“Pyramus and Thisbe” and Romeo and Juliet: A Comparative Essay
Tragedy and love, two of the most common themes incorporated into ancient and modern literature, can be found in almost any piece of text ever written. Even more common, some might say, is a tragic love. The most famous tragic love story is a dramatic play written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. It took place around the 14th century in the city of Verona, Italy. The play follows a pair of star-crossed lovers who belong to feuding houses. Shakespeare was inspired by another tragic love story known as “Pyramus and Thisbe”, a narrative poem written by the Roman poet Ovid, which took place in Babylon. The poem follows lovers whose families forbid their love. Although the …show more content…
Ovid wrote that “no boy in Babylon was handsomer than Pyramus” (p.283, lines 6-7). Romeo was the only son of Lord Montague and Lady Montague, making him the heir to his house. In a way, they are seen as the most eligible bachelors in their relative cities of Babylon and Verona. Both love their significant others with all of their being. But while Romeo had friends and family he could depend on, Pyramus was not described as having dependable friends or family. Ovid also wrote that “you’d find no girl with greater charm than Thisbe” (p.283, lines 5-6). Juliet was the only surviving child of Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet, making her and the person she marries the heir to her house. Similar to Pyramus and Romeo, Thisbe and Juliet are seen as the most eligible women to be married in Babylon and Verona. Both women love their significant others with all of their hearts but while Juliet has a friend she can depend on, Thisbe has no one. For Romeo and Juliet, it was love at first sight. An intense and impulsive kind of love. Pyramus and Thisbe’s love was the kind that grew “with time…” (p.283, line 9). When Pyramus saw the shredded bloody shawl of Thisbe, he jumped to the conclusion that she had died and cried out,“Now this same night will see two lovers lose their lives: she was the one more worthy of long life,” (p. 285, lines 78-80). Romeo found out that Juliet was “dead” from his servant, Balthasar. Both men were crying and gave long speeches of self-blame and love for their significant others. Both men were mistaken in believing that their loves were dead and killed themselves, dying pointlessly. While Romeo died of poison from the Apothecary, Pyramus killed himself with his dagger. Romeo also never got to see Juliet one last time before he died. Pyramus was able to catch a glimpse of Thisbe before he died. Thisbe and Juliet both killed themselves with a dagger near their lovers after seeing
Tragedy and love, two of the most common themes incorporated into ancient and modern literature, can be found in almost any piece of text ever written. Even more common, some might say, is a tragic love. The most famous tragic love story is a dramatic play written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. It took place around the 14th century in the city of Verona, Italy. The play follows a pair of star-crossed lovers who belong to feuding houses. Shakespeare was inspired by another tragic love story known as “Pyramus and Thisbe”, a narrative poem written by the Roman poet Ovid, which took place in Babylon. The poem follows lovers whose families forbid their love. Although the …show more content…
Ovid wrote that “no boy in Babylon was handsomer than Pyramus” (p.283, lines 6-7). Romeo was the only son of Lord Montague and Lady Montague, making him the heir to his house. In a way, they are seen as the most eligible bachelors in their relative cities of Babylon and Verona. Both love their significant others with all of their being. But while Romeo had friends and family he could depend on, Pyramus was not described as having dependable friends or family. Ovid also wrote that “you’d find no girl with greater charm than Thisbe” (p.283, lines 5-6). Juliet was the only surviving child of Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet, making her and the person she marries the heir to her house. Similar to Pyramus and Romeo, Thisbe and Juliet are seen as the most eligible women to be married in Babylon and Verona. Both women love their significant others with all of their hearts but while Juliet has a friend she can depend on, Thisbe has no one. For Romeo and Juliet, it was love at first sight. An intense and impulsive kind of love. Pyramus and Thisbe’s love was the kind that grew “with time…” (p.283, line 9). When Pyramus saw the shredded bloody shawl of Thisbe, he jumped to the conclusion that she had died and cried out,“Now this same night will see two lovers lose their lives: she was the one more worthy of long life,” (p. 285, lines 78-80). Romeo found out that Juliet was “dead” from his servant, Balthasar. Both men were crying and gave long speeches of self-blame and love for their significant others. Both men were mistaken in believing that their loves were dead and killed themselves, dying pointlessly. While Romeo died of poison from the Apothecary, Pyramus killed himself with his dagger. Romeo also never got to see Juliet one last time before he died. Pyramus was able to catch a glimpse of Thisbe before he died. Thisbe and Juliet both killed themselves with a dagger near their lovers after seeing