why did Shakespeare set romeo and Juliet in Italy not England?

Answer 1

It's all about politics. After the English became protestant (( church of England )) Instead of Catholic, a lot of authors and playrights were able to set sotries that involved baser instincts and behaviours like lust, betrayal, murder etc in Catholic countries, therefore making the Englican church appear more pious then the Catholic church. Also being far from Italy his play could go off with out a hitch where as if he set it in England, unintentional resemblance to English noble families might have caused him political isssues as they might have taken offence.

Answer 2

shakespeare s all plays have been set outside england.reasons are that it was the age ppl were curious abt far off places n 2 set ur play like that would make it even more intresting n famous. romeo n juliet in italy becuz italy was the center of arts n culture n romance.2 set ur love story in such a romantic spot gave it even better atmosphere of love n beauty. when u r writing something u try n give it a suitable background ,thats what shakespeare did.

Answer 3

The story of Romeo and Juliet is an extremely old one, far predating the time of Shakespeare who brought it to widespread attention through his famous play. Shakespeare himself took the story from another English writer, Arthur Brookes, who translated and adapted it from an Italian novel by Bandello, making it the subject of his epic poem "The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Juliet".

The classic setting of the tragedy is Italy, and the oldest Italian telling dates back to the year 1476, in the Novellino of Massuccio di Salernitano. In Italy, the legend is said to be based upon the story of two young lovers from Verona who, in 1303, took their own lives rather than be forced to live apart.

But the Italian version of the story is actually pre-dated by almost a century by an almost identical legend originating from Teruel in Spain. There is better evidence that the Spanish lovers were in fact real, since the remains of the supposed couple have been found. They were Don Juan Diego Martinez de Marcilla and Dona Ysabel de Segura, and they died in Teruel in the year 1217. They were interred in a chapel of the Church of San Pedro where they remained until 1708 when they were removed to a cloister and set up in a cupboard. In 1854, the people of Teruel, realizing at last the importance of their mummified lovers, had them placed upon a walnut stand, supported in a standing position, and clothed in light guaze skirts.

The Spanish version differs slightly in that the Spanish 'Juliette' was married to her other suitor while her 'Romeo' was absent in hiding, and following the dual suicide her husband took pity and had them buried together. Whether an almost identical incident occurred in Verona a hundred years later, or the story of the Spanish couple spread there and was adopted as a local legend, is a matter of conjecture. True, there had once been two leading and feuding families in Verona, but no one has ever proved the existence of their star-crossed children. There the Spanish version has the advantage, as well as the Spanish legend existing first.

Brookes' poem was published in England in 1562 and Shakespeare penned his version around thirty years later, probably in 1594, the first published version appearing in 1597.

Answer 4

The original story came from Italy.

Answer 5

I can't think of any of Shakespeare's non historical plays, apart from The Merry Wives of Windsor, which ARE set in England.

Answer 6

Capulet is an Anglicized Italian call - Capuleti. Montague, by sharp assessment, isn't an Anglicized French call, plenty because it rather is an English appropriation of the call by the English born ancestors of the Norman (French) warrior named Drogo (Druex) De Monte Acuto (de Montaigu). by way of fact the unique call aspects derive from the Latin: Mons + Acutus/Acus it "interprets" very unquestionably into each and all the romance languages: The Italian type the call is unquestionably Montecchi. The Spanish variety of the call is Montesco. The Portuguese variety of the call is Montéquio.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Because of the fighting between houses for position and power.
See his other plays for settings concerned with the theme of the play

Answer 9

because its more romantic what wouldyou rather ahve some one stood on top of an open top double decker shouting fancy a bag of fish and chips love or some one who climbs up to your balcony in the sun to proclaim undying love fish and chips are all well and good but id rather have the sun

Answer 10

Italy is more romantic and the audience can escape to another world (because its not the REAL italy)