The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare's classic, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, is about two lovers that are forbidden to be together and their solution. The writing style of this Shakespearean play reveals the era of the play by highlighting the social classes. Skillfully using his writing, Shakespeare develops his characters by implying the social classes of each character.
Shakespeare uses language usage and style to suggest the individual social standings. In the Renaissance Era, the separation of the social classes is prominent. The four main social groups are the nobles, merchants, the middle class, and laborers (Dowling, "Renaissance Social Hierarchy"). At the top, the nobles have extensive property, live in large lavish homes outside of the city, and are owners of large businesses (Dowling, "Renaissance Social Hierarchy").
Since the nobles own most of the land, they have a lot of power and tend to be military officers, advisors to royalty, and politicians (Dowling). Nobles are trained to be warriors, to have social skills, to dance properly, and to carry themselves with a certain air about them (Dowling). Laborers, on the other hand, do not live in such luxury. Their employers did not guarantee them employment and their employment status and paycheck depended on their performance in their duties (Dowling).
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Despite the hardships in a laborer's life, the life of a peasant was far worse. All of society frowned apon the peasants. The separation of social standing during the Renaissance Era was obvious. Language usage between the different classes was quite different. Those who are higher up in the social ladder have more education opportunities and as a result are more educated.
In Shakespeare's writing, the language usage by each character helps to identify the social classification of the character and develop the character. Romeo and Juliet often use an oxymoron or an antithesis when talking to and about each other ("Bitesize"). " … " (1.1.44–69). Characters like Romeo and Juliet tend to speak in an iambic pentameter blank verse. Common folk or people that are considered laborers tend to speak prose. " … " (1.1.44–69)
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