Romeo and Juliet is one of the most beloved and well-known stories in the world. But what many people don’t know is that the story of Romeo and Juliet is actually based on an even older story, Pyramus and Thisbe. Written by the Roman poet Ovid in his work Metamorphosis, Pyramus and Thisbe is a tragic love story that has been the inspiration for many works of literature, including Romeo and Juliet.
Pyramus and Thisbe
Pyramus and Thisbe is the story of two young lovers from Babylon who are forbidden to be together by their families. Despite the obstacles, they find a way to communicate with each other through a crack in the wall that separates their homes. They decide to meet in the evening at a nearby mulberry tree, but when Thisbe arrives, she finds a lion that has just killed and eaten Pyramus. Thisbe is so distraught that she takes her own life.
The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is a classic example of star-crossed lovers, a theme that Shakespeare would later use in Romeo and Juliet. Both stories involve two young lovers who are kept apart by their families and who ultimately take their own lives in despair.
Shakespeare’s Adaptation
Shakespeare’s adaptation of the story of Pyramus and Thisbe is one of the most famous examples of a literary work being based on an earlier source. While the basic plot remains the same, Shakespeare makes some significant changes to the story.
For example, in Pyramus and Thisbe, the two lovers are kept apart by their families, while in Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are kept apart by their feuding families. In Pyramus and Thisbe, the lovers communicate through a crack in the wall, while in Romeo and Juliet, they communicate through a balcony. And in Pyramus and Thisbe, the lovers take their own lives in despair, while in Romeo and Juliet, they take their own lives in a final act of love.
The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is an ancient tale of star-crossed lovers that has been the inspiration for many works of literature, including Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. While the basic plot remains the same, Shakespeare makes some significant changes to the story, creating a timeless classic that has been beloved by generations.
Questions & Answers
Q: What is the story of Pyramus and Thisbe?
A: Pyramus and Thisbe is the story of two young lovers from Babylon who are forbidden to be together by their families. Despite the obstacles, they find a way to communicate with each other through a crack in the wall that separates their homes. They decide to meet in the evening at a nearby mulberry tree, but when Thisbe arrives, she finds a lion that has just killed and eaten Pyramus. Thisbe is so distraught that she takes her own life.
Q: How does Romeo and Juliet differ from Pyramus and Thisbe?
A: While the basic plot remains the same, Shakespeare makes some significant changes to the story. For example, in Pyramus and Thisbe, the two lovers are kept apart by their families, while in Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are kept apart by their feuding families. In Pyramus and Thisbe, the lovers communicate through a crack in the wall, while in Romeo and Juliet, they communicate through a balcony. And in Pyramus and Thisbe, the lovers take their own lives in despair, while in Romeo and Juliet, they take their own lives in a final act of love.
