Haley's Shakespeare Review

Visiting the Shakespeare sites in Italy has really made the plays that we read in class come to life. Seeing Juliet’s balcony helped me visually see her standing there confessing her love in Romeo and Juliet. This is a very important aspect because this part of the play is where the love between her and Romeo all begins. This balcony has also started many trends in the area.  There is a store named after the site and also a gate right beside the balcony where people lock their “locks of love”. 

The Julius Caesar cremation spot is very important in the play Julius Caesar. The killing of Julius Caesar is a climax in the play and the tragedy begins from there. Seeing this spot makes me feel that he was a very powerful leader and what Brutus did was wrong. After learning more of the history and seeing the site, it has changed my view about the play as a whole. It has allowed me to understand how things were in the past in Italy and how different things are now. 

The Rialto was an important aspect in The Merchant of Venice. Most of the big events happened around the Rialto.  Shylock was around the Rialto a lot while catching up on information. Also, people would watch their ships go out and come in at this spot.  Antonio was here watching his ships because his fortune relied on his ships coming back, so he wouldn’t have to get a pound of his flesh taken from him. The Rialto was a busy place and now I can imagine Shylock and Antonio having conversations on it. This Rialto Bridge is also a good place to get a good view of Venice.

After reading the Shakespeare plays and seeing the main sites that are mentioned, I have learned a lot more about the Italian culture in Italy.