune, but we will dance to our own and leave. ROMEO Then give me the torch. I'm upset and not a dancer. I'll be the torchbearer. Mercutio Romeo, no, you can't escape dancing. ROMEO Fire me. You are wearing light ballroom shoes, And I am pressed to the ground by the weight. Mercutio You're in love, so flap your cupid's wings more decisively and break away. ROMEO He nailed me with an arrow right through. I'm so wounded that my wings can't support me. Under the burden of love I buckle. Mercutio If you fall, don't crush her: She is tender for your fall. ROMEO Is love tender? She is rude and angry. And it pricks and burns like a thorn. Mercutio And if so, be cruel to her too, Stab and burn, and you will be even. However, it's time to put on a mask. Well, that's all, and the mask is on the face. Now let them tell me what they say: I am a mummer, let the mask turn red. Benvolio Knock on the door, and as soon as we enter - Everyone dance, and move your feet. Romeo Give me the torch. Let the fools dance. The rugs were not laid for me. With a candle, as the grandfathers said, I’ll watch the game from over my shoulders, Even though it doesn’t seem worth the candle. Mercutio Ah, torch-bearer, with your ardent love You are as tired as a smoking smokehouse! Knock on the entrance so as not to rot alive. We burn fire during the day, as they say. ROMEO Hanging out on a visit is a good idea, But the lawsuit is good. MERCUTIO What, may I dare ask? ROMEO I had a dream. Mercutio Imagine, me too. ROMEO What did you see? Mercutio That dreams are nonsense. ROMEO I have never made a mistake about them. Mercutio All Queen Mab. Her pranks. She is the fairies' mother, And in size - the size of an agate pebble In the mayor's ring. At night, she rides in a train on a gear of dust particles along our noses while we sleep. The wheels have spokes made from spider legs, The carriage top is made from locust wings, The tug straps are made from cobweb threads, and the clamps are made from dew drops. A foam whip is wound around the bone of a cricket, A mosquito on a sawhorse is the size of a worm, The kind that, out of sleepy laziness, starts in the nails of craftswomen. Her cart is an empty hazelnut. This carriage was made for her by the Coachmen of Sorceresses - a beetle and a squirrel. At night she crosses the brains of lovers who dream of tenderness, the humps of nobles who dream of the court, the mustaches of judges who dream of bribes, and the lips of maidens who dream of passion. The minx Mab covers them with a rash Because they are greedy for sweet pies. Litigation will roll up to the bridge of his nose, And he will smell the aroma of litigation. The bristle will tickle the pastor's nostril, and he will have a dream about the profitability of the new parish. With a running start he will rush for the Soldier's collar, and in his dreams he will dream of Massacres, Spanish knives, and spells in two buckets, and drums. In fright, he jumps up from sleep and crosses himself, trembling, and falls asleep. These are all Queen Mab's tricks. She braids her manes in the stables, And her hair becomes tangled, Which is not safe to unravel. Under her, girls moan in their sleep, Preparing in advance for motherhood. This Mab... Romeo Mercutio, be silent. You are idle. Mercutio It's about dreams. They are the fruits of an idle dream and a sleeping idle consciousness. Their substance is like air, and their leaps are like explosions of wind prowling blindly, now to the north, now from north to south, in a surge of affection and a fit of anger. Benvolio This wind of yours would not chill our supper while we foolishly procrastinate. ROMEO We are not foolishly slow, and not in a hurry to meet the deadline. I don't expect anything good. Something unknown, Which is still hidden in the darkness, But will be born from this ball, Will untimely shorten my life Through some terrible circumstances. But the one who guides my ship has already raised the sail. Gentlemen, come in! Benvolio Beat the drum! They leave. Scene 5 Hall in the Capulet house. Musicians. Servants with napkins. First servant Where is Anton Soteyshchik? Why doesn't it help clean up? So it sticks to the leftovers! So he plays around with his tongue! Second servant It’s bad when all the work is done by one or two, and even those have unwashed hands. First Servant The carved chairs are over there, the piles of dishes are against the wall. Keep an eye on the silver. Hide me, my dear, a piece of marzipan and, if you love me, warn me downstairs at the entrance to let Nadezhda Nazhdachnitsa and Nellie through. Anton Soteishchik! Third Servant Here I am. What is the cry about? First Servant In the large room they are calling you, calling you, demanding you, and I don’t know how to say it. Third servant You can’t keep up everywhere, you can’t tear yourself in two. Have fun, guys! If you live longer, you will earn more. Enter the Capulet, Lady Capulet, Juliet and Tybalt with their household to meet the guests and the Capulet mummers. Hello, gentlemen! Ladies without calluses We have enough work until the morning. What do you say, beauties? Which one won't dance after that? Now we suspect that they are calluses. You see, we have you in our hands. Hello, gentlemen! Ladies, there was a time, And I whispered confessions in my ear. That time has passed, passed... Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and others. Hello friends! Play, musicians! Everyone out of the way! Dancers, ladies - in a circle! Music. The guests are dancing. More light! Move your chairs back! Turn up the heat in the fireplace: it's stuffy. (To Uncle Capulet.) You look at the dancing and it’s clear. No, what are you saying, sit down, where can we dance! When, tell me, Uncle Capulet, did we dance in masks for the last time? Uncle Capulet Yes, I think about thirty years ago. CAPULET Oh no, not so long ago, not so long ago! Consider how many years Lucenzo has been married? No more than twenty-five. We danced at his wedding. Uncle Capulet No, their son is thirty-something years old. CAPULET He's only been out of care for a year. Romeo (to a servant from his company) Who is this young lady with whom this gentleman stood in a row? Servant I don't know, sir. ROMEO The torches were eclipsed by her radiance. She, like the bright beryl in the ears of a blackamoor, is too bright for the world of ugliness and evil. Like a dove among a flock of crows, I immediately distinguish her in the crowd. I'll get through to her and look at her point-blank. Have I ever loved before? Oh no, they were false goddesses. I have not known true beauty until now. Tybalt It seemed to me that the voice was Montague. Boy, sword! This scoundrel dared to sneak into us under a mask in mockery of a family celebration! Well, we have enough resourcefulness. He will pay me with his life for this step. CAPULET My dear, why did you cry out? Tybalt We are Montagues! How did he get to us? He rushes in to us, without looking at anything, To disgrace us at the masquerade! Capulet Are you talking about Romeo? Tybalt About wretched Romeo. Capulet Come to your senses. Why are you pestering him? He behaves as he should, and in Verona is unanimously recognized, they say, as an example of true nobility. For all the riches in the world, I will not let anyone here offend him. Leave him, this is my order to you. And if I mean something to you, have fun and don’t frown anymore. This pouting is inappropriate when visiting. Tybalt No, it’s in place if the extra ones are visiting. I won’t demolish it... Capulet You will demolish it when you order! You heard? What! He won't take it down! He won't take it down! Not me, but he is the owner! He won't take it down! Just look at me, Society will riot in my living room! He's the boss here! He's everything! He's a horse breeder! Tybalt But, uncle, this is a disgrace. Capulet No talking! Calm down! (To guests.) Yes, yes. Can't be! (To Tybalt.) He will give me more advice! (To guests.) It can’t be! (To Tybalt.) You are ignorant and rowdy! Learn manners. (To the servants.) Light, more light! (To Tybalt.) If you don’t want good, I’ll teach you by force. (To guests.) What kind of confusion is this? Be friends, dears! Tybalt Leave, having conquered anger with humility? Well, I'll leave. But your uninvited guest, who cannot be disturbed, will also cost you a lot of blood! (Leaves.) Romeo (dressed as a monk, to Juliet) I touched your hands with a rough hand. To wash away the blasphemy, I make a vow: The lips will make a pilgrimage to the saint and kiss the trail of sacrilege. Juliet Holy Father, shaking hands is legal. Shaking hands is a natural greeting. Pilgrims bow to the shrines. There is no need to apply. Romeo However, lips are given to us for something? Juliet Holy Father, send up prayers. ROMEO So here is a prayer: give us work. Incline your ear to me, holy mother. JULIET I will incline my ears, but I will not move. ROMEO No need to bend over, I'll get it myself. (Kisses her.) Now all sin has been removed from my lips. Juliet But mine were covered with it for the first time. ROMEO Then give it back to me. Juliet My friend, where did you learn to kiss? Nurse Mother calls you in two words. Juliet leaves. ROMEO Who is she? Nurse Where are you? She is the head of the family, the mistress of the house. I was here as a mother and my daughter was coming out. You were standing with her now. Remember: Whoever marries her will take away a good jackpot. ROMEO So this is Capulet? I'm in the enemy's hands and caught in a net! Benvolio Farewell. I see the joke was a success. ROMEO And even too much this time. CAPULET Oh no, where are you going, gentlemen, so early? There the servants are coming with refreshments. You can not? Are you in a hurry? Well, thank you. Farewell. Bon voyage. Shine on them! And I'm on the side. Oh, damn, it’s really late! Time to go to bed. Capulets and others leave. Juliet Nurse, listen: Who is this guest at the exit in the corner? Nurse Son and heir of the old man Tiberius. Benvolio leaves. Juliet And this one, who stood at the door? Nurse And this, it seems, is Petruchio Jr. Mercutio leaves. Juliet And the one who came up to him And is not willing to dance? Romeo leaves. Nurse I don't know. Juliet Go find out. The nurse leaves to join the dispersers. If he is married, Let them cut me a shroud for the wedding. Nurse (returning) His name is Romeo. He is a Montague, the Son of your archenemy. Juliet I am the embodiment of the hated force. Inappropriately, out of ignorance, I fell in love! What can the times promise me? When am I so passionate about the enemy? Nurse What are you muttering? Juliet So, poetry, empty. At a dance in the park, someone gave me a hint. Lady Capulet (offstage) Juliet! Nurse We hear, we hear! I know I know! Everyone left. Let's go too, dear. They leave. The choir enters. Chorus The former passion lies on his deathbed, And a new one has replaced it. And the former Romeo is dearer than everyone Before Juliet is no longer sweet. Although their love is more and more invincible, They are still divided. The primordial enmity of families between them has torn an abyss of terrible depth. In her family, Montagues are hated, In the eyes of her relatives, Romeo is not a groom. When and where will she see him and how will she save them from their hatred? But passion teaches them to overcome suffering and finds a way for them to date. The choir leaves.“It’s difficult to talk about Shakespeare, all conversations turn out to be unfounded... He is too rich, too powerful. There seems to be nothing in human life that he would keep silent about, that he would not recreate! And with what ease and freedom!”
Conversations with Goethe, J.-P. Eckerman
Use of site materials www.site only possible
with the permission of the author, the official representative of the Juliet Club in Russia.
Volumes of research have been written about Shakespeare, the great playwright and poet who was born, worked and died in England, but with the power of his creations crossed the borders of countries and centuries, and countless hymns have been composed in his honor. Devoting this section mainly to the history of the text of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet", its publications and translations into Russian and some other languages, we consider it our duty to dedicate our material to the author of the famous play himself. In our section we provide biographical information about the playwright, articles about editions of Romeo and Juliet and research by Shakespeare scholars. Since two spellings of Shakespeare’s name have been established in the Russian language: “William” and “William,” we will use here both forms, found in different authors and inherent in different transcriptions. We do not delve into the notorious “issue of authorship” and the controversy between adherents of Stratfordian and non-Stratfordian views on this issue, presenting the materials mainly in a traditional manner.
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William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in the city of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, a county in the heart of England. It is believed (since the end of the 18th century) that he was born on St. George, April 23. But this date is rather symbolic, because... Shakespeare's exact birthday is actually unknown. However, thanks to the entry in the book of the church of St. Trinity - "Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere"- it is known that he received the sacrament of baptism on April 26, 1564. According to church rules, children were usually baptized three days after birth, so in this case the estimated number appears. The earthly journey of the Great Bard ended 52 years later, also in April, 23 or 24 days (according to another version - on the 11th). The inscription on the monument above his grave says: "Obiit anno 1616 aetat" is 53". Shakespeare was buried on April 25, 1616, under the choir of St. Trinity in Stratford. A few years later (probably in 1621) a bust by a Dutch sculptor was erected next to his grave Gerard Jensen / Gerart Jansen (Gerard Johnson) . It is possible that it was created based on Shakespeare's death mask, although the features of both images are not identical. The original feather was placed in the hand of the statue in 1790. In its original design, the bust was multi-colored; the original colors were revived during restoration in 1749. But, as they say, the painted image of Shakespeare did not suit the taste of his famous biographer and commentator Edmond Melon, who found the multicoloredness incompatible with his idea of the great man, so in 1793 the bust was covered with light paint. Its original appearance was restored in 1861 and remains that way to this day.
“The enlightened reader knows that Shakespeare and Walter Scott both presented their gravediggers as cheerful and playful, in order to strike our imagination more strongly by this contrast.” (A. S. Pushkin, “Belkin’s Tales”)
Starting from the 19th century, the texts of Shakespeare's works began to be used as a source of biographical information. The sources of later studies of Shakespeare's life are, in addition to legends and not too numerous references to his contemporaries, official documents and notarized acts. All named sources are verified and compared.
In 1887 "Sketches of the Life of Shakespeare" released James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps,1820-1889 , placing emphasis in his work on the presentation of factual material he carefully collected. The book was preceded by two of his works, published in 1848 and 1881. Features of the approach of the Danish researcher, literary critic George Brandes (1842-1927) was to connect facts from Shakespeare’s biography with his work and with the culture of the Renaissance in general. The result of his in-depth development was the work "William Shakespeare" , published in 1896.
The development of domestic Shakespearean studies was accomplished, to a large extent, thanks to the work of such prominent Soviet and Russian specialists as Mikhail Mikhailovich Morozov (1897-1952) - "Comments on Shakespeare's plays" (1941), "Shakespeare on the Soviet stage" (1947), "Shakespeare", a book in the series "The Life of Remarkable People" (1947); Smirnov Alexander Alexandrovich (1883-1962) - "The Work of Shakespeare", 1934, "Shakespeare", 1963, posthumously; Anikst Alexander Abramovich - (1910-1988) , "First editions of Shakespeare", 1974, "Shakespeare: The Craft of a Playwright", 1974, "Shakespeare's Work", 1963, "Shakespeare" (ZhZL), 1964, a series of educational television programs; Alexey Vadimovich Bartoshevich (born 1939) - “The Poetics of Early Shakespeare”, M., 1987, “Shakespeare Rediscovered”, “Shakespeare W. Comedies and Tragedies” trans. from English O. Soroki., M.: Agraf, 2001., a series of programs and lectures on television, including “Shakespeare. 20th century", "The Man from Stratford". This area of knowledge is further expanded thanks to the diversity of research of the new generation of Shakespeare scholars.
Despite the works of many scientists, it cannot be said that Shakespeare’s biography has been studied thoroughly and there are no blank spots in it. We present here its main milestones. We have prepared and bring to your attention the following
IN 1623 in format folio, or folio(Folio is book size, corresponding to half a regular printer's sheet), The first complete works of the playwright William Shakespeare were published (with the exception of the plays "Pericles" and "The Two Noble Kinsmen"). This project was made possible thanks to the efforts of John Heminge and Henry Condell (John Heminge, 1556-1630 and Henry Condell, died in 1627) , friends and colleagues of Shakespeare. The book is preceded by a message to readers on behalf of Heminge and Condell, as well as a poetic dedication to Shakespeare by the playwright Ben Jonson (Bemjamin Jonson, 1572-1637) , who was at the same time his literary opponent, critic and friend who contributed to the publication "The Great Folio" (The Great Folio of 1623).
History of the text of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet"
Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare's early lyrical dramas, is generally dated to 1594-95. The earliest dating of the play has arisen in connection with the assumption that work on it may have begun as early as 1591, then been postponed and completed approximately two years later. Thus, 1593 turns out to be the earliest of the dates under consideration, and 1596 is the latest, because the following year the text of the play was already published. It is almost certain that the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was presented by the Lord Chamberlain's Men troupe in 1596, apparently at James Burbage's Theater (then performances could have taken place on the stage of the Curtain Theatre, where in 1597 year the troupe played). The role of Romeo in the play was performed by the main actor of the troupe Richard Burbage (1568-1619) , who was 28 years old at the time, most likely played the role of Juliet Robert Gough or Goffe (d. 1624) , a boy actor who often played the leading female roles in Shakespeare's early plays. Famous comedian of the troupe William Kemp (d. 1603) played by Pietro.
To this day, none of the manuscripts that belonged to Shakespeare himself are in possession. The text of the play was first printed in 1597 in the format Quattro, or in-quatro (Quatro - an edition of a single work, the page size of which was equal to a quarter of the printer's usual sheet). The title was proclaimed as follows: "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, excellently presented, as it was many times (with great applause) enacted before the public by the Servants of the Right Honorable Lord Hunsdon." AN EXCELLENT conceited Tragedie of Romeo anf Juliet, As it hath been often (with great applause) plaid publiquely, by the right Honorable the L. of Hunsdon his Seruants. LONDON, Printed by John Danter. 1597. This is the first edition of the tragedy printed John Denter (d. 1599) in a pirate way, without indicating Shakespeare's name, it is customary to call "bad quatro" (Bad Quatro) , because it presents an incomplete version of the text, reconstructed from memory by the actors of the troupe. Although in the text of the first quattro There are many inaccuracies: omissions, repetitions or rearrangements of words or lines, this reconstruction contains notes and stage directions associated with the first productions of the play. None of the plays released in the format quattro, did not contain a breakdown into parts, with the exception of the first quattro"Romeo and Juliet" (on the contrary, in the text folio The acts and scenes of the play are carefully marked). Disadvantages of the first quattro(Q1) should have eliminated the second, "good quattro"(Q2). The new edition of the text of the tragedy in 1599 was presented as a complete replacement of the previous one, and not as an edition of it. The title page says this: “The most excellent and saddest tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Translated, expanded and improved: as it has been repeatedly presented in public by the Servants of the Right Honorable Lord Chamberlain. - THE MOST EXCELLENT AND LAMENTABLE Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet. Newly corrected, augmented, and amended: As it hath bene sundry times publiquely acted, by the right Honorable the Lord Chamberlaine his Seruants. LONDON. Printed by Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, and are to be sold at his shop neare the Exchange. 1599. The text was printed in the printing house Thomas Creed (1593 - 1617) for publishers and booksellers Cuthbert Burby (d. 1607). It is believed that much of Q2's text was based on Shakespeare's drafts and working notes. All subsequent editions of the play are based to one degree or another on second quattro, including modern ones. Their long series opens:
"Nur ein Werk hat die Liebe selbst geschrieben: es ist Romeo und Julia",
G. E. Lessing, Hamburgische Dramaturgie, 1767-1769
"Only one work describes love itself - this is Romeo and Julia,"
G. E. Lessing, Hamburg Drama
Russian translations of Shakespeare's tragedy
"Translations are what gives every nation the opportunity
draw from the treasures of another, exchange your past,
share your present and forge the future together."
T. L. Shchepkina-Kupernik. About translations of Shakespeare, "Art and Life", 1940
“What motivates a translator when he takes on a work that has been translated many times...? He is motivated, inspired by the desire to find undiscovered treasures in this open country, the desire to see, hear and feel what has been neglected or what has eluded his predecessors "
A. D. Radlova. How I work on Shakespeare translations. Literary contemporary. - L., 1034. - No. 3
History of translations of the play "Romeo and Juliet"
It should be noted that in the 16th and 17th centuries the public became acquainted with Shakespeare not from the originals, but from various adaptations of his plays. This concerned not only the translation of Shakespeare's original into other languages, but also plot changes. Already in 1662 William Davenant (1606-1668) And James Howard presented the play "Romeo and Juliet" in two versions - with a tragic and a happy ending. Thomas Otway (1652 - 1685) wrote a drama based on Shakespeare's play "The History and Fall of Caius Marius" (1680) , the action of which was transferred to the times of ancient Rome. He named Romeo Marius and Juliet Lavinia. The warring parties were the senators Metellus and Marius the Elder, unequal in origin. Otway's adaptation was so popular that it displaced Shakespeare's original from the stage for many years. Other adaptations followed, adapting the content of Shakespeare's play to the style of classicism or romanticism. The most typical examples are the French versions Jean Francois Ducis (1722-1816) "Romeo and Juliet" (Romeo et Juliette, 1772) and Louis-Sebastien Mercier (1740-1814) "The Tombs of Verona" (Les tombeax de Verona, 1782) , Moreover, the happily ending drama in five acts of Mercier was based on Shakespeare’s play indirectly - through alteration "Romeo and Julia" / Romeo und Julie (1768) by the German playwright Christian Felix Weisse (1726-1804) . According to Shakespeare and Weiss Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter (1746-1797) in 1776 he wrote the libretto for the singspiel (musical and dramatic production) George Benda (1722-1795) Romeo und Julie .
The authors freely treated the Shakespearean text, introducing or excluding some dialogue and subplots, changing the ending. In turn, translators in other countries, including Russia, created stage adaptations of French adaptations. This approach to Shakespeare's drama persisted until about the 19th century, when there was a tendency to turn to the original texts. Edition (1748) of the famous David Garric (1717-1779) was already closer to Shakespeare. In Russia and in many other countries, Shakespeare's play about Romeo and Juliet became known from translations of the previously mentioned adaptation by Louis Sebastien Mercier (1782), made in 1790 by V. Pomerantsev and 1827 by A. Rotchev. These versions (with a happy ending) were used for stage productions. Subsequently, translations began to be based on Shakespeare's original.There are a number of Russian translations of Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". Information about the earliest ones is given according to the list specified in the edition of the collected works of William Shakespeare edited by D. Mikhalovsky (5th edition. St. Petersburg, 1899)
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1. Romeo and Juliet. Tragedy in five acts by Shakespeare. Translation by I. Roskovshenko.
("Library for Reading", 1839 , vol. XXXIII, N 4, dep. I, pp. 81-228.)
Romeo and Juliet. Separate edition.
Moscow in the printing house of V. Grachev and Comp. 1861 . (In 8th d. l., pp. I-XXVI and 1-158.)
2. Romeo and Julia. Drama in five acts. Op. William Shakespeare. Translation by M. Katkov.
("Pantheon", 1841 , Part I, Dept. I, pp. 1-64.)
Even before appearing in the light of M. Katkov's complete translation, five excerpts from this drama (act I, act V, act II, act V, act III, act III and act V, acts I, II, III and IV) were published in "Moscow Observer" (1838, part XVI, pp. 94-95 and 385-400; part XVII, pp. 458-462; part XVIII, pp. 80-91; and 1839, part I, pp. 16-22); and in “Son of the Fatherland” (1839, volume VII, section I, pp. 15-42) the entire first act from this translation was published.
3. Romeo and Juliet. Drama in five acts by William Shakespeare. Translation by N. Grekov.
("Lamp", 1862 , book IV, dept. I, pp. 5-156.) Reprinted, in corrected form, in 1st and 2nd editions
"The Complete Dramatic Works of Shakespeare" in translations of Russian writers".
Three excerpts from this translation (Act I, Scene I, Act II, Scenes I, III and VI and Act V, Scene III) were published, before the full translation appeared, in the "Library for Reading" (1859, Vol. . CLIII, N 1, department I, pp. 68-80), "Moskovsky Vestnik" (1860, N 52, pp. 851-863) and in the first supplement to the magazine "V-k" for 1861 ( pp. 11-12).
4. Romeo and Juliet. The tragedy of William Shakespeare. Translation by Apollon Grigoriev.
("Russian Scene" 1864 , N 8, pp. 401-460.)
5. Romeo and Juliet. Tragedy in five acts by Shakespeare. Translation by A. L. Sokolovsky.
The Complete Works of Shakespeare. T. III. 1880 .
Also in his edition of all Shakespeare in his translations.
Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare. Translation from English by N. Ketcher.
("Shakespeare", 1866 , part VI, pp. 331-437.) Prose translation.
E Five more translated passages from this tragedy:
1. Scene from Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Julia". Translation**.
("Northern Flowers" 1829 , dept. II, p. 194,) Act II, scene II.
2. Scene from Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Julia". Translation**.
("Northern Flowers" , 1830 , dept. II, pp. 108-123.) Act III, scene I.
3. Scenes from Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Julia". Translation by M.
("Russian World", 1862 , N 13, p. 297.) Act II, scenes I and II.
4. Excerpt from the 2nd scene of the 2nd act of “Romeo and Julia”. Translation by Ustryalov.
("The Works of Heinrich Heine" 1864 , vol. III, p. 233.)
5. Scene from Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Julia". Translation by P. Kuskov.
("Dawn", 1870 , N 10, p. 91.)
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By 1950, many of Shakespeare's plays had appeared in several Russian translations, individual works had been translated into twenty-seven languages of the peoples of the USSR, more than one and a half million copies of editions of Shakespeare's plays had been published, and an edition of the complete works of Shakespeare had been published in English.
An essay by St. Petersburg philologist Konstantin Vasiliev is devoted to inaccuracies in Russian translations
Shakespeare's plays "Romeo and Juliet"
(Magazine "Siberian Lights", N 11, 2015)
“If we compare at least the opening lines of the play, we see a strong range of translation opinions, and for the Russian reader it remains a mystery: Shakespeare’s character “bites his finger” (“at someone”) or twists a fig, what is the connection with the coal miners, and what is with the wall : who clings to her, who is pulled away from her for some reason, and who is pressed... A literal translation of Shakespeare's text will be absurd: in many cases it is necessary to look for correspondences, come up with Russian wordplay to replace the English one... Shchepkina-Kupernik's translation is more accurate than others, she, for example, correctly conveys the play with the word "wall" in Samson's boast. I undertook to explain the meaning of only a small passage, noting that not all translators understood it, but there are about a dozen such places throughout the work (they were also received by native speakers conflicting interpretations). If my essay fits into your literary pages, you can post it on your website. Perhaps, over time, such explanations will be useful to those who undertake a new translation of the play."
