So, I’m having a bit of a quandary. A friend of mine, knowing I’m a Shakespeare buff, has turned to me for some advice, and I’m not sure what to give her at the moment. I’m looking into the problem, but I figured I’d check here to see if anyone has any advice or quick-solves.
My friend is teaching high school English, and has been tapped to teach ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Julius Caesar’. What she wants to do is find say, four or five speeches from each one that, when read, give a general flow for the entirety of the story. Now, granted, each play has a chorus, but I’d like to figure out of there’s anything else that stands out as “This is what this scene / this character / this play is all about.”
The obvious couple for JC is Brutus’ and Antony’s speech in the square denegrading and uplifting Julius Caesar. But I also like Casca’s discription of Caesar’s turning down the crown and then falling. Also good, although very short is Caesar’s discription of Casius. You see an entirely different view of Casius in his own final speech. The speech where Brutus is so angry with Casius is also very good. Of course Portia’s speech is good and really establishes that dynamic.
For R&J…Romeo’s first rambling after he comes upon the initial fight scene is worth noting. It shows what an air head Romeo is and how in love he is with Rosaline. Of course, Romeo’s “But soft. What light through yonder…” It shows what a love sick idiot he is, but with Juliet this time. The Prince’s first and last speeches really captures the action as does Friar Lawrence’s final speech. Mercutio’s “Prince of Cats” discription of Tybalt is worth noting. I have always liked Romeo’s Apothacary speech. Juliet’s speech just before she takes the potion is good as are the final speeches of Romeo and Juliet. Maybe Lord Caplut’s discussion of marrying off his daughter, and maybe his speech where he calls her ungrateful. I would not, however, put in Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech.