My GH obsession was reborn with the birth of Lucky
and Liz. Granted I've only been watching soaps for
one quarter of a century -- the sum total of my years
on earth -- but judging from what I've seen, L&L Jr.
rival even L&L Sr., the great Luke and Laura, as the
most romantic couple in soap history.
Their story has all the elements of a classic
Romance: innocence, tragedy, and selfless love.
When I think of them I can't help but find parallels
between their story and another classic story of young
love - perhaps the greatest love story of all time -
William Shakespeare's, "Romeo and Juliet."
Now, at first some of you might think it's a bit of a stretch to compare a modern soap storyline with the work of one of the most celebrated playwrights of all time. However, a classic story is a classic story regardless of what medium it is presented in. In addition, you will have to admit the similarities are simply too numerous to deny. Just think about it with me for a minute.
THE SETTING
Let's start with the setting. How different is
Shakespeare's
Verona from Port Charles today?
Verona had two powerful families dueling in the streets, the Capulets and the Montagues.
P.C. has the Spencers and the Cassidines.
Verona had the tough, fair-minded Prince Escalus trying to keep order in the city.
PC has Commissioner Mac Scorpio.
There was a masque ball held at the Capulet home in Verona where Romeo and Juliet first danced.
PC had a masque Bacchanalia at Wyndemere where Lucky and Liz first danced.
THE CHARACTERS
But that's just the beginning. Let's compare the characters of
these two stories.
Romeo and Juliet were young and in love for the first and only time.
Lucky and Liz are young and in love for the first (and I'd like to think only)
time.
Juliet was in love with Romeo at first sight,
whereas he was
first interested in Rosaline.
Liz was in love with Lucky at first sight,
whereas he was first interested in Sarah.
Romeo rebelled against his family because he didn't believe in an
age-old feud.
Lucky rebelled against his father because he didn't
believe in an age-old feud.
Juliet was willing to leave her family to live
with Romeo.
Liz was willing to leave her house to live
with Lucky on the streets.
THE ACTION
We can even get more specific than that. Look at how alike some of
the events of the two stories are.
Romeo visited Juliet at the balcony of her bedroom window.
Lucky visited Liz through her bedroom window.
Romeo and Juliet gave each other a pledge in Juliet's room to be
together forever.
Lucky and Liz gave each other a pledge in Lucky's room to be
together forever.
Romeo and Juliet had a private, secret wedding ceremony in an
empty church.
Lucky and Liz had a private, secret wedding ceremony in an
empty church.
TRUE LOVE
I'm sure most of us wish the comparison could
stop there. Romeo and Juliet had a tragic end, and
none of us want that for Lucky and Liz. No one could
deny, though, that both stories make you ache
inside and cry your eyes out. The similarities really
are amazing! It makes you wonder if this is all coincidence
or if it may have been intentional by the writers.
It could be part of a
pre-structured plan, but more likely it just shows
there are certain elements that add to a good love
story of any kind.
However, is it really the balcony, the church, the
first dance that make these two stories so equally
unforgettable? No. It's seeing two people find
their soul mates. It's the idea that there really
is someone out there to love you just as you are.
It's watching two people care more about the other
than their own life. That's what makes Lucky and
Liz a true love story that would make even
Shakespeare proud.
Article by Boo 3X5 copies of photos on this page available at
CurlyQgrl@aol.com
Photos by
CurlyQgrl
