Ken Liu

Shakespeare approached John Fowles for some help on how to transform one of his new ideas for a play into today’s postmodern world and this was the result:

The Italian Lieutenant’s Woman

Romeo loved Rosaline. In another story, she might not have requited his love, leaving him to find another; but in this story, she did and they were to be married in two months.

Rosaline was quite sophisticated in the way she dressed and the way she presented herself, however, she was rather empty-headed and foolish. In another lifetime, Rosaline might well have been called Louisa Musgrove or Ernestina Freeman. Romeo did not see this flaw whenever he spoke to her. In fact, he didn’t care much. He was a gentleman ahead of his time with a sensitive and highly introspective character. All he saw was Rosaline’s external beauty, it was no wonder he always had very good eye contact when the two lovers talked.

Romeo was so superficial, that some might say he was only scratching the surface of being superficial. But this was all about to change.

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Romeo was from the Montague family in the city of Verona. The Montagues were in a constant feud with the Capulets, a feud that had been going on for some time, and was known as the “ancient grudge.”

Mercutio was one of Romeo’s friends, the Kinsman to the Prince of Verona and was a Lieutenant in the army. He felt sorry for Romeo sometimes, especially when he was lovesick and got himself tangled with emotions and all the “rah rah” of love as Mercutio called it.

Mercutio had always told Romeo “be rough with love if need be” and one day, he practiced what he preached. Mercutio ravished a very young and beautiful Juliet from the Capulet family and fled Verona before he could face the consequences of his actions. Since Mercutio was a friend of Romeo Montague, this incident had also added fire to the boiling conflict between the Montagues and Capulets.

The rape incident had affected Juliet deeply. She liked being alone, and became more and more distant from her family. This was all very well for the Capulets since she had brought nothing but shame to their name.

Although grief and unhappiness were her best friends whom she relied on to recover, she had become very independent and existential.

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Romeo could not help but feel sympathy for Juliet, even though she was from the Capulet family, but on the other hand, it was his own friend who had committed such a deed to derail her life so Romeo felt inclined to offer her a good gesture.

Before Romeo acted, he sought the advice of the Prince of Verona who might well be called Dr. Grogan in another story. The Prince was concerned about the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, since the death penalty declared for further feuding between the two families appeared to be useless.

The Prince encouraged Romeo to comfort Juliet thinking perhaps if he, a Montague could be friends with her, a Capulet, then the long family feud would end. It was all too perfect in his mind.

Dear Juliet,

I am truly sorry to hear of the unfortunate incident between yourself and Mercutio. Tis true that he was my friend, but I can assure you I am as disappointed as you are angry and hurt.

I feel you may need someone to help you get past this blemish, and I would like to lend you my ear to listen and also my shoulder for support should you need it.

I would also like to invite you to my wedding with Rosaline in a month’s time from now.

Yours truly

Romeo Montague

romeo is often overly sensitive and his character then becomes out of control for me, the author. i ordered romeo to ignore juliet’s situation since he was engaged and she was from the capulets. "tempt not a desperate man" as they say. but his sensitive and caring character would not allow it he instead had chosen to sleep with the enemy. he will pay the price

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Romeo,

I accept humbly your offer of a person to listen

Juliet

Romeo frowned as he re-read the note and turned it over to see if there was more on the other side. There was not. He found surprise in her brevity.

Romeo soon discovered brevity in her speech also. Over a month, the two had met many times to discuss the events of the past, and the events in their lives. He was intrigued by Juliet’s dark and mysterious character and would value her every word as much as he valued the days left in his life. She was very sophisticated and it helped that she was a sight for sore eyes.

Without knowing, Romeo was spending more time with Juliet than he was with Rosaline who was at home crying with jealousy: "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Somehow she could not appreciate the sweet deed her fiancé was doing for Juliet and that relations between the Montagues and Capulets were improving due to this. Equally somehow he could not admit that he felt a growing attraction for Juliet.

He liked to believe that he was in love with Rosaline and always would be, but Juliet was starting to make him realise that really, he is in love with Juliet, a more intellectual person than Rosaline.

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The tension in Romeo and Rosaline’s engagement and the affection in Romeo and Juliet’s friendship had been carried forward all the way to the say of the wedding.

Everyone had gathered at the church in Verona: the priest, Rosaline and surprisingly as many Capulets as there were Montagues to celebrate. However, the Capulets and the Montagues tended to group together rather than mingle. The feud between the two families had been ended, but not the bitterness. Change is always gradual.

All was present, except Romeo ––––––

Shakespeare and Fowles had agreed on the details of their story until now: the ending.

Shakespeare does not wish to part with his original ending: Romeo suffers too much angst from the responsibilities of having to choose between Rosaline and Juliet and he kills himself by drinking a potion. Juliet who is secretively in love with Romeo, stabs herself after discovering of Romeo’s death.

“It is another typical Elizabethan Tragedy ending. Everyone dies!” Shakespeare explains as a mocking laugh from Tom Stoppard was heard in the background.

Fowles dislikes the idea of having everyone die in the end and argues that it is not in Juliet’s strong existential character to kill herself after learning of Romeo’s death. She does not rely on Romeo to live.

Fowles himself had several endings in mind, but goes with this one: Romeo in the end decides that he loves Juliet, the stronger and more intellectual woman. Juliet, being a very existential person, rejects Romeo and chooses to live life alone. She likes her solitude and independence. Romeo in the end is also left alone in the end as Rosaline no longer wants him either.

“Where’s the drama in that?” Shakespeare protested.

Fowles and Shakespeare, were not able to agree on an ending for their postmodern story, and left it unfinished…