A characteristic common to the world of literature is the influence between pieces of literature. Although each piece of literature may seem completely unique and original at first, the truth reveals that all literary works are connected in one way or another, taking certain elements from other pieces and adding a spin that can make them distinct stories. The close relationship of literary elements between two pieces of literature is perfectly exemplified by a narrative poem written by Ovid and a famous play directed by William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and Ovid’s “Pyramus and Thisbe” share similar elements of plot, conflict, and characterization, but retain their individuality through the respective …show more content…
The dominant conflict in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is that Romeo and Juliet each come from opposing families that are constantly feuding. As a result, Romeo and Juliet struggle to share a relationship because their parents would undoubtedly not approve of their love. In the play, the threat of the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets to the relationship is highlighted by “So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name; And for that name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself.” (Shakespeare 2.2.45-49). Obviously, Juliet realizes that the hatred between the two wealthy families of Verona is a large hindrance to the apparent love between herself and Romeo since she is a Capulet, but Romeo is a Montague. The quote implies that the only way for Romeo and Juliet to love each other indefinitely is if one of them gives up their family name. Of course, this conflict of interest leads to several obstacles along the storyline and terminates with the death of the couple. The main conflict in “Pyramus and Thisbe” is quite similar, as Pyramus and Thisbe come from rivalling households. Ovid expresses the conflict by saying “Theirs did - indeed they wanted to be wed, but marriage was forbidden by their parents: yet there’s one thing that parents can’t prevent: the flame of love that burned in both of them.” (Ovid). The passionate love between Pyramus and Thisbe would be perfect, except that they are caught between grudging families. Once again, this conflict proves to be major since it forces the lovers to rendezvous secretively which ends up in both of their deaths. The conflict of forbidden love is visibly common between the narrative poem and play as the concept essentially leads to all the other events in both stories. Despite how similar the conflict is between the
The play of Pyramus and Thisbe is about two lovers whose families do not approve their love. “Be it so she; will not here before your grace consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens, As she is mine, I may dispose of her.” Egeus, Hermia’s father, wants Hermia to marry Demetrius instead of Hermia’s lover, Lysander. Automatically we see a resemblance. “Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway?” Pyramus and Thisbe decide to run off to Ninnus’ tomb to be together in secret, just like Hermia and Lysander run off to the wood beyond Athens. “Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night; and in the wood, a league without the town, where I did meet thee once with Helena to do observance to a morn of May. There will I stay for thee.”
Stories often have similar plots, characters, and motifs spread over time. For instance, Ovid in his book, “The Metamorphoses”, wrote about two lovers who take their lives for each other. This story was called “Pyramus and Thisbe” Similarly, Shakespeare, 1,587 years later wrote a similar, yet more modern story in the form of a play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Therefore, The similarities between Ovid's "Pyramus and Thisbe" and Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet are apparent in the elements of plot, conflict, and characterization.
Ovid's story of Pyramus and Thisbe came out a little before Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Many believe because of the similarities in plot, Shakespeare's sources or influences for his story could have came from 'Pyramus and Thisbe'. In the stories, there are many similarities as there are differences.
Stories throughout history have used archetypal themes. These themes usually follow certain elements. Sometimes, stories with certain themes alter elements in their own way. This is the case for Ovid’s short story Pyramus and Thisbe and Shakespeare’s tragic drama The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Both of these stories share the archetypal theme of ill-fated love, but use and transform certain elements.
Have you heard of the story of Romeo and Juliet? You know, the two star-crossed lovers who took their own lives because they couldn’t be together? Pyramus and Thisbe, a couple from the city of Babylon, were similar to Romeo and Juliet. In fact, Shakespeare got the idea of Romeo and Juliet from Pyramus and Thisbe. How are these two pairs of lovers similar, or different?
Because of this, Pyramus and Thisbe can only further their love in the afterlife or by secretly meeting. Personal choices have a greater impact on the characters in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and “Pyramus and Thisbe.” To begin with, in both the short story and the drama, the two main characters share a forbidden love yet make resistent personal choices in order to be together. Shakespeare does a magnificent job portraying such examples. For instance, Romeo states at the feast “My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.”
Pyramus and Thisbe and Romeo and Juliet are two tragic romance stories that are comparable in many ways. The similar concepts and elements reflected in the two works portray themes of love and tragedy, while also expressing the same types of characters and events. The works of the two writers, Ovid and Shakespeare, were written in completely different time periods, but are remarkably comparable in the senses of character purpose, elements, theme, and events.
Romeo and Juliet have had many different people influence their relationship. The two are very in love, but they let outside people alter what they do and how they feel. Some people that influenced their relationships and how they did so is as follows. One major outside influence that has shaped, altered, and influenced Romeo and Juliet’s relationship is the feud between the Montague family and the Capulet family. Since Romeo is the son of Lord Montague and Lady Montague, and Juliet is the daughter of Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet, the two should never be able to get married.
Ovid’s Pyramus & Thisbe, and William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet are both stories about ill-fated love. With each story we can see that there is a tragic couple, the female, Thisbe represents Juliet, while the male, Pyramus represents Romeo, vise versa for each. In Pyramus & Thisbe, the two lovers communicate through the small chink in the wall. In Romeo & Juliet, the two lovers communicate through the Nurse by sending messages back and forth. In Romeo & Juliet, the meeting place is Friar Lawrence’s Cell, this represents the Tomb of Ninus in Pyramus & Thisbe, which is where they met up. Lastly, the deceiver in both stories is the main reason the tragedies happened.
There are many comparisons between the narrative poem “Pyramus and Thisbe” and Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet such as plot, conflict, and characters. The plot of “Pyramus and Thisbe” and The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one thing that can be compared and can be evident in today’s world. The main plot in both stories is the forbidden love between two young individuals because of their families (Woodward). In Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet’s families have been feuding for decades.
This passage shows how Juliet would do anything to be with Romeo. This is important because if Romeo gave his love to Juliet, she would give up her family name to be with him. In addition, passion for love is evident in both “Romeo and Juliet” and “Pyramus and Thisbe”. In “Pyramus and Thisbe” the text states, “Although those kisses could not reach their goal. But on the morning after, when first light had banished night’s bright star-fires from the sky and sun had left the brine-soaked meadows dry, again they look their places at the cleft” (Ovid 38-42).
Performance Task Comparison Essay The stories of “Pyramus and Thisbe” and Romeo and Juliet are both about two lovers who want nothing more than to be together. In both stories, a dispute or feud between their families and an opposing force of fate prohibit the girl and boy from a happy ending. They can both be considered tragedies, based on the plot and endings of the stories.
In both dramatic love “stories” Romeo And Juliet and Pyramus and Thisbe both have similarities and differences between their characters, conflict and plot. Shakespeare had been influenced to write one of the greatest plays, and so he was influenced by Ovid to write Romeo and Juliet by reading the poem Pyramus and Thisbe so he put in many similarities and differences between the two stories. Although both stories end alike in the beginning the two main characters in each story meet differently, one being that Romeo and Juliet met at a party and Pyramus and Thisbe owed their first encounters by growing up side by side. After both of the main love interests meet they start talking but they are talking in distinctive ways, for instance in Romeo
Famous texts often have many similarities as it makes good discussions to find all the possible things that are very related to one another. These certain texts between Romeo and Juliet and Pyarum and Thisbe are almost so closely related, that there are infamous of resemblances that you can point out. There are the obvious general observations, but once you dig deep, you find that there are much more comparisons that meet the eye. Since they are so closely related, we are able to really truly understand the concepts that stand out through each reading. This will make our thoughts deeper and more powerful towards both texts. In Romeo and Juliet, the text is very similar to Pyramus and Thisbe through a love connection between characters even
Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love And I'll no longer be a Capulet.” in this Juliet confesses that she loves Romeo enough to change her name. Upon hearing this Romeo comes out of the shadows and listens to more of her talk of love. This is what is know as a “conflict of interest” because the Capulets and Montagues are already feuding, which makes Romeo and Juliet’s love the one thing that can never exist in the eyes of their