Is There Such a Thing as True Love?
For those of you who don’t know the story of Romeo and Juliet, here it is. There was a feud between Romeo’s and Juliet’s families, but despite that they fell in love and through a series of misperceptions both end up committing suicide. This tragic story is considered to be one of the greatest love stories of all times. It is said to be written by William Shakespeare, however due to the lack of documentation about the details of his life and where he attended school there is an ongoing debate as to whether he was actually the author. There is also evidence that Shakespeare stole the story line of Romeo and Juliet from a poem written by Arthur Brooke. But whoever the true author was it is clear that the author had traveled to Italy because there are details throughout the piece that are very accurate, such as a certain plants being indigenous to that area.
Today, we traveled to Verona to see Juliet’s balcony, or what is claimed to be Juliet’s balcony. It is from this balcony that Romeo confessed his love to Juliet in Shakespeare’s tale. It is interesting to note that although the story is fiction many of the details of the story were taken from real life. At the time the story was written there really were the Montagues and Capulets living in Verona. Knowing these details helps bring Verona, the story of Romeo and Juliet, and the depth of their love to life. It almost makes you feel like true love really does exist, and that’s hard to do for me because I don’t believe in true love. But if anyplace could make me believe, this is the place.
To get to Juliet’s balcony you had to walk through a stone arch that opened up to a garden courtyard. A white stone balcony, which was about two or three stories from the ground, opened onto the courtyard. In the center of the garden was a life-sized bronze statue of Juliet. Legend says that if you rub Juliet’s feet or chest you will have good luck in love. Of course, I touched it. I can always use a little extra luck when it comes to love! And it is clear that other people felt the same due to the fact that the chest and feet of the statue were shiny and gold; the patina rubbed away by being touched so much.
Also in the garden was an iron gate covered with brightly colored love padlocks. Just to the right of the gate was a wall with post-it notes and other letters written to Juliet. We were told by our guide that if you write a letter asking for advice in love and sent it to Juliet, Verona, Italy then it will be forwarded to a group of women who will answer your letter with the guidance you requested. I guess the movie “Letters to Juliet” did have some truth to it.
And what trip to Juliet’s balcony would be complete without a reenactment of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Kim Maro, who had long ago memorized the whole scene, got down on one knee and reenacted Romeo confessing his love to Juliet. Everybody around us went quiet as she spoke those poetic words of love, “See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek”. The gardens and the balcony came to life with that reenactment. Despite the fact that I’m not a literature enthusiast, this was really a great experience.
-Lynn Beining
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