On The Source and Five Characters of Romeo and Juliet

Abstract

In composing Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare did not have to invent its basic story, because it was common dramatic practice that the Elizabethan dramatists drew upon known histories, legends and stories for the plot material of their plays. The story on which Romeo and Juliet is formed was originally written by Luigi da Porto of Italy. His tale of the noble lovers of Verona, Giulietta and Romeo, published in 1530, mainly agrees with Shakespeare's play in its plot, except a notable variant that Giulietta awakes and exchanges words with Romeo before his death of the poison, and then she dies by drawing her breath and holding it long. This tale was so popular in Italy that it was soon retold both in prose and verse by many writers, and later dramatized in Italy, Spain and France. In 1554 Matteo Bandello of Italy published his novella, Romeo e Giulietta, based on da Porto.