but Romeo and Juliet was the first of Shakespeare's actual plays that I read. Me too! I was, oh, somewhere between 10 and 12 when I read it. Fortunately I had the copy that had all the definitions on one side, and whoever owned the book before me put notes in the margin, so it was like a course in Shakespeare for little ol' me.

I remember my professor in college pointing out that technically it is not one of his better plays - early work, and the characters weren't as rich as later ones. With the exception of Juliet, who really was the most 'realised' character. Romeo is really a whiny little sot, isn't he?

I still love the play for sentimental reasons, though I can see it's flaws now that I am old an pretentious.

My favourite bit is the flirty scene at the part - palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss and all. Love that scene.

It really isn't about the romance so much as it is about the feud and lives being ruined because of a hate that doesn't even have a reason any more.