Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare Stories Collection (Includes CD)

Author: (English) Shakespeare / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Romeo bids farewell to his beloved wife with a heavy heart, promising to write to her often once he reaches Mantua. He climbs down from her bedroom window and stands on the ground, looking up at her. Because she has a premonition of misfortune, he appears as if he were a corpse in a grave. He feels the same way about her, but he must leave immediately. If he is found still within Verona city after dawn, he will be executed. For this unfortunate couple, the tragedy is just beginning.
A few days after Romeo leaves, Lord Capulet discusses a marriage proposal with Juliet. He had no idea that his daughter was already married, and the noble, young, and brave gentleman he has chosen for her is Count Paris. If young Juliet had not met Romeo, he would have been worthy of her. The father's proposal leaves the frightened Juliet utterly bewildered. She says she is too young to marry, that Tybalt recently died, and she lacks the spirits to face her husband cheerfully. Moreover, the Capulets have just concluded their mourning, and holding a wedding banquet immediately after would seem highly inappropriate. She uses various excuses to decline the proposal, but never mentions the real reason: she is already married. Lord Capulet pays no heed to her excuses and demands, in a domineering manner, that she prepare to marry Paris next Thursday. The husband he has chosen for her is young, wealthy, and noble—even the proud girls of Verona would happily accept such a match. Therefore, when Juliet refuses, he assumes she is merely putting on an act; he will not tolerate her obstructing her own bright future.
With no other option, Juliet seeks advice from the kind Friar. She has always turned to the Friar for comfort when troubled. The Friar asks if she can resolve herself to take a desperate course of action, and she replies that her beloved husband is still alive and that she would rather die than marry Paris. The Friar tells her to return home, pretend to be cheerful, and agree to marry Paris as her father wishes. He gives her a small vial of potion and instructs her to drink it on the night before the wedding. For the next forty-two hours, she will be cold as a corpse. Thus, when the groom arrives the next morning to take her away, he will believe she is dead. According to local custom, she will then be placed in a coffin and transported to the family tomb without the lid being nailed shut. The Friar says that if she can overcome a woman's fear and agree to this terrible test, she will surely awaken after forty-two hours (as the effect will undoubtedly be so)—everything will seem like a dream.