Comparing Ovid's Romeo And Juliet

When reading the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, one will immediately connect the story to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Their similarities stand out to the reader and one can quickly discern that Shakespeare was inspired by Ovid. Whether it be a small similarity or a larger difference, each change by Shakespeare is significant in its impact on the story. The most influential embellishment Shakespeare makes is changing the catalyst in his version. Although both sets of lovers die from a misunderstanding, Romeo and Juliet’s deaths are the result of politics. When the prince announces that if someone causes another death, they will be punished and Romeo accidentally kills Tybalt, causing his banishment, Juliet ends up faking her death to avoid

This change highlights how Shakespeare is taking concepts from Ovid’s work and building on them to tell a more intriguing story. In both stories there is a young couple in love, desperate to be with each other, no matter the consequences may be. Shakespeare takes that concept and extends them to have a more gut-wrenching affect. Ovid’s Pyramus and Thisbe is no doubt a story that numerous people can relate to. Shakespeare’s choice to use it as a foundational story and enhance it by making Romeo and Juliet love even more forbidden allowed him to create a story that captures the innate desire all humans have for love. One embellishment Shakespeare made was changing the communication between the lovers through a hole, to corresponding though a person, Juliet’s nurse. Pyramus and Thisbe, although through a hole, still attained direct contact. Shakespeare extending the prohibited interaction to the point where there is barely any direct contact between Romeo and Juliet increases the suspense and difficulty of their