Love or Lust? Romeo and Juliet Part 2: Crash Course English Literature #3

[@grangerdisney4290]

"Is the FAULT IN THE STARS or in ourselves?" Real smooth John. Also, love the Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics going on.

[@grangerdisney4290]

Batoul no no I know I read Julius Caesar. But there are so many references to Fault in Our Stars in this episode. For example, the appearance of Hazel and Gus 😂

[@saltysteven735]

Granger Disney I also saw the lyrics.

[@aisyawalkhansa179]

He can't decide, so he mix them together to make "FAULT in OUR Stars" Finally cracked Green's riddle..

[@annie_ma13]

Aisyawal Khansa oh my gosh! You've just shown me a whole new perspective! I thought it was "Our Stars" because it was their particular fate, but i love your suggestion a lot😍❤️

[@bd3278]

Is this the real life?

[@StargazinGummybears]

Honestly, I never really understood why so many found Romeo and Juliet so profound and timeless, but the way you explain how everybody expresses the teen angsty feelings and the deeper Fate vs. Free Will actually makes sense. Thank you, you are by far the best English teacher I've ever had!

[@jacobsilcoff]

I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that I watched this video by choice and enjoyed it....

[@Iza1289]

The thing is, by analyzing stories, we think about our own lives and viewpoints. It gives us a lens with which to view the world, at once making it clearer and more complex.

[@starwarsron]

It's because it is John Green

[@Gangsterfish100]

I watched all of the U.S. History serious, a year after i got a five on that exam.

[@Gangsterfish100]

Gangsterfish100 series haha, it was serious!

[@stroodlepup]

Gangsterfish100 is that a pass or a fail?

[@jodester16]

I tend to agree with Green's implication that the youthfulness of Romeo and Juliet and the speed with which they fall in love and die serves as a metaphor for how it is often the unjaded and idealistic who try (and succeed) in challenging societies and institutions. And yes, along the way, those innocent, unjaded, idealistic souls end up getting sacrificed in order for the institutions to take notice. Much of Shakespeare's work serves as commentary on various aspects of society as a whole. So the real question, then, isn't "Were Romeo and Juliet really in love?" but "What can society learn from their behavior?" Because it's not about love, really. It's about how an inflexible, suppressive society can lead to bad things. This perspective would explain why Shakespeare omits Arthur Brooke's inclusion of the demise of the apothecary, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence for their "irresponsible" involvement in the tragic events. Perhaps, instead, Shakespeare views them as the only adults who were open to breaking away from the constraints of society. Don't forget that many scholars believe that Shakespeare himself was a closeted Catholic in a time when the only allowable religious institution was The Church of England, and there's also the belief of some that Shakespeare was a homosexual. So he certainly may have been writing from a perspective of one who is oppressed/suppressed, and the forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet is a disguise for these other issues.

[@hatsuharuboi]

Yes, I agree with you that the storie really isn't about love at all. If the story happened today, people would see that they were young, and idiots, and give her some contraceptives and wait for the relationship to run its course, be it they would realise that it was just lust and not love and part ways, or that they would eventually really know each other and and than love. Or the storie would reapeat itself if their families are so fanatical on hating each other, today still have lots of unbending fanaticals that think their way is the right one and everyone else is wrong

[@squidwardtentacles7921]

Beautifully said, couldn't have said it any better myself. :)))) I hope this society as a whole can make peace one day or at least shed a little light on it.

[@nenai]

Loving the Bohemian Rhapsody quotes in the background

[@ekpoole]

Or are you lusting it?

[@ozlem4923]

+Ethan Poole I see what you did and I love it... or lust it whatever hahaha

[@pyrotheevilplatypus]

That had me snickering the entire video.

[@meaganbarrett110]

Frances Farmer same

[@lovejoy26]

This an interesting quote: 'We can see the play, then, as a tragedy about time, how little there is of it, and also about youth, how we assign passionate importance to things and people when we're young, because we don't have *the breadth of experience to behave more moderately - which is maybe the tragedy of adulthood.'*

[@CadieKatXoxo]

Did anyone else absolutely die when he asked "Is the fault in our stars?"

[@nathanhuerta4445]

+Cadie Kat yes.

[@marybach9925]

How'd you comment if you absolutely died?

[@nathanhuerta4445]

ghosts.have you seen hamlet?

[@RyD98]

+Cadie Kat no because it's a shakespeare quote...

[@theanimeclipper3609]

+Cadie Kat NO!...yes...

[@RougeRavenDesigns]

This is the best break down of Romeo and Juliet that I have ever seen. As a former English major, I have sat through many. Excellent work!

[@cwlithium]

This series is making me resent my highschool english teachers quicker than I thought it would. Too bad i never had a teacher like John Green.

[@BYTLover]

I love the Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics in the speech bubbles, and John's reference to his own book near the end.

[@djyofu72]

It's not a reference to his own book, Shakespeare wrote those words, and John used William's quote to title his book.

[@BYTLover]

djyofu72 Oh, I'm disappointed in myself for not knowing that- what's the original quote he took it from?

[@djyofu72]

What you thought was him making the reference was the original quote. I don't think you read too deeply into his book, however cliche it was, it still had some genius in it.

[@BYTLover]

djyofu72 Oh, it's Julius Caesar. I'd forgotten about that reference in the book, haven't read it for ages- and it's not a play I know at all, which is probably why I missed it.

[@STEPH3651]

Teachers should watch this and take notes. THIS is how you teach properly.

[@salvatoreshiggerino6810]

I don't think there's one proper way of teaching, but the teacher's attitude to the subject makes such an enormous difference. Green's enthusiasm is certainly contagious.

[@20centuryfox100]

Salvatore Shiggerino I would argue that, if there is a correct way of teaching, it would involve copious amounts of enthusiasm. Learning is always made better and easier when your instructors and peers have a love of the subject

[@michaeladesimone7388]

I agree

[@linn3014]

With a good dose of enthusiasm, yes. By talking very quickly and delivering information in such a sense way, no. That works well in a video, but in front of a group of 30 teenagers, you're going to need a different approach and involve them in the process.

[@rosacruz8748]

My English teacher teaches like this

[@madworldfan123]

Never thought they'd do a rule 34 joke

[@stroodlepup]

i know

[@rainywoex5035]

Wait what's rule 34?! :|

[@madworldfan123]

look it up....*no sarcasm*

[@wanderlustlovelace]

Anonymous Specimen "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions" I thought I might as well post the answer after taking madworldfan123's advice : )

[@liwendiamond9223]

Even the Mongols can't deny rule 34. It is THAT POWERFUL.

[@TheSugarRay]

"Is the fault in our stars or in ourselves." Why do you make me cry so early in the day.

[@jefffinn6374]

Thank you John Green. You are making the world a better place.

[@aussieman000]

Thank you so much for this, John. Crash Course is giving me a chance to make up for lost time and missed opportunities. It's cliched, I know, but I want to tell all the struggling kids out there: if you're not sure what you want to do in life, staying in school is one of the best things you can do to find out. Education gets much more specialised later on, so you don't get to sample things without committing to them. I did a handful of 6 months courses and odd jobs for the 4 years after dropping out. If I had changed my living situation, repeated a year and elected to do the 5 things I was vaguely interested in as electives in school rather than as 6 month courses for the next 2.5 years, I would be 2 years and at least $100k ahead of where I am now.

[@ailateja6455]

Won't it be great if John green analyses his own book, the fault in our stars?

[@ohballs7065]

H

[@Forceprincess]

Since he wrote it, I would guess he's too close to it to be objective.

[@diarmuidhurley3230]

Shauna Force. Right. But then again. how bout in twenty yrs from now? hmm.

[@anasmediacorner]

Aila Teja can hank do it tho

[@starlagiannattii7373]

no

[@alannar.8701]

My friends' teacher showed this to her class. Not many people got the Rule 34 joke, but some did. They were a bit surprised.

[@JonatasAdoM]

I know I would

[@maryjoleivac]

"Is the fault in our stars or in ourselves?" Smooth, John, smooth.

[@jessewallis6589]

I love your definition of true love.

[@alisonjay5522]

We chose which star to walk upon. So the fault is in both our stars and ourselves.

[@eobardthawne7600]

Beautiful sentiment

[@AftermathNihil]

Alison Jay that's deep

[@RowanTreeArt]

There is a quote in one of my favorite books that says "if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together." I think that is something needs to be remembered in today's society dominated by media and social portrayal of love, and what you said, made me think of that. so thank you for reminding me of the importance of community.

[@ramots8367]

Am i the only one that just realised that this john green is JOHN GREEN!!!?

[@queenotorious]

definitely not! my eyes literally bulged bec of that realization i mean i didn't know til the previous episode! crazy xD

[@rachelmae770]

"Is the fault in our stars or in ourselves?" I see you John! Way to promote your book! lol

[@dragona1344]

When I was in middle school, I read this really interesting adaptation of the story called "Romiette and Julio," in which she is African American and he is Hispanic. The whole tale revolves around the inner-city gang violence because of their racial associations. Given what you were saying about modern adaptations, John, I thought I'd share this with y'all. :)

[@namez2a]

I watch Romeo and Juliet every December and just love how Green explains the the themes of the play. Sometimes you want what you can't have simply because you can't have it but for Romeo and Juliet it is more of an issues of knowing which forces they will abide and which they will accept consequences for- agency.

[@angelodeguzman1818]

What can I ask for? John Green is teaching me literature! 10 thumbs up!

[@USMCdude001]

John I'm sure you won't see these but regardless, I want to be a teacher with the same passion and intensity within my own lectures one day. Thank you for spreading so much knowledge. DFTBA

[@AWallflowersLife]

I also hope to pursue a career in teaching as well! Hopefully specialising in teaching English at High School :) I would love to imagine myself as a teacher who is just as passionate about the subject, as John appears to be in these videos!! So fully of energy and fun!

[@kait.5437]

I think Juliet’s speeches are brilliant. She fully realizes she should be more reasonable. She knows this is a flash of lightning romance but also feels like it’s as endless as the sea. I also love how romeo can feel the choice of going to the Capulet party, like it’s a bad one and will change his life, but he must go anyway. He is pulled there nonetheless.

[@hotairball4108]

Just remembered again: I love literature and love the way I'm obsessed about it.

[@annakate5995]

I'm really digging the Queen lyrics on the chalk board :D

[@MartinHatchuel]

You're very good, John Green

[@serranoairish3375]

I love how he say an author’s name instead of a cuss. I want to try doing that so that I can laugh at the confused visage of people. Me: ‘You JOHN GREEN!’

[@mayraelmiller5493]

My LA teacher uses all the books from this series to make us read. We literally did this love or lust project.

[@sunshine1992]

I could listen to John talk for months and months and months.

[@winterbutterfly8861]

"Is the fault in our stars?" Oh men how I love a good self reference!!

[@erinbrown8697]

"Get rid of the metaphor Stan!" Says the guy who wrote Augustus Waters, Aka: the walking metaphor

[@TheBryanScout]

And by extension the guy who coined that cigarette "metaphor."

[@Ellisonave]

Well to be fair he did het rid of him

[@Ellisonave]

*get

[@asquirre]

Wow. You opened up so many doors to me in this book. Thank you

[@matthewmaxfield8443]

Love the bhomemian rhapsody on the board

[@thefirstfivetimes]

What I love most about this series is how beautiful John's descriptions of the books are. If the language of literature is beautiful, then the language literature is taught with should be beautiful. This makes me endlessly nostalgic for my high school literature teacher, whose explanations of poetry were as poetic as the poems themselves.

[@clarissescheepers5013]

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves that we are underlings" -Julius Caesar ( 1. ii. 139-40) I just got the title of your book, you are a genius in the most original sense of the term. Sincerely, A mind that has just been blown.

[@DuchLizUniverStarMpf]

"Is the fault in the stars, or in ourselves?" You can't do this to us, John.

[@dee_1655]

John Green is the English teacher we never knew we needed.

[@gospideygo6061]

Nice Fault in our stars shout out

[@RyD98]

+Joshua Gaw It's actually a quote from Shakespeare's play about Julius Ceasar, that's where he got the name of the book. Cassius says "The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars,/ but in ourselves, that we are underlings." And it's basically a commentary on whether its fate that dooms us or our own failings.

[@morganmartin5860]

But there is no shortage of fault within our stars XD

[@alannar.8701]

He is referencing TFiOS, though. You know, because he wrote it.

[@aclockworkapple5851]

The title was something he agonised over, until settling on TFiOS. That title is actually a Shakespeare reference: www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/fault-dear-brutus-our-stars It's also worth pointing out that he used to go by the pseudonym of 'SparksFlyUp' a reference to a bible verse which says 'For affliction doesn't come from the dust, nor does trouble spout from the ground, for man is born to trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward'

[@alannar.8701]

Steven Mordak He said he wanted either a Shakespeare or Bible quote... or cellula et cellula. All cells come from cells. Not a bad title, but you know what doesn't sell (no pun intended)? Latin.

[@juliovega9297]

I love the fact that thanks to this, I feel that Bohemian Rhapsody and Romeo and Juliet are connected in some way! !! Thank you John Green!!!!!

[@haileysilver8340]

I'm homeschooled and use crash course as my main source! My "teachers" are John and Hank Green and some other super cool peeps! Thanks for keeping this free (I'd pay if I had to though)!

[@TooterU]

What John says: "Is the fault in our stars or in our cells?" What Hazel would say: "Is the fault in our stars or in our cancer cells?"

[@neo120590]

The rule 34 joke just made my day. Thank you.

[@kshirinrao1963]

I appreciate the Queen references, John XD

[@rabbitven0m]

Because of these videos, I just studied for my English final and enjoyed it. THANK YOU JOHN GREEN!!!

[@camelunderyourbed]

this is seriously one of the best commentaries on Romeo and Juliet I have experienced in my short life.

[@IamMissPronounced]

"A Christian Romeo and a Muslim Juliet" sounds like the exact movie we all need right now.

[@spacecadet28]

per the religion, muslim women aren't allowed with other religion guys.

[@brokenrecord3523]

@@spacecadet28 umm, that would be the star crossed part. "Do you prioritize your own wishes over that of your religion, family or society?" That's the point of the play. If it was allowed, then it wouldn't be a tragedy.

[@brokenrecord3523]

And they both die? Sounds like what we do have now.

[@pingukutepro]

NO

[@thebigpurplemonkey]

My ex always got bowls instead of burritos at Chipotle. I think that's probably the real reason we broke up. Like... way deep down underneath all of the misunderstandings and lack of respect for one another's personal space and opinions... it was probably the burrito bowls.

[@joshdavid9256]

I'm not sure Romeo and Juliet's relationship is the chief cause of their tragic end. I think the real mistake was Romeo killing Tybalt. In essence he chose revenge over his love. Otherwise it may well have been Tybalt who got banished. Sure the Montagues and Capulets may have been put out over the marriage but the prince would have been ecstatic and most likely would have forced the families to accept it.

[@erinwilliams1259]

+Josh David It isn't really fair to say he chose revenge. Romeo himself wasn't a very vengeful person, he was just mad that Tybalt had killed Mercutio. And wouldn't the prince forcing them to accept the marriage make things worse? Your kid has just married a lustious gentleman who is also the son of your enemy, that doesn't sound like terms for feuding families to get along under.

[@clairebear9344]

I agree

[@isabellabean1933]

true love to me is going to the store at midnight to get snacks and then bingeing anime or reading manga untill early morning when we finally fall asleep in each others arms

[@AyaxZombie]

"Is the fault in our stars?" Pure magic.

[@HarryPotterFreakLena]

"is the fault in our stars" see what you did there apart from the queen lyrics on the board :D

[@AlyaziaAlMarzouqi]

"is the fault in their stars" i c u john

[@META_mahn]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I'M DYING BECAUSE OF THE RULE 34 JOKE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA

[@et2693]

Darn you cate

[@et2693]

Or are you but a doge with a mask?

[@arturmizuno]

+Emilio Weenink maybe its dolan again

[@lattehottey]

i dont get it

[@Tuckems]

Mikaela Castro Search up rule 34. Funny stuff

[@angel_cat]

In the end, it all boils down to the author's perception. And really good writers like Shakespeare and Brooke communicate their point-of-view or perception well. Thank you Mr. Green

[@kimohearn3087]

I love that you say that true love is eating burritos together. I am in my thirties and that is exactly what my true love and I do most Fridays. So true!

[@MsMRennie]

Please do Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Would be so good to have an American perspective. Love your work!

[@kierastrider6820]

WAIT! John asked why literary sex was so fatal.... But... In The Fault Of Our Stars... Weeks after Hazel and Augustus... WHAT?! Wait... I see what you did there. You said that usually the female dies and then you... Hah.... HA. HA. VERY FUNNY JOHN GREEN.

[@ofcoursewetran]

Wow that revelation just... Literary sex will be the death of me, I'll tell you that much.

[@nuzzeyjava4175]

"Is the fault in our stars, or in ourselves?"

[@Ardianax]

I learned a lot about Romeo and Juliet now than ever before from my high school lit teacher. I thought Romeo and Juliet was just about two lovers stupid enough or well, young enough, to think their love is forever and therefore without "thou" they kill themselves. But, it is much more than that, if you look at it in a different criticism. It's not just about love, but it was the motivation for it, and therefore made a whole lot of sense why this play is actually really good. Plus, like Green said, the language used by Shakespeare was our of this world. Thanks Crash Course for this entertaining and informative videos!

[@syndicornpnw]

These just keep getting better. Love this channel!

[@tereziamarkova2822]

1:57 - Rule 34 killed me.

[@sinisterhunter]

that cracked me up

[@Wawona311]

"Is the fault in the stars, or in ourselves?" I just made a small, mutant, meep-like noise thinking about TFiOS

[@noellem9416]

WHERE WERE YOU MY FRESHMAN YEAR HOLY COW THIS

[@aurora6286]

Love how he adds humor in the video!

[@daniellaann28]

The Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics on the board are fabulous. Much love for them!

[@binbintrashtin]

"Is the fault in the stars, or in ourselves." - John Green I see what you did there, very sneaky.

[@m.robert123]

does anyone else realize that the words inside the quotation bubble things keep changing

[@randombookmanaic]

yes, and in between scenes when not in a close-up they are the lyrics created by the band Styx.

[@bohemianlucy4726]

randombookmanaic I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but so far the only quotation bubbles I seen is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

[@ossian1977]

How many polo shirts do you own John Green :) ? Also, I love this channel, it´s awesome!

[@ossian1977]

Follow up question: who floats into space just before the samurai nyan cat? it's a bit blurry, could it be Feynman?

[@bville51555]

I'm not even done watching this episode and I've learned more effectively than in any literary part of high school or (early) college.

[@aquamew151]

The fact that he referenced Bohemian Rhapsody AND The Fault In Our Stars in one video is just too perfect.

[@pete275]

It's also funny how Rosaline was Romeo's cousin, but no, the actual forbidden relationship is with the girl from that family we don't like.

[@ellec3747]

She's Romeo's cousin? When was that mentioned? And I guess how, if she was supposed to be a guest at the Capulet party Romeo had to sneak into?

[@parker6844]

Yeah, pretty sure she wasn't related to the Montagues.

[@samuelcooper1762]

i'm pretty sure she was juliet's cousin.

[@psychedoll.]

why am i watching this i’ve never seen or read romeo and juliet lmao

[@JadziaSews]

could you PLEASE make a video about Les Miserables?! :) That would be awesome!

[@alawrence94229]

You are by far the coolest teacher ever. We actually never read the whole play in school we only read the abridged version, and it was terribly explained as was Odysseus.

[@azmendozafamily]

Just an observation, when playing your videos in the background, the horizontal stripes peering through the other windows really show how much you physically bounce around. Thanks!! for the vid!

[@arinkulshi]

If only I had this video in English class 8 yrs ago...

[@SarcasticSean]

John Green: the fault in the stars me: *dies*

[@marcella8576]

julius ceasar quote lol

[@nathanremotigue5730]

Thumbs up for the Bohemium Rhapsody references! :)

[@tiredjedi]

"It does take two, to fandango." You're my favorite, John. xD

[@PlueBurple]

This is awesome- I'm reading Romeo and Juliet in class and this helped so much. It is nice to be able to see all the questions and themes behind the play (things that I haven't discussed at school)

[@megansachi6283]

itd be awesome if you could analyse Dante's Inferno

[@niaalicea]

Secretly promoting his book lol

[@claudia_intheunderwhere3655]

Thank you, before I watched this, I had completely dismissed Romeo and Juliet as a stuck-up, high-brow "love story" about idiots. You are living proof that context is everything.

[@dwncbl17]

If only my English teacher would have explained Romeo and Juliet this way I would have enjoyed it and understood its complexity. Thank you Sir.

[@brycealley5457]

Suggested author-name curse words: "Holy Hemmingway!", "I can see your Dickens," "JK Bowel Thing," "Ridin' the Twain train," "Don't be a Jackass James Joyce," "Stop Jacking my Kerouac," "Are you Sylvia Plathing me?" "Kiss my Angelou," "Oh, what the Woolf?" "Edgar and the Poe boys," "Who are you calling Jane Austen?" "I'd sure like to get 'Wilde' with her . . . ," "Tolstoy says what? -What?-" "He kicked me right in the William S. Burroughs," "That scared the Steven King outta me!" "Fred 'Dickhead' Nietzche," "God Dostoevsky it!"

[@wyattgill4552]

Lol the bohemian rhapsody Romeo and Juliet on the board

[@IndiSummerable]

I love the sly leveling of the sex's 6:20 "follow your GIRLFRIEND into the marines" :)

[@Paige-gp3fj]

He puts things in such poetic ways

[@adamusement]

I love this. And I do, truly believe, that "people forage their own lives," as the captions tell me.

[@alannar.8701]

The picture you showed for Mercutio was actually Sampson, but he does make plenty of bawdy jokes.

[@ardingtape6979]

"Is the fault in our stars", said john green

[@andygriffith3358]

9:08 was that a fault in our stars reference?

[@crstph]

it was a reference to the shakespeare quote that was used as inspiration for the The Fault in Our Stars title, so yes and no

[@bekahtruby515]

This so helpful, John green is so awesome and breaks down things so they are so much simpler to understand. Pretty please keeping make videos like this!!!

[@RavenWhispererABC]

I just finished reading it in class, it makes so much more sense watching it

[@nitanallabeli6615]

burritos and chipotle equals true love...like if u agree!!!