How was Romeo & Juliet received during Shakespeare's life'?

One of the original star-cross'd lovers, Romeo is the male half of the ill-fated pair who drive the action in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Much has been written about the origins of the character, and the influence Romeo has had on other young male lovers throughout Western literature. read more

Romeo Montague (Italian: Romeo Montecchi) is the protagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The son of Lord Montague and his wife, Lady Montague, he secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet, through a priest named Friar Laurence. read more

Romeo and Juliet's inability to grasp the true depth of feeling involved in this"grudge" (Prologue, line 3) gives an indication of just how young they both are. Neither Juliet nor Romeo appreciates the complexity of the problem and they even believe that denying their ancestry may be enough. read more

On the"Yes" side: Sure, Romeo's puppy love for Rosaline gives way to a more grown up relationship with Juliet. On the"No" side: Romeo never changes. read more