Why do we have to learn about Romeo and Juliet?

Question

This isn't a tradegy of love, it's a tradegy of lust!

Answer 1

Shakespeare lived at atime when English was rapidly changing, and he influenced this change. He coined several words.

He also ifnluenced the development of the play.

R&J is a good story, incorporating many substories. It's about human nature and how our actions can often have unintended effects on others. If all your teacher teaches is the plot, you will have missed a lot.

As for the love/lust issue, look at it humorously: Juliet was recently madly in love with someone else! Now she falls madly in love with Romeo. She's fickle!

If it is properly taught, you can learn much about life and get some ideas for how to live (or not live) yours (and I don't mean just not to kill yourself over some chick). Look for the underlying themes and try not to get tripped up too much by the archaic language.

Just some trivia: Shakespeare was a contemporary of the founders of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America (the fort of John Smith of Pocahontas fame). He also lived during the translation of the King James Bible. (I find boring things become more interesting when I can tie them to other events.)

Answer 2

More than anything, "Romeo & Juliet" is a play of the tragedy of pride. Don't focus so much on the love story--there's a lot more going on in those five acts surrounding two families that are so full of pride and hate each other so much that lives are lost left and right (not just R and J's). That's why the line "A plague on both your houses!" is so powerful--and it can be used in any number of situations today.

Answer 3

It is written by one of the best playwrights in the history of playwriting and it is a classic. Yes, you may hate the whole romance stuff, but it can also be hard to read because it is Shakespeare and his style of writing is different. If you have trouble with the characters, plot, etc., then check out Spark Notes online. I used it when I studied Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade and it helped me out a whole lot!

Answer 4

Because, in schools its one story that teenagers can all relate too. and the lovely Shakespeare language of writing is really one to love after you get used to it. I guess it all depends on the ability of the teacher to really let everyone enjoy and understand it properly so that its not just a boring story...I remember how we all looked forward to seeing the video of it once we had finished our books. When the infamous sex scene came it had been edited out!! lol guess were all pervs eh but a good story none the less.

Answer 5

To read Romeo and Juliet is to understand why teenagers do what they do.

R&J is not a classis because its a great book (don''t get me wrong it is) but it's a classic because its not a happy ending. No one gets what they want in the end, everyone is miserable in the ending, and hey, that's just what happens in love sometimes.

Answer 6

i am going to assume you are a ninth grader reading this for english class.

Romeo and Juliet is a timeles story. Everyone has read it and so should you. When you finish you migt get it. If not, you will in a few years.

Answer 7

Shakespeare great playright, i was in a school play Mid Summers Nights Dream in the 7th grade.

Answer 8

What would you like to learn instead? I mean ol Will is perhaps the greatest writer to ever ever live. His stories are still being told...that alone should merit some type of value.

but seriously the only reason to learn it now is to impress chicks so you can get laid.

Answer 9

It appears that you also need to learn about spelling.
It's a tragedy of love, lust, hatred, grudges, violence, prejudice, sacrifice, among other things.

Answer 10

Because you have to suffer along with the story just like everyone else. There will be many things in your life you DON'T want to do, and this is just one of them.