Bridgland, Balbuena, Przybyl1

Stephanie Bridgland,
Matthew Przybyl,
Andres Balbuena
Mr. King
Period 3
18 November 2015
Romeo and Juliets Fate and Culture
In this roaring decade many groups and cultures existed in thriving America. Many
people struck success and fame during this time due to their upbringings and backgrounds in this
diverse America. This decade was all about reaching fate if it was through music, crime,
business, or even by being a flapper. During this decade there were many opportunities to strive
for, like wealth, fame, and becoming infamous for a superficial reason like fashion or being a
great dancer! (Doyle). Culture, the way of life in a certain place or group, affected all sorts of
people's lives during this time. While the roaring 1920s had a lot of distinct and positive
opportunities occur, though in the late 1920s there was a large economic downfall resulted in the
darkest times of Americas history and culture.. The American culture in the roaring 1920s was
similar to the topics of Romeo and Juliet as they had increase of womens independence and
rights, there was also many dangerous gangs running around everywhere, and then there was a
huge economic depression by the end of the 1920s.
In Romeo and Juliet, many people had their fates decided by their culture. In the prologue
(Shakespeare 7) it speaks about how two families were locked in conflict, and set two lovers
fates, Romeos and Juliets. The Prologue refers to an ill-fated couple with its use of the word
star-crossed, which means, literally, against the stars. (Sparknotes). When they learned about

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each other they knew that they couldnt love each other, but they still wanted too, and at the end
of the scene both of their hearts were taken away from their enemy (Shakespeare 51-61). When
Romeo went to the party and Tybalt wanted to kick him out, to the chaos in the fights in the
streets where Mercutio and Tybalt died and Romeo was then exiled, then at the end where two
teenagers killed themselves. While similar events occurred during the roaring 20s. There were
also times of rights, and freedoms in Romeo and Juliet which helped decided their fate.
Romeo and Juliet's culture completely affected their fate, with Patriarchal society, their
family rivals, the strong religious beliefs, and women's rights. During this time there were many
rules by the prince and the church that had to be followed, or one would be banished, or killed.
Also in this play the Capulets and Montagues had different beliefs and this caused the two
families to have strong hatred between each other. Which had a huge part in Romeos and Juliet's
fate, because this caused their love to be a secret. Their strong religious beliefs made many
difficulties when it came to their marriage because Juliet's father Capulet, wanted her to marry
Paris when she was already secretly married to Romeo (Act 3 Scene 5). During this time Juliet
couldn't divorce Romeo because that was against their religion and Juliet didn't want to sin. This
decade also didn't have women rights, woman didnt have a say in many things, and the men
would talk about raping woman maids (Act 1 Scene 1). All in all, Romeo and Juliet had a
different background or culture they would have potentially, had a long loving relationship with
no family difficulties. (Shakespeare) Also to know more about Romeo and Juliet, a huge
connection would be Al Capone.
By the time Al Capone was in 6th grade he had already left school and joined a street
gang. Growing up poor, he gained a reputation with the mob and became a leader. From here he
continued and became the big mob boss he is known for today (Federal Bureau). He is a

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reflection of the hood he lived in and would have been like Tybalt; who gained negative power
and ultimately was defeated by his foe. In the end, each of these men were too caught up in a
dangerous hatred that finally got the best of them. Also both of these men had the chance to
avoid their fate since each of their enemies didn't want to start trouble, Tybalt challenging Romeo
(Shakespeare 60-75) and Al Capone breaking the law. Even though Al Capone was a pretty evil
example of someone affected by culture, Lois Long was an example of a great person affected by
the culture of her time.
Lois Long also known as Miss Jazz Age in the history books, was the most witty,
sharp, and vibrant women, even when she worked at a man's job (the newspaper). She was also
the embodiment of a flapper girl. She was a strong women who knew how to control her own
lifestyle and did what she pleased. She went on to have a long, fruitful career at New Yorker
magazines. She was the quintessential New Women of the 1920s. Juliet did not have this
pleasure of having her own rights, Juliet was controlled by everyone. In Act 3 scene 5 it shows
Juliet in a argument with Capulet, She was trying to get out of marrying Paris but Capulet had so
much control over her that she ended up in defeat. It led her to sneaking her own fake death,
which led to her real passing. If she had the empowerment over her life like Lois Long, her fate
would have ended up in her favor (Burge). The downfall of many occurred in the 1920s due to
the wild and free spirited culture as in the case of John Scopes.
When the Stock Market Crash came and swept America under their feet, many people
lost their jobs, and werent able to pay for food, their homes, and many other things that they
needed (Stock Market Crash). When Romeo killed Tybalt which brought upon a lot of arguments
and controversy (Shakespeare 115-129), there was someone else who also was in a lot of
controversy, John Scopes in the 1920s. There was a trial over him teaching evolution in school

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during a period of time where teaching and talking about evolution was illegal.It was one of the
most popular, most talked about, and one of the most attended trials of the decade ( Nast Conde).
There were a lot of events, and ideals that were passed along in both cultures, though overall,
they are very similar.
Overall the 1920s had many close related topics to Romeo and Juliet. Both stories have
the theme cultural identities create ones fate through the pursuit of independence, success, and
violence.With Juliet fighting for independence from her familys expectations just like women in
the 1920s were fighting for rights and independence from the old American stereotype of
women being objects. There was also John Scopes who was tried for teaching evolution which
created a controversy just how Romeo created a controversy in Verona when he killed Tybalt and
was banished for his actions. Al Capone was a very violent mob leader who grew up in the
ghetto and was taught evil at an early age, just as Tybalt being raised as a Capulet and being
taught to hate the Montagues by his family. These people were led to their fates and became what
they are because of the culture that molded them. Culture could almost be like the wind guiding a
sailboat, not completely controlling the boat, but pushing in a certain direction. It is said there is
a theory of cultural determinism and that the values and beliefs of people can determine their
human nature and emotional behaviors. ( Texas A&M)
Works Cited
Matthew:
Nast, Conde. The Decades That Invented the Future, Part 3: 1921-1930. Wired.com.
N.p., 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
Shakespeare, William . The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Folger Shakespeare Library,
2010. Folger Digital Texts. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.

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Shakespeare, William . Act 1 Prologue . The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Folger
Shakespeare Library, 2010. 7. Folger Digital Texts. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
Shakespeare, William . Act 1 Scene 5. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Folger
Shakespeare Library, 2010. 5161. Folger Digital Texts. Web. 24 Nov. 2015
Shakespeare, William . Act 3 Scene 1. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Folger
Shakespeare Library, 2010. 115129. Folger Digital Texts. Web. 24 Nov. 2015
SparkNotes Editors. SparkNote on Romeo and Juliet. SparkNotes.com.
SparkNotes LLC. 2007. Web. 14 Nov. 2015.
Stock Market Crash of 1929. A+E Networks Digital . History.com,
2015. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
Stephanie:
Doyle, Jack . The Flying Flapper. Celebrity Aviatrix. The Pop History Dig LLC, 6
Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
The Culture of Roaring Twenties. Boundless.com. CC BY-SA 4.0, 25
Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
Burge, Jesse, ed. 4 Famous Flappers of the 1920s. 1920s-fashion-and-music.com N.p.,

22 May 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet Entire Play. The Tech, MITs Oldest and
Largest Newspaper. Shakespeare.mit.edu, 23 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Nov.
2015.
Andres:
Shakespeare, William . Act 3 Scene 1. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Washington

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D.C, Folger Digital Texts, 2010. 60-75. Web. 23 Nov. 2015
Texas A&M . Culture Definition. Texas A&M University.
Web. 20 Nov. 2015
https://www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture.html
Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI-Al Capone. U.S Government.
Web. 22 Nov. 2015
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/al-capone

Culture Hooks:
1. In this roaring decade many groups and cultures existed in thriving America. Many people
struck success and fame during this time due to their upbringings and backgrounds in this diverse
America. This decade was all about reaching fate if it was through music, crime, business, or
even by being a flapper.

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2. The Roaring 20s was the time of jazz, sustained economic prosperity, and distinctive
cultural edge. During this decade there were many opportunities to strive for, like wealth, fame,
and becoming what you have dreamed to be. The 1920s was a generation to remember, the 19th
amendment was passed and women were finally given their rights!
3. After 1929, so many people had been traumatized by the stock market crash that there was a
lost generation.-Ron Chernow. In the 1920s, at first it was a time of greatness, and prosperity,
then in the later years everything fell through the floor, Some people were able to still be
successful, though many others were not able to be as lucky.

Culture Thesis:
1. Famous people in this decade truly had their fate handed to them based off their culture, they
were living reflections of their upbringings either trying to break off from it like Juliet, or
following it like Tybalt or another Capulet.
2. Throughout the 20s women became stronger and could finally work where men worked, if
Juliet was given some of the same rights this would have potentially changed her and Romeo's
fate. Men and women were equal during the 1920s, if Juliet was as equal as the men in her
family she could have had more say, in what she wanted to do in her life.
3. Romeo and Juliet had their fate set by their culture, from both families fighting and neither
allowed to really love each other, a few very famous people had their fates handed down by their
culture. Not only did their fates match, but the culture that both sides have and the tragic
downfall that both cultures caused to the people that inherited them were the same as well.

Body Paragraphs

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1.

Al Capone was not a man with good values. During his upbringing his family never had

too much money being immigrants in New York City. By the time he was in 6th grade he had
already left school and joined a street gang. Growing up from there he gained reputation with the
mob and became the big leader once the alcohol business began. From here he continued and
became the big rich mob boss he is today. He is a reflection of the hood he has lived in and
would have been like a ruthless Tybalt, gaining negative power and ultimately being defeated by
his foe, the law. In the end each of these men were too caught up in dangerous hatred that their
foes finally got the best of them. Also both of these men had the chance to avoid their fate since
each of their foes didn't want to start trouble with them and wanted them to be in peace until they
angered them. (Tybalt challenging Romeo then killing Mercutio finally getting Romeo to fight,
Al Capone broke the law which lead to the police going after him).

2.

Lois Long also known as Miss Jazz Age in the history books, was the most witty,

sharp, and vibrant women, even when she worked at a man's job (the newspaper). She was also
known as Lipstick Long in person and was the embodiment of a flapper girl. With her dark
bobbed hair, her cigs, with her whisky, and with her brash attitude. She was a strong women
who knew how to control her own lifestyle and did what she pleased. She went on to have a
long, fruitful career at New Yorker magazines. She was the quintessential New Women of the
1920s. Juliet did not have this pleasure of having her own rights, Juliet was controlled by
everyone. In Act 3 scene 5 it shows Juliet in a argument with Capulet, She was trying to get out
of marrying Paris but Capulet had so much control over her that she ended up in defeat. It led her
to sneaking her own fake death, which led to her real passing. If she had the empowerment over
her life like Lois Long, her fate would have ended up in her favor.

Bridgland, Balbuena, Przybyl9

3. In the roaring 20s and in Romeo and Juliet, both sides culture caused many peoples
downfalls. When the Stock Market Crash came and swept America under their feet, many people
lost their jobs, and werent able to pay for food, their homes, and many other things that they
needed. While in Romeo and Juliet, war between the two families brought upon the head of the
family's children's fate. Montagues son, Romeo, killed himself, after learning of Juliets death,
went to the tomb that Juliet was put in and killed himself with poison (Romeo and Juliet
Citation). While Juliet who wasnt really dead, woke up to find Romeo had killed himself and
then killed herself with a dagger. Many others in Romeo and Juliet, and a lot of people in the
roaring 20s died in the decade. Than there were times of controversy from John Scopes trial of
teaching evolution, to Romeo killing Tybalt, and then Romeo and Juliet killed themselves
(Romeo and Juliet Citation). While Romeo had to kill Tybalt after he killed Mercutio which
brought upon a lot of arguments and controversy, there was also a person who also was in a lot of
controversy (Romeo and Juliet citation), John Scopes in the 1920s There was a trial over him
teaching evolution in school during a period of time where teaching and talking about evolution
was illegal.It was one of the most popular, most talked about, and one of the most atteneded
trials of the decade. Both Romeo and John were infamous and controversial, which both
highlighted sides of the argument, Montagues against Capulets, and Science against Religion.

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Introduction
In this roaring decade many groups and cultures existed in thriving America. Many
people struck success and fame during this time due to their upbringings and backgrounds in this
diverse America. This decade was all about reaching fate if it was through music, crime,
business, or even by being a flapper. During this decade there were many opportunities to strive
for, like wealth, fame, and becoming what you have dreamed to be. Culture, a way of life of a
group of people according to tamu.edu, it affects all sorts of people's lives. While the roaring
1920s had a lot of distinct and positive opportunities occur, in the late 1920s there was a deep
and large economic downfall as the stock market crashed and everything went deep down in the
darkest times of Americas history and culture. Romeo and Juliet had a variety of cultural topics,
from womens independence and rights, to the entire populations economic struggles, and
downfall, to dangerous family rivals, and enemies. The American culture in the roaring 1920s
was similar to the topics of Romeo and Juliet as they had increase of womens independence and
rights, there was also many dangerous gangs running around everywhere, and then there was a
huge economic depression by the end of the 1920s.

Body

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In Romeo and Juliet, many people had their fates decided by their culture. A few pieces
of evidence can be used to provide proof for this. In (Act 1 Prologue) it speaks about how two
families were locked in conflict, and brought upon two lovers fates, Romeo and Juliet, to end
their familys war. Both families made their culture, which was that one side hated and would try
to be better than the other. While others died as well, Romeo and Juliets death was already set in
stone, not only did we know since the beginning, we were given a lot more support from (Act 1
Scene 5) when Romeo and Juliet learned that the other was from their enemys family. They
knew that they couldnt love each other, but they still wanted too, at the end of the scene we
learned that both of their hearts were taken away from their enemy. Both Romeo and Juliet and
America in the 1920s, had very similar cultures, while many people had a rough time with the
cultures they had to go with, while at first it was just chatter, and rumors, than it got into fights
and craziness, then everything just ended in tragedy. From the beginning when Romeo went to
the party and Tybalt wanted to kick him out, to the chaos in the fights in the streets where
Mercutio and Tybalt died and Romeo was then exiled, then at the end where two children, one
from the lord of each family, both killed themselves. Where in the roaring 20s, there were many
rumors over the stock market and banks all crashing, then when the largest stock market crash in
history occurred, it lead to many, jobless, homeless, hopeless, and extremely desperate people.
While everyone in both cultures, all had their fate decided by culture, from their struggles
because of their economic downfall, with a war to a tragedy in one, to a crash in the stock mark
to a large depression in the other.

Romeo and Juliet's culture completely affected their fate,with Patriarchal society, their
family rivals, the strong religious beliefs, women rights, and Tybalt and his men. During this
time there were many rules by the prince and the church that had to be followed, or you would be

Bridgland, Balbuena, Przybyl12

banished, or killed (Act 1 Scene 1). Also in this play the Capulets and Montagues had different
beliefs and this caused the two families to have strong hatred between each other. Which had a
huge part in Romeos and Juliet's fate, because this caused their love to be a secret. Their strong
religious beliefs made many difficulties when it came to their marriage because Juliet's father
Capulet, wanted her to marry Paris when she was already secretly married to Romeo (Act 3
Scene 5). During this time Juliet couldn't divorce Romeo because that was against their religion
and Juliet didn't want to sin. This decade also didn't have women rights, woman didnt have a say
in many things, and the men would talk about raping woman maids (Act 1 Scene 1). Also if
Tybalt and his men weren't after Romeo(Act 3 Scene 1), Romeo in the near future would not
have been banished. All in all if Romeo and Juliet had a different background or culture they
would have potentially, had a long loving relationship with no family difficulties.

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Conclusion
Overall the 1920s had many close related topics to Romeo and Juliet. Both stories have
the theme cultural identities create ones fate through pursuing things like independence,
success, and violence.With Juliet fighting for independence from her tough old fashioned
families just how women in the 1920s were fighting for rights and independence from the old
American stereotype of women being just a simple tool for the households. Also John Scopes
being held guilty for trying to teach evolution and creating a big cultural controversy over the
subject of evolution and religion just how Romeo created a controversy throughout the city when
he killed Tybalt and was held guilty and banished for his actions. Al Capone was a very harsh
and violent mob leader growing up poor in the ghetto being taught evil at an early age such as
Tybalt being raised as a Capulet and learning a hatred for the Montagues through his family and
becoming violent towards anyone who sided with them. All of these people were led to their
fates and became what they are because of the culture that molded them. You could say your
culture could almost be like the wind guiding a sailboat, not completely controlling the boat, but
pushing in a certain direction. Just how ATM university there is a theory of cultural determinism
and how the values and beliefs of people can determine their human nature and emotional
behavior.