Julia D.

Sing It Out

Did you ever think Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet connects to some stuff in our life time now? I have given this some thought.  I realize that stuff in our lifetime now connects to the story, especially if you compare it to modern day songs.  The song I picked to relate to the story, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is “Love Story,” by Taylor Swift. I chose this song because it has many allusions to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Some allusions are accurate and some are not.

In the song, “Love Story” Taylor Swift is singing, “We were both young when I first saw you…” It compares with the book, Romeo and Juliet, because Romeo and Juliet were young and they met at Lord Capulet’s party.

Another way the book and the song compare is when Taylor Swift sings, “…I’m standing there on a balcony in summer air...” It compares to the story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare because Juliet was on her balcony, and Romeo was down at the bottom of the balcony listening to her tell the secrets of her heart.

A third way the story and the song are similar is when Taylor Swift sings, “See the party, the ball gowns, I see you make your way through the crowd…” In the story Romeo and Juliet, that really did happen. Romeo made his way to Juliet and she saw him and they met and kissed.

One of the differences in the song, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift and the story Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare is when Taylor Swift sings, “Romeo you were throwing pebbles…..” and in the story that never really happened. Romeo never threw pebbles when he was with Juliet.

Another difference in the song, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is when she sings, “Romeo save me, they try to tell me how to feel….” Lady and Lord Capulet don’t really tell Juliet how to feel, but they want her to marry Paris when really Juliet does not want to because she’s in love with Romeo.

Another difference in the song, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift is when she sings “I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress…” In the story, Romeo never really went to Lord Capulet and talked to Juliet’s dad.

In conclusion, this is why the song, “Love Story,” by Taylor Swift and the book Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare are alike and different. Most people hear the song and relate it to their own feelings of being in love, but I know there are some differences between the two. I chose the song, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift because it has a lot in common with the story, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. I hope you enjoy all enjoyed my Sing It Out!