Bibliography by Gregory Gin

By Gregory Gin, Romeo and Juliet: A Facebook Tragedy

1. Shakespeare, William. The Pelican Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Peter Holland. Middlesex: Penguin Books, 2000.

Subject of the Romeo and Juliet: A Facebook Tragedy, William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers who fight against their family and society to be together.  Romeo's family, the Montagues, and Juliet's family, the Capulets, have been rivals in Verona for generations, leading to many deaths.  Though they have been taught to hate the other, a chance meeting between the two youths leads to love.  Eventually the two plan their escape only to have fate work against them; the two youths take their own lives.  From such woe, the two families are brought to a tentative peace.  This particular text contains critical essays written about the tragedy, which gives new perspective to the couple and their motives.

2. Zuckerberg, Mark. Facebook. 2004. 14 February 2008 <http://www.facebook.com>.

Facebook is a social networking site that connects millions of people to each other through communities based on city or school.  Used by many students to socialize, facebook is a recent phenomenon among students and is a valid form of communication between people.  Besides basic features as: profile, friends, networks, and inbox (in which you can read and receive messages), facebook also allows users to create distinct applications for convenience and fun.  Through various applications, the social networking between users can successfully be captured.

 3. Phillips, Brian. SparkNote on Romeo and Juliet. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/>.

Sparknotes provides a site that briefly summarizes each scene in the play, "Romeo and Juliet."  Along with plot summaries, sparknotes also writes a brief "context", "plot overview", a "character list", an "analysis of major characters", and "themes, motifs, and symbols."  Each of these tools is a device to help students who are studying the text.  Of particular importance is the analysis of major characters, which will help develop a modern translation of the characters in Romeo and Juliet.

The Encyclopedia Britannica contains an article on the play, "Romeo and Juliet."  Besides giving further context for the story and plays on which the tragedy was written, the online Encyclopedia Britannica also provides links to further reading.  These articles contain more contextual information, criticism of the play, and possible influences on Shakespeare.

5. "Shakespeare, William." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 14 Feb. 2008  <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-232341>.

Within the article on William Shakespeare lies Feminist and Gender Studies criticism on Shakespeare.  These different views on the way in which Shakespeare wrote his plays gives more background information on the motives that Romeo and Juliet could have had.  These critical thoughts on the characters in the play fill in background information that defines the characters' dislikes and likes.  The article also lists other authors who have discussed the sexuality and gender issues in Romeo and Juliet more in depth.  These authors will be studied to garner further research and support for our own modern interpretations of Romeo and Juliet.