The Comedic Wave

During the time of Shakespeare, it was understood that a impart described as a comedy would be one that implies a positive understanding of human experience . . . . a marriage or at least some kind of union or reunification that resolves the conflict and brings the characters into a state of harmony (McDonald, 2001, 81).This describes the storyline of Shakespeares piddle Romeo and Juliet it is a comedy that by modern standards would be sub-categorized as unforgiving because much of the storyline isnt humorous however, the culminating events include a reunion and (a precarious) harmony among the feuding Montagues and Capulets. The plot of Romeo and Juliet is not unique the concept ofboy meets girlboy courts girlboy loses girlis the center of many other(a) stories, but the impact left by the wave of comedy which is created by such plot lines makes the theme one that is timeless.It seems inevitable that Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet allow for scale the feuding of their famil ies, marry, and live happily ever-after however, this is not to be, for the lovers are star-crossed (Romeo and Juliet, Prologue). The play builds to its dnouementthe doubled suicides of Romeo and Julietby taking the audience though the lives of the two youngsters as they strain to overcome their familial origins. By the time the audience realizes that the two lovers will unite only in death, the impact is profound.(Juliet)Whats here? A cup, closd in my true loves hand?Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.. . . .O happy prickleSnatches Romeos dagger.This is thy sheath there rest, and let me die.She stabs herself and falls on Romeos body. (V. iii. 205-206 212-215)It is a wave that has been strengthened slowly throughout the playone that remains with an audience division perhaps indefinitely.The war between the Montagues and the Capulets has raged for years, and part of the tragedy which becomes darkly comedic in this piece is that the barrier that stands between Romeo and Ju liet is nothing but a leger specifically a surname. During her famous balcony speech, Juliet, thinking aloud to herself says,O Romeo, Romeo, consequently art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. (II.i.7476)Juliet is asking the domain not where her love is, but why Romeo is a Montague. Ludwig Wittgensteins philosophical Investigations would describe the situation thusly one might say the ostensible definition explains the usethe meaningof the word when the overall role of the word in language is clear (Wittgenstein, L, 30). In other words, the reason Romeo and Juliet cannot conjoin has been determined by the definitionthe roletheir respective surnames play.A in truth effective comedy builds slowly, creates tension-filled expectation, and comes to a resolution that leaves a reader or an audience member with a long-lasting memory of the event. Shakespeare creates this in Romeo and Juliet by establishing the meaning of the surnames of his characters, and placing each i nto his/her respective role.ReferencesMcDonald, R. (2001). The Bedford companion to Shakespeare An introduction with documents. (2nd ed.). Boston Bedford.Shakespeare, W. (1992). Romeo and Juliet. (B. A. Mowat P. Werstine, Ed.) The revolutionary Folger library. New York Washington Square.Wittgenstein, L. Philosophical investigations. The Galilean library. Retrieved November 29, 2006 from http//www.galilean-library.org/pi3.html.