Impossible Love in Different Eras

Pyramus and Thisbe is similar to Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare by showing how love can be so tragic, treacherous and unforgiving. From the beginning one can connect how Shakespeare’s play is similar to that of Pyramus and Thisbe. “Their parents occupied adjoining houses; and neighborhood brought the young people together, and acquaintance ripened into love.” Being so close to each other yet these two young lovers’ families make it impossible for them to love each other. Society is suspicious and jealous of unconditional love, it seems to be only acceptable between mother and child or father and child, all other loves are scrutinized due to social class, religion, age, physical looks, power, skin color, political beliefs, education, social manners, mental abilities, financial differences, family lineage, race…without even mentioning individual tendencies…wow, it’s a wonder any love survives all these onslaughts!

The subject of love is always very present in Greek Mythology so I think it is the foundation to love stories’ archetypes and all of the underlying and dramatic problems that arise from this powerful force that seems godlike and magical and is capable of transforming mere mortals to giants.

As Thisbe commits suicide because of Pyramus’ death, one can connect the scene with that of Juliet in the cemetery, in which she prefers to die, than to live knowing that Romeo died for her and will no longer be there to love and be loved... “I too can be brave for once, and my love is as strong as thine. I will follow thee in death, for I have been the cause; and death which alone could part us shall not prevent my joining thee.” This eternal love took Pyramus and Thisbe to their death, which shows how passionate and addictive and deadly, love can be.

I would like to know who or what was Shakespeare’s inspiration for this story and how he was able to make it into a modern play. I suspect he was an avid reader of Greek mythology.