"Mythology" of Romeo and Juliet

How would Shakespeare react if he could see the heights of fame (or perhaps infamy) that his play has reached? Obviously, we will never know; but it is unquestionable that the story of Juliet and her Romeo is the most revered love stories of all time. Even unschooled, self-professed Shakespeare haters make references to Romeo, and almost everyone has some vague idea of the balcony scene, although how this idea has seeped into our collective consciousness it is hard to fathom. Romeo and Juliet continues to hit a nerve with us, playing on our innate desires. The desire for true love, independence, the value we place on breaking free of our family’s or society’s expectations: Shakespeare outlined all of these things in a startlingly honest way, as they had never been before. This groundbreaking new take on love set the standard, so to speak, for lovers through out the ages.

If western society at large was polled on their expectations about love—at least their honest expectations; the love they dream about when “common sense” is laid aside—their explanations would probably sound strangely like those of Romeo and Juliet’s love. Girls dream about being pursued by a passionate young man, willing to give up everything for her, who would come to her side and speak poetry in her ear. Young men have some idea of finding an enchantingly beautiful young woman, who would make him her world, and let him fight for her. That is what makes the story timeless. In Romeo and Juliet, even when the story seems ludicrous and melodramatic, we find desires that mirror what we know and understand.

The draw of literature and poetry is that a few talented individuals have taken the things we think and feel and made them eloquent. It legitimizes what we would otherwise feel embarrassed about. Shakespeare is lauded as the master wordsmith for good measure. The beautiful language he employs in telling his story is enthralling, occasionally breathtaking. Had he used prose to tell the tale, it might still have been interesting, but would not have taken on the mythological qualities it now boasts.

Romeo and Juliet will always be colored with a sort of mystery, despite its ubiquitous copy-cats and references. Perhaps that is what makes it so fascinating. It can never be fully understood until the reader is willing to delve into it and plumb its depths. When the reader does so, suddenly the bittersweet beauty becomes startlingly forceful.