Postmodern Elements in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Alvin the Chipmunk

3rd Period

Final Exam Forum Post

Introduction

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy that highlights the power of love. Romeo and Juliet come from rival families, yet fall in love with each other at first sight. Throughout the play, the two lovers face many challenges in their attempts to be together and end up choosing death over the alternative of not being with one another. Looking through a postmodern lens, we can see characteristics of pastiche, magical realism, and maximalism intertwined in the pages of the romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

Summary of Element One - Pastiche

Links to Postmodernism in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, he tells the story of two star-crossed lovers from rivaling families who were drawn together by fate and ultimately met a tragic end. Shakespeare challenged himself to craft a story of doomed romance, utilizing literary techniques such as allusions and dramatic irony to convey his message. Throughout the play, Shakespeare employs allusions such as one to Queen Mab, the queen of the fairies in English folklore, writing "Oh, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you." (1.4.53) While Shakespeare made smaller, more minor allusions to other texts in his poem, he also employed a broader allusion to The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet, written by Arthur Brooke in 1562, or, if we look at it through a postmodern lens, the allusion changes into pastiche. That's right, people– Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was a mix of an imitation and parody of another poem!

There are many instances in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet where magical realism presents itself. The most common and apparent instances where Shakespeare incorporates magical realism in his play is the comparison of Juliet to light, shining in the dark. Romeo describes Juliet as "the sun" who can "kill the envious moon" (II.2.3) and that her eyes are like "[t]wo of the fairest stars in all the heaven" (II.2.15). These two comparisons surround a mundane narration of the outside world (the “darkness”) and other people by Romeo, showing how he views Juliet as a magical, light being who lights up the world around her. The elements of postmodern literature are seen greatly in Shakespeare’s writing, where he uses magical realism to convey the boundless and almost fairytale-like love that Romeo and Juliet shared.

Links to “Unnecessary Things” by Tayna Tolstaya

Here’s the link: "Unnecessary Things"

“Unnecessary Things” by Tayna Tolstaya also has elements of pastiche with the mention of William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily.” “A Rose for Emily” is a short story about a woman who kills her husband and sleeps with his corpse for 30 years until she is found dead lying beside his corpse. In mentioning “A Rose for Emily,” Tolstaya connects her protagonist to that of Emily's character, drawing a parallel between the two's characteristics. I interpret this as the narrator recognizing her faults (her attachment to material items) and deciding to let go of the teddy bear because she sees the dangers of holding onto it. This, in turn, creates paranoia and unreliability in the narrator, both of which are heavily used in postmodern literature.

Here's the link to my original comment on “Unnecessary Things” by Tayna Tolstaya

My Take

These two sources are linked through the postmodern element of pastiche, as they both derive part of their story from another work while using the original source as a parody or lesson for their own. While Brooke warned against giving into lust, Shakespeare romanticizes the star-crossed love shared between Romeo and Juliet and uses it to reach a moral of the strength of love and to follow your heart, and Tolstaya mentions A Rose for Emily in order to distinguish the difference between the choice Emily made and the choice her narrator made.

Do you believe Brooke or Shakespeare had the correct/better approach to writing Romeo and Juliet's love story?

Brooke
Shakespeare

Summary of Element Two - Magical Realism

Links to Postmodernism in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Links to Radiohead's "Pyramid Song"

Here’s the link: Radiohead "Pyramid Song"

Radiohead’s music video, “Pyramid Song”, also presents key characteristics of magical realism. One of the biggest magical realism elements I noticed was the entire city being submerged underwater, like it was swallowed by a thunderstorm and isn’t able to fight it off. The main character seems to be the only person left, as it pans from the city to abandoned cars and homes that are eerily quiet. Although the person needs a water tank to survive under the water (like we would in the real world), the cord connecting the air tank to the surface is comically long, so long that in the real world it would have run out or snapped very quickly. The dark atmosphere of the ocean mixed with the light, almost glowing elements of the air tube and the little squiggles in the water create a chilling and otherwordly effect. Overall, the magical realism characteristics create a feeling of euphoria and uneasiness in the reader. I believe this is because the video shows something so close to being real but with a few key differences that subject it to magical realism.

Link to my original comment on Radiohead's "Pyramid Song"

My Take

Romeo and Juliet and the “Pyramid Song” music video both incorporate magical realism in their stories as an attempt to convey deeper truths about the purpose of life and love. Shakespeare uses magical realism to convey the deep connection the star-crossed lovers share, and Radiohead uses magical realism to convey the importance of human connection and love.

Summary of Element Three - Maximalism

Links to Postmodernism in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare relied heavily on maximalism in the writing of Romeo and Juliet, using elements such as imagery and setting. In Act II of the play, he writes “As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea / I would adventure for such merchandise. / Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, / Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek / For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight” (II.2.83-88) The maximal use of lightness and darkness in relation to Romeo and Juliet’s characters symbolize their growing love and also the growing prophecy of their tragedy, slowly unfolding. The use of maximalism in terms of setting and imagery are seen constantly throughout the play and plays a major role in the contextualization of the characters and the development of their love and tragedy.

See for yourself!

Links to e.e. cummings’ [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]”

Here’s the link: "[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]"

In the poem “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]”, the author e.e. cummings utilizes the element of maximalism from the postmodern literary tradition. Cummings uses a buttload of detail in this poem, full of imagery and metaphors. He

greatly elaborates on the love he feels for his lover, stating, "i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing", emphasizing how he feels as though their hearts are interconnected with one another. Cummings also goes into great detail about the pureness and natural beauty his lover possesses, using imagery of nature to do so. He makes many links between his lover and nature, even using a metaphor of the sun singing to her every morning as if it rises and sets only for her pleasure.

Link to my original comment on e.e. cummings’ [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]”

My Take

Both Shakespeare and e.e. cummings employ maximalism in their writing in order to deepen the meaning of their words and convey a profound love. While Shakespeare employs maximalism to connect the two lovers and strengthen the tragedy that will befall them, cummings uses it to convey the deep adoration and connection he feels to his lover.

Almost done!!!

Conclusion

Through these sources and their connections to postmodern literature, we see that the true meaning of live boils down to human connection and love. Without love, we have no purpose and this can oftentimes lead to tragedy.