Hey actor! I have bad news. Just reading SparkNotes or LitCharts isn’t enough when it comes to nailing your Shakespeare monologue. The good news is that I created a new resource to help you feel super duper clear about what everything means, even if you’re a complete beginner. Go here: shakespearewithsarah.com/translate/
thank you so so much! i love how you explain things clearly. for me, jove laughing might be in a mocking sort of way, watching two young people being naive and knows that it will end up in a lifeless marriage based on the first butterflies experienced in all relationships. laughing at the fact that they are claiming to love each other based on those fuzzy feelings of something new. and of course juliet wants to take romeo’s hand and go along with it, but because of that practicality you mentioned she still wants to state that it isn’t what she wants to fall into.
@@ShakespearewithSarah thank you! i performed this monologue at a district competition and i got a really good score :) your video helped so much to understand juliet’s character deeply!! thank you so so much
I did some intensive googling re: the Zeus thing, and I found a very cool reference in a book called The Facts On File: Dictionary of Proverbs. "Jove But Laughs At Lovers' Perjury: The breaking of oaths and promises made by lovers is so commonplace that it is not regarded as a serious matter. 'Perjury in the Divorce Court has been openly permitted to the upper classes for many years, following the maxim that "Jove but laughs at lovers' perjury"' (London Evening Standard, 1922). Of ancient origin, the proverb occurs in the writings of the Roman poet Tibullus (c. 48-19 BC): 'periuria ridet amantum Iuppiter [Jupiter laughs at lovers' perjuries].' It is also found in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, and in John Dryden's poem Palamon and Arcite (1700): 'Fool, not to know that love endures no tie, / and Jove but laughs at lovers' perjury.'" So turns out what she's saying is, "If you swear your love to me, you might be lying, and I have good reason to believe this, because lovers lie so often that when they do lie, Jove just grins and chuckles."
I like the way you explained the "Jove" part, but I have another interpretation as well. "Jove" is also considered Zeus, who is known for his many affairs in Greek Mythology. I think Juliet could be saying that Romeo may agree to love her, but could be under false pretenses (essentially Romeo is saying he loves Juliet to reap the benefits of her thinking of him in this way, but he may not love her or is unsure if he does) similar to how Zeus is known for seducing women through flattery, etc. She could be saying that "Jove" is "laughing" because he understands what Romeo is doing (essentially she's doubting Romeo's honesty again because he is known for being a "lover").
Hey actor! I have bad news. Just reading SparkNotes or LitCharts isn’t enough when it comes to nailing your Shakespeare monologue. The good news is that I created a new resource to help you feel super duper clear about what everything means, even if you’re a complete beginner. Go here: shakespearewithsarah.com/translate/
This is so helpful! I'm doing this monologue for drama school auditions and this has made me think so differently! Thank you so much x
thank you so so much! i love how you explain things clearly. for me, jove laughing might be in a mocking sort of way, watching two young people being naive and knows that it will end up in a lifeless marriage based on the first butterflies experienced in all relationships. laughing at the fact that they are claiming to love each other based on those fuzzy feelings of something new. and of course juliet wants to take romeo’s hand and go along with it, but because of that practicality you mentioned she still wants to state that it isn’t what she wants to fall into.
Love it! I think that's a really powerful choice.
@@ShakespearewithSarah thank you! i performed this monologue at a district competition and i got a really good score :) your video helped so much to understand juliet’s character deeply!! thank you so so much
Super helpful for my audition thank you!!!
Hurray! Good luck for your audition! This is such a fun monologue. ☺️
I did some intensive googling re: the Zeus thing, and I found a very cool reference in a book called The Facts On File: Dictionary of Proverbs.
"Jove But Laughs At Lovers' Perjury: The breaking of oaths and promises made by lovers is so commonplace that it is not regarded as a serious matter. 'Perjury in the Divorce Court has been openly permitted to the upper classes for many years, following the maxim that "Jove but laughs at lovers' perjury"' (London Evening Standard, 1922). Of ancient origin, the proverb occurs in the writings of the Roman poet Tibullus (c. 48-19 BC): 'periuria ridet amantum Iuppiter [Jupiter laughs at lovers' perjuries].' It is also found in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, and in John Dryden's poem Palamon and Arcite (1700): 'Fool, not to know that love endures no tie, / and Jove but laughs at lovers' perjury.'"
So turns out what she's saying is, "If you swear your love to me, you might be lying, and I have good reason to believe this, because lovers lie so often that when they do lie, Jove just grins and chuckles."
Fantastic help and love your style
Thanks so much! I'm glad it helped!
I like the way you explained the "Jove" part, but I have another interpretation as well. "Jove" is also considered Zeus, who is known for his many affairs in Greek Mythology. I think Juliet could be saying that Romeo may agree to love her, but could be under false pretenses (essentially Romeo is saying he loves Juliet to reap the benefits of her thinking of him in this way, but he may not love her or is unsure if he does) similar to how Zeus is known for seducing women through flattery, etc. She could be saying that "Jove" is "laughing" because he understands what Romeo is doing (essentially she's doubting Romeo's honesty again because he is known for being a "lover").
I LOVE that explanation. Thank you for sharing! I think your perspective will really benefit the actors reading this.
This is fantastic.. thank you
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful.
Fantastic video!!!
Thank you so much Ruby! ❤️
this monologue reminds me of Leah's monologue to phil in DNA lol