# data[].attributes.headline
An audio version if you don't want to read it

# data[].attributes.subject
An audio version if you don't want to read it

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - Full and Unabridged Reading

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The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head

# data[].attributes.subject
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head

# data[].attributes.body
Prince Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate

# data[].attributes.subject
See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate

# data[].attributes.body
Prince Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. 

# data[].attributes.subject
O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. 

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
I will kiss thy lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them

# data[].attributes.subject
I will kiss thy lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there

# data[].attributes.subject
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty

# data[].attributes.subject
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Can vengeance be pursued further than death?

# data[].attributes.subject
Can vengeance be pursued further than death?

# data[].attributes.body
Paris Act V Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night.

# data[].attributes.subject
Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night.

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead … and breathed such life with kisses in my lips, that I revived

# data[].attributes.subject
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead … and breathed such life with kisses in my lips, that I revived

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead … and breathed such life with kisses in my lips, that I revived

# data[].attributes.subject
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead … and breathed such life with kisses in my lips, that I revived

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand

# data[].attributes.subject
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act V Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain! 

# data[].attributes.subject
Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain! 

# data[].attributes.body
Paris Act IV Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
But one thing to rejoice and solace in, and cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight! 

# data[].attributes.subject
But one thing to rejoice and solace in, and cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight! 

# data[].attributes.body
Lady Capulet Act IV Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; 

# data[].attributes.subject
Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; 

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act IV Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
Death lies on her like an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of all the field.

# data[].attributes.subject
Death lies on her like an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of all the field.

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act IV Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught,  environed with all these hideous fears?

# data[].attributes.subject
O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught,  environed with all these hideous fears?

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act IV Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
What if it be a poison, which the friar subtly hath minister'd to have me dead lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd, because he married me before to Romeo? 

# data[].attributes.subject
What if it be a poison, which the friar subtly hath minister'd to have me dead lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd, because he married me before to Romeo? 

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act IV Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Send for the county; go tell him of this: I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Send for the county; go tell him of this: I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. 

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act IV Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris … bid me lurk where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears; Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house, o'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones

# data[].attributes.subject
O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris … bid me lurk where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears; Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house, o'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act IV Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. 

# data[].attributes.subject
That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. 

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act IV Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
You say you do not know the lady's mind:  Uneven is the course, I like it not. 

# data[].attributes.subject
You say you do not know the lady's mind:  Uneven is the course, I like it not. 

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act IV Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. 

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
I think it best you married with the county. 

# data[].attributes.subject
I think it best you married with the county. 

# data[].attributes.body
Nurse Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,  for, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee

# data[].attributes.subject
hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,  for, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him—dead— is my poor heart for a kinsman vex'd.

# data[].attributes.subject
I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him—dead— is my poor heart for a kinsman vex'd.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,  as one dead in the bottom of a tomb

# data[].attributes.subject
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,  as one dead in the bottom of a tomb

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
I must be gone and live, or stay and die. 

# data[].attributes.subject
I must be gone and live, or stay and die. 

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
It was the nightingale, and not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear

# data[].attributes.subject
It was the nightingale, and not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
I think she will be ruled in all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.

# data[].attributes.subject
I think she will be ruled in all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act III Sc IV

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act III Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;

# data[].attributes.subject
Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act III Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! 

# data[].attributes.subject
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! 

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc II

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! 

# data[].attributes.subject
O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! 

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act III Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

# data[].attributes.subject
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

# data[].attributes.body
Prince Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper softened valour’s steel.

# data[].attributes.subject
O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper softened valour’s steel.

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Mercutio Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Mercutio Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
I … love thee better than thou canst devise till thou shalt know the reason of my love.

# data[].attributes.subject
I … love thee better than thou canst devise till thou shalt know the reason of my love.

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this - thou art a villain.

# data[].attributes.subject
Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this - thou art a villain.

# data[].attributes.body
Tybalt Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring

# data[].attributes.subject
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring

# data[].attributes.body
Benvolio Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
The day is hot, the Capulets are abroad, and if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl

# data[].attributes.subject
The day is hot, the Capulets are abroad, and if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl

# data[].attributes.body
Benvolio Act III Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Lady Capulet Act I Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
These violent delights have violent ends

# data[].attributes.subject
These violent delights have violent ends

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act II Sc VI

# data[].attributes.headline
Do thou but close our hands with holy words, then love-devouring death do what he dare

# data[].attributes.subject
Do thou but close our hands with holy words, then love-devouring death do what he dare

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act II Sc VI

# data[].attributes.headline
Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell. There stays a husband to make you a wife.

# data[].attributes.subject
Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell. There stays a husband to make you a wife.

# data[].attributes.body
Nurse Act II Sc V

# data[].attributes.body
Nurse Act II Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath to say to me that thou art out of breath?

# data[].attributes.subject
How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath to say to me that thou art out of breath?

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act II Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo

# data[].attributes.subject
Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo

# data[].attributes.body
Mercutio Act II Sc IV

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Mercutio Act II Sc IV

# data[].attributes.headline
Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.

# data[].attributes.subject
Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act II Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.

# data[].attributes.subject
For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act II Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

# data[].attributes.subject
Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act II Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken? 

# data[].attributes.subject
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken? 

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act II Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Within the infant rind of this weak flower poison hath residence and medicine power

# data[].attributes.subject
Within the infant rind of this weak flower poison hath residence and medicine power

# data[].attributes.body
Friar Laurence Act II Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow

# data[].attributes.subject
If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden

# data[].attributes.subject
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon… Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

# data[].attributes.subject
swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon… Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords

# data[].attributes.subject
there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
I’ll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo

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I’ll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.

# data[].attributes.subject
That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act II Sc II

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act I Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
If he be married,  my grave is like to be my wedding bed.

# data[].attributes.subject
If he be married,  my grave is like to be my wedding bed.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act I Sc V

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

# data[].attributes.subject
I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc V

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

# data[].attributes.subject
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc V

# data[].attributes.headline
my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars

# data[].attributes.subject
my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc IV

# data[].attributes.headline
I talk of dreams,which are the children of an idle brain,begot of nothing but vain fantasy,

# data[].attributes.subject
I talk of dreams,which are the children of an idle brain,begot of nothing but vain fantasy,

# data[].attributes.body
Mercutio Act I Sc IV

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc IV

# data[].attributes.headline
Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.

# data[].attributes.subject
Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.

# data[].attributes.body
Mercutio Act I Sc IV

# data[].attributes.headline
Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy I will bear the light.

# data[].attributes.subject
Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy I will bear the light.

# data[].attributes.body
Romeo Act I Sc IV

# data[].attributes.headline
I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.

# data[].attributes.subject
I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act I Sc III

# data[].attributes.body
Nurse Act I Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.

# data[].attributes.subject
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.

# data[].attributes.body
Lady Capulet Act I Sc III

# data[].attributes.body
Juliet Act I Sc III

# data[].attributes.headline
Tell me, daughter Juliet, how stands your disposition to be married?

# data[].attributes.subject
Tell me, daughter Juliet, how stands your disposition to be married?

# data[].attributes.body
Lady Capulet Act I Sc III

# data[].attributes.body
Benvolio Act I Sc II

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act I Sc II

# data[].attributes.headline
My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.

# data[].attributes.subject
My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.

# data[].attributes.body
Capuet Act I Sc II

# data[].attributes.body
Montague Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Lady Montague Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not; let me go.

# data[].attributes.subject
Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not; let me go.

# data[].attributes.body
Montague Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!

# data[].attributes.subject
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!

# data[].attributes.body
Capulet Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!

# data[].attributes.subject
What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!

# data[].attributes.body
Tybalt Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.headline
Put up your swords. You know not what you do.

# data[].attributes.subject
Put up your swords. You know not what you do.

# data[].attributes.body
Benvolio Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.body
Sampson Act I Sc I

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Over the course of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet goes from being a sheltered child to a young woman passionately in love. Penny Gay considers how this transformation, and its tragic consequences, are accompanied by Juliet's development as a poet.

Juliet is the youngest leading female character in a Shakespeare play - she is just about to turn 14. Juliet is also the third-longest female role in Shakespeare; only the much more adult Cleopatra and Rosalind have more lines. A young girl barely into puberty, and yet one who, in the course of the play, takes life-changing decisions and tells the audience about them, in poetry of extraordinary eloquence. What was Shakespeare up to in presenting such a paradoxical figure?

1901 edition of Anna Jameson's Shakespeare's Heroines, illustrated by Robert Anning Bell

Juliet hears her mother calling in Act 1, Scene 3 of the play.

The play's source material, Arthur Brooke's narrative poem Romeus and Juliet (1562), was in most respects followed closely by Shakespeare, but not in the matter of Juliet's age. Brooke's Juliet is nearly 16; Shakespeare's is so young that her parents' attempts to control her life are strong drivers of the play's narrative. Her father threatens to whip her if she disobeys him (Act 3, Scene 5). She still has as a confidante the Nurse who breast-fed her. Yet her mother, her father and her suitor Paris emphasise that she is ready for an arranged marriage. 'By my count, / I was your mother much upon these years', says Lady Capulet (1.3.71-72). Juliet has a mere seven lines in her first scene; it is the Nurse who is talkative, emphasising for the audience exactly how young Juliet is.

Brooke's Romeus and Juliet

Arthur Brooke's poem, The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Iuliet (1562), was a key source for Shakespeare. But Brooke's Juliet is nearly 16, while Shakespeare's is not yet 14.

Usage terms The printed text is Public Domain.
The handwritten text is Public Domain in most countries other than the UK.

Passion lends her power

But when she next appears, at the Capulets' feast, an unexpected side of Juliet is revealed. When Romeo, admiring her beauty, approaches her in courtly mode ('If I profane with my unworthiest hand ...' (1.5.92)), rather than being coy and quiet, she matches him line for line and wit for wit in a formal sonnet. In this way they jointly - and equally - declare their attraction to each other. Juliet shows herself to be a natural poet, able to play the linguistic games of which the self-consciously poetical Romeo has so far been the sole performer. Yet here is the supposedly uneducated Juliet answering him delightedly in the same idiom:

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this.
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss. (1.5.96-99)

First edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets, 1609

Juliet is a natural poet, matching Romeo line for line to produce a formal sonnet. This first edition of Shake-speares Sonnets was published in 1609.

That most famous Shakespearean scene, the balcony scene (Act 2, Scene 1), must have been an extraordinary surprise to the play's first audience - not only because of its dramatic daring but because Juliet speaks again, and now with even richer eloquence. At first she seems to be talking only to herself - but we 'overhear' her (as Romeo does) actually arguing a complex philosophical case:

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
... What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet. (2.1.80-81, 85-86)

Juliet displays the greater emotional realism in this famous scene of young love. Not for her Romeo's reaching for poetical clichés, swearing by 'yonder blessed moon'; rather, she says,

do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy in this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden ... (2.1.158-60)

Juliet the poet

In the play's later acts, where the action turns inexorably to tragedy, Juliet is even more expressive. If the plot's turning point is the violent deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt in Act 3, Scene 1, the play's more astonishing central moment is Juliet's 116 lines in Act 3, Scene 2 as she prepares for her wedding night and deals with the dreadful irony that these deaths involve her new husband. 'Gallop apace' is a speech of extraordinary imaginative daring: it is full of explicit physical imagery - this young virgin is no naïve innocent - and joyous sexual energy, from the beginning to the end of its astonishing 30 lines.

Is it the adrenalin of the dangerously secret marriage, the experience of sexual fulfilment, or the excitement of discovering her own intellectual and imaginative powers that fuels the rapid development of the child into the woman that we see in the second half of the play? In allowing herself to both think and speak as a poet, Juliet may be seen to be claiming a masculine role. In Act 3, Scene 5 she engages in debate, equivocating with her mother over Tybalt's death and the proposed hasty marriage with Paris:

I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear
It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate -
Rather than Paris. (3.5.121-23)

But her attempt to argue similarly with her father is a step too far; it denies the patriarch's still absolute social power: 'How, how, how, how - chopped logic? What is this?' Old Capulet is affronted that his daughter should have a mind of her own, and his only response to her request to be heard is 'Speak not, reply not, do not answer me ... My fingers itch', as he threatens to beat her (3.5.149, 164).

Locked into an impossible situation, with parents who refuse to listen to her, Juliet submits to the alternative male authority represented by the Friar: that of the priest and the scientist. Typically, she doesn't go along with his plan without verbalising at length the pros and cons (mostly cons) as she prepares to take the drug. Her poetic imagination serves her well as she imagines the horrors of waking up in a charnel-house, or perhaps not waking at all because she has been poisoned. But her courage is never in doubt, and at the end of this mighty soliloquy she utters what might be seen as a masculine gesture and turn of phrase: 'Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here's drink. I drink to thee.' (4.3.57)

Boydell's Collection of Prints illustrating Shakespeare's works

Juliet is presumed dead after taking a sleeping drug, Romeo and Juliet, Act 4, Scene 5 by John Opie.

Juliet in the theatre

'My dismal scene I needs must act alone', Juliet says as she begins this last act of her story. In employing one of his favourite images - that 'All the world's a stage' - Shakespeare here reminds the audience that they are at a play, in the theatre, where nothing is really as it seems. Perhaps at this point the first audiences were subconsciously reminded of the paradox that this girl who defies her parents - and talks about it - could actually be played only by a teenage boy. (The 'boy player' of Juliet might have been any age from 11 to 21, as long as he could keep his voice and gait sufficiently feminine.) And perhaps this is the clue to Shakespeare's daring in writing this eloquent role: he cannot represent the real 16th-century world on his stage because of strong religious opposition and the misogyny enshrined in English law, but he can present an alternative world, in which young women can express themselves freely and eloquently - though it does not guarantee them a happy ending.

West Side Story film poster

Romeo and Juliet is the most filmed of Shakespeare's plays. The film musical, West Side Story (1961), re-imagines the feuding families as two rival New York gangs, the Jets and the Sharks.

Usage terms © UNITED ARTISTS

Romeo and Juliet has an assured place now as a potent and familiar myth - not only on the straight stage but also in every type of adaptation - opera, ballet, musical ( West Side Story), film - as a popular story of doomed romance. But, looking more closely at Shakespeare's text, we might argue that the play is more interested in the impossible cultural position of the intelligent young woman, who knows what she wants and speaks of it without fear; argues for her right to it; and in so doing produces poetry that is the equal of that of any of the most passionately romantic heroes in Shakespeare.

The contributor has asked for the following credit: Em. Prof. Penny Gay, The University of Sydney.

Penny Gay is Professor Emerita in English and Drama at the University of Sydney, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. She has published extensively on Shakespeare, particularly on the comedies. Her book As She Likes It: Shakespeare's Unruly Women was published in 1994, and The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare's Comedies in 2008. She has also written a substantial new Introduction to the New Cambridge Shakespeare Twelfth Night. Her ongoing research interest is in the performance history, both historical and contemporary, of Shakespeare and other English drama, particularly as regards women's roles.

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Over the course of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet goes from being a sheltered child to a young woman passionately in love. Penny Gay considers how this transformation, and its tragic consequences, are accompanied by Juliet's development as a poet. Juliet is the youngest leading female character in a Shakespeare play - she is just about to turn 14.

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it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well

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it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well