The Similarities & Differences between The Peony Pavilion and Romeo and Juliet
中文摘要
历史上有许多耳熟能详的优秀戏剧作品，《牡丹亭》和《罗密欧与朱丽叶》，这两部作品可谓是中西方戏剧的代表。 汤显祖是中国古代继关汉卿之后的又一位伟大的戏剧家。他最得意，影响最大的当数《牡丹亭》。在戏曲史上，他和关汉卿、王实甫齐名，在中国乃至世界文学史上都有着重要的地位，被誉为“东方的莎士比亚”。
而在莎士比亚生活的时代，意大利和欧洲的许多国家正相继开展一场思想文化运动，即文艺复兴运动。它肯定现世生活，认为现世幸福高于一切，人生的目的就是追求个人自由和个人幸福。莎士比亚的早期作品主要是宣扬这种人文主义思想，《罗密欧与朱丽叶》就是在这一背景下产生的一部具有反封建意识的爱情悲剧。
本文主要比较汤显祖的《牡丹亭》与莎士比亚的《罗密欧与朱丽叶》，共分为三个主要部分。前两章是两位大剧作家生平的比较，从中可以一窥两部伟大作品的创作背景。第三部分是文章的主要部分，分别从历史背景、人物性格与特质、情节结构、表达方式与内容等几个方面，详细剖析两部作品的异同，使读者对其有更深刻的认识与理解。
ABSTRACT
There are many outstanding dramas in history, and The Peony Pavilion and Romeo and Juliet register representatives of Chinese and Western dramas, respectively.Although Tang Xianzu has also written poems and essays, the greatest achievements are still legends. He was another great dramatist in ancient China after Guan Hanqing. Tang Xianzu the proudest, and the most influential was The Peony Pavilion. In the history of opera, he enjoys the same reputation as Guan Hanqing and Wang Shifu, and has an important position in the history of Chinese and even world literature. He is called "the Shakespeare of the East".
In the era of Shakespeare, Italy and many countries in Europe were carrying out an ideological and cultural movement, namely the Renaissance. It affirms the life of the world and thinks that the happiness of the present world is above all else. The purpose of life is to pursue personal freedom and personal happiness. Shakespeare's early works mainly promote this humanism. And Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy with anti-feudal consciousness under this background.
This dissertation compares The Peony Pavilion and Romeo and Juliet, which can be divided into three main parts. The first two parts are comparison of the life of Tang Xianzu & Shakespeare, to making the readers have a general picture of The Peony Pavilion and Romeo and Juliet. The third part refers to details comparison of The Peony Pavilion and Romeo and Juliet, including historical background and theme, characters and their personalities, pattern of drama and plot structure and expression and plot contents, which make readers have a profound understanding on the two great works.
Introduction
There are many outstanding dramas in history, and The Peony Pavilion and Romeo and Juliet register representatives of Chinese and Western dramas, respectively. Tang Xianzu (1550-1616) lived in the late Ming Dynasty, and Shakespeare (1564-1616) lived in the British Renaissance period. As for the age, they were both contemporary. Both of them are poets and playwrights. They not only have deep understanding and warm praise for love, but also write dramas based on young men and women's love. Shakespeare made Romeo and Juliet in 1594. Tang Xianzu made The Peony Pavilion in 1598. In the history of world drama, it was an immortal work in the end of the 16th century. These two famous dramas are produced in two different countries and societies. They have no literary affinity and influence between them, so it is difficult to carry out a scientific comparative study. However, we can see from the similarities and differences between the two plays in terms of thought and art. It can also be seen that some of their own national characteristics and similar drama techniques.
Chapter One Tang Xianzu and The Peony Pavilion
1.1 The life of Tang Xianzu
Tang Xianzu is a Chinese opera writer and litterateur in the Ming Dynasty, who was gave birth in Linchuan, Jiangxi Province. In September 24th, 1550, Tang Xianzu was born into a scholarly family. Four generations of his ancestor were all known for literature. Their earnest study attitude had laid a deep on Tang Xianzu in his childhood. Tang Xianzu was talented, well-educated, hardworking and studious. When he was 5 years old, he went to family school. At the age of 12, he could write poem. At the age of 13, he learned ancient Chinese articles from a famous scholar Xu Liangfu , and he became one of the outstanding s
