A Letter to Shakespeare

Essay by OverdoseHigh School, 10th gradeA+, January 1997

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A Letter to Shakespeare

January 23, 1997

William Shakespeare

Stratford upon Avon

Dear Mr. Shakespeare

Just recently, I have read what it probably your most highly acclaimed works, Romeo and Juliet. I must give you credit for doing some great work with it, being that there are many people who enjoy it tremendously, however, I have a few problems with your story. I guess the main point that I am trying to stress, is that your story, yet good, is written to be understood by people from many centuries ago. Much of the script is written in old English, and it is very hard to understand and comprehend for people living today. I know that the setting for the story is several centuries ago, but I think that you could make a more revised version of the story for people today to read.

One part that really stuck out to me was the very famous 'balcony scene'.

Much of the language here could use some revision. For example, when Juliet says, 'Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?', I think it would be much better if she simply said something to the affect of 'Romeo, where are you?' since that is practically all she is saying. And at the end of the balcony scene, instead of Juliet saying 'Parting is such sweet sorrow,' although that is very dramatic, she could just say something like, 'I wish you didn't have to go so soon.'

Another part that I noticed was in the scene where Mercutio was insulting Tybalt, right before they fought in the streets of Verona. Mercutio had called Tybalt 'prince of cats' since Tybalt was an ordinary name for house cats at that time. I think that it would be all right to keep this part, however you...