• [4] The two sources which Shakespeare most likely consulted are Brooke’s translation of da Porto and William Painter’s The goodly historye of the true, and constant Love between
  Romeo and Juliet.

• First appearance: Romeo and Juliet, c. 1591–95; Created by: Luigi da Porto, William Shakespeare; Based on: Romeus, from The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet (1562); In-universe
  information: Affiliation: Mercutio, Friar Laurence; Family: Lord Montague (father), Lady Montague (mother), Benvolio Montague (cousin); Spouse: Juliet Montague; Nationality: Italian Origins The earliest tale bearing a resemblance to Shakespeare’s
  Romeo and Juliet is Xenophon of Ephesus’ Ephesiaca, whose heroic figure is a Habrocomes.

• [5] Film portrayals Romeo and Juliet has been adapted into film several times, and the part of Romeo has been played by several actors, including • Leonard Whiting in Franco
  Zeffirelli’s 1968 film, Romeo and Juliet, opposite Olivia Hussey as Juliet.

• Da Porto named the character Romeo Montecchi and his storyline is near-identical to Shakespeare’s adaptation.

• Romeo, an only child like Juliet, is one of the most important characters of the play, and has a consistent presence throughout it.

• [3] Although it is unlikely that Shakespeare directly borrowed from Ovid while writing Romeo and Juliet, the story was likely an influence on the Italian writers whom the
  playwright was greatly indebted to.

• [1] Since no 16th-century direct English translation of Giulietta e Romeo is known, Shakespeare’s main source is thought to be Arthur Brooke’s English verse translation of
  a French translation of a 1554 adaptation by Matteo Bandello.

 

Works Cited

[‘o da Porto, Luigi (1868). “The Original Story of Romeo and Juliet”. In Pace-Sanfelice, G. (ed.). The original story of Romeo and Juliet by Luigi da Porto. From which Shakespeare evidently drew the subject of his drama. Being the Italian text of 1530,
and an English translation, together with a critical preface, historical and bibliographical notes and illustrations. Translated by Pace-Sanfelice, G. Cambridge: Deighton, Bell, and co. hdl:2027/mdp.39015082232961.
o ^ Hunter, Lynette; Lichfield,
Peter (2009). Negotiating Shakespeare’s language in Romeo and Juliet: reading strategies from criticism, editing and the theatre. Farnham, England: Ashgate Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-7546-5844-3.
o ^ Halio, Jay (1998). Romeo and Juliet: A Guide
to the Play. Hoboken, New Jersey: Blackwell Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 1-4051-1396-0.
o ^ Bevington, David M. (2006). How to read a Shakespeare play. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 37. ISBN 0-313-30089-5.
o ^ Hunter & Lichfield, p. 11
• Shakespeare,
William (1859). Romeo and Juliet:A tragedy. Leipzig: G. Græbner.
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/22711505@N05/14741866338/’]