Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is considered the consummate love story. Some say that every love story written since owes at least a little something to this story of Juliet and her Romeo.
There are probably a hundred reasons why the play is so famous. I'll present an idea or two.
Any love story needs an obstacle, something that keeps the lovers apart, at least temporarily. Shakespeare's version of an obstacle--the feud between the Montagues and Capulets--has been imitated so often it is now cliche. Yet, the formula still continues to work. As the two lovers fight against their families, the audience's sympathies deepen. The tougher the obstacles, the better the love story.
One aspect I've always found interesting about the play's popularity is that it is a love story with an unhappy ending. How rare is that! Of course, the play is a tragedy and contains much more than just the love story. And maybe it's the mix of romance and tragedy that makes the play so popular.
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