Blog Post #3

This week the class evaluated and discussed the different aspects and ideas throughout Romeo and Juliet. The play includes many different patterns, time-frames, character, and themes that some may not recognize while initially reading the story. I found myself reading mostly for the plot, without realizing all of the aspects and clues that are involved in creating the world of the play. There is so much meaning behind the characters and the places and things surrounding them that cannot be seen unless you slow down and dive into the specifics.

After each of the different groups presented this week, my overall view of the play was very different.  It was easy to add up all of the specific ideas into one big picture after fully understanding what was happening. For example: After I researched the climate of the play, I realized that many lines hint at the weather, and it affects many characters and their feelings toward certain situations. When Benvolio says, "I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire. The day is hot, the Capels (Capulets) are abroad, and if we meet we shall not scape a brawl, for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring."(pg.104) he gestures to heat in a negative way. I was able to understand how it was summer during the play, which I was not able to decode while initially reading. The way the play references the season during different scenes was very interesting because summer was related to both good and bad depending on what the scene called for. 

The time of the play was an important factor in understanding the climate as well. The class discussed how the day usually represents positive, while the night is negative. In the play that idea is portrayed backwards, since the day is when all of the fight scenes happen, and the night is when Romeo and Juliet fall in love. This idea adds to how the heat and sun are able to be discussed in a more negative manner, having to do with the ironic organization of time. I also did not realize that the play was really over only a week's time. After I understood that though, the play seemed much more realistic to me in how fast all the events play out.

I did not fully understand what Elinor Fuchs was explaining in Visit to a Small Play until I analyzed the play into different categories. There was so much more to Romeo and Juliet than just the raw plot. Once I understood the many different variables and ideas I was able to piece together why some characters acted as they did, or why some circumstances caused scenes to be more tense than I thought they were. What Fuchs explained about how each play is it's own world is completely true. Romeo and Juliet takes place in a world that has it's own time, climate, sounds, settings, characters, shapes, plot line, and changes. Now that I understand all of these, I can now let the play take place in it's own world, instead of trying to relate it to mine.