Introduction (continued)

Shakespeare's Romeo und Julia addresses themes that were relevant in his time and remain so today. The play's exploration of different love concepts reflects the changing social dynamics of Elizabethan England. By examining the juxtaposition of Petrarchan and bawdy love in the play, we can gain insight into both historical and contemporary views on love.

The paper's analysis of character behavior and language will help determine if Romeo embodies the Petrarchan lover ideal within the context of the Elizabethan age. This examination will contribute to our understanding of what has been called the greatest love story in literature and its enduring relevance to modern conceptions of love.

Outline

This page provides an outline of the paper's structure:

1. Introduction
2. Love concepts in Romeo and Juliet 2.1 Petrarchan Love 2.2 Bawdy Love
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
5. Plagiarism declaration

The outline indicates the paper will examine different concepts of love portrayed in the play, with a focus on Petrarchan and bawdy love, before drawing conclusions.

Introduction

Shakespeare wrote Romeo und Julia during a time of significant social and economic changes in Elizabethan England. While class divisions were decreasing, a hierarchical social order remained based on the "chain of being" concept. The play is set in Verona, which has a patriarchal structure where men dominate decision-making. Marriages were typically arranged based on social status and wealth. However, new ideas about love were emerging alongside societal changes.

Highlight: The paper aims to examine different concepts of love in Romeo and Juliet, particularly Petrarchan love and bawdy love, to determine if Romeo fits the Petrarchan lover archetype.

The analysis will focus on how these love concepts are portrayed in the play through character behavior and language use. By exploring Shakespeare's depiction of love, we can gain insight into both Elizabethan views on love and our modern understanding of love.