Did Shakespeare Plagiarize Greek Mythology?

Everyone is familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet. It has been replayed and rewritten more times than just about any other story known to man. However, it might surprise you to know that the story is older than you might think; reaching back to ancient Greek mythology in the story of Pyramus and Thisbe.

In the ancient city of Babylon lived neighbors Pyramus and Thisbe. But the two children did not meet each other until they were young teens because their two houses were separated by a huge wall erected so that their families need not see one another.

It seems that the youth's families hated each other for some old infraction that no one any longer remembered. However, the hate spurred them to continue their silent rivalry.

Eventually, Pyramus and Thisbe did meet and they fell in love before they exchanged names and knew that their love would never be approved. They were, of course, correct. Once their families found out about their relationship, they were forbidden to ever speak to one another again.

But the lovers would not be denied. After finding a tiny hole in the wall that separated their homes, the two would meet their to whisper words of love to each another.

They tried to make the hole larger by carefully chipping away at it until it was large enough that they could almost kiss, one on each side. Of course, their deception was found out and the wall was patched to prevent any further communication by that means.

Thisbe was locked in her room and allowed out only when attended by a family member or another approved attendant. But even this new turn of events could not keep the two lovers apart. Thisbe worked on her attendant until the maiden agreed to help her by taking a notes back and forth to Pyramus.

The two corresponded by that method for quite awhile until they could no longer stand being apart. So they made plans to run away together.

They chose a place in the nearby grove, an area with which both were familiar. They agreed to meet under a mulberry tree that grew there.

Thisbe, with the help of her attendant, managed to sneak away first. She disguised herself with a hat and veil so that no one who might pass could recognize her.

As Thisbe waited, a lioness came to the stream that flowed next to the tree, looking for water. Fearful, Thisbe crawled away to hide in the bushes. But she left her hat and veil behind.

The bright fabric caught the lioness's attention and the animal pawed at the garment, ripping it and in the process injuring its paw. With a fierce bat at the hat that stung it, the animal left a bloody paw print.

When Pyramus arrived at the meeting point and found the bloody veil, he fell to the ground in grief, thinking that his beloved had been killed and eaten by the lion. Bereft, he drew his knife and plunged it deep into his heart.

Thisbe, had fallen asleep in the bushes waiting for her husband-to-be. When she awoke and headed to the tree, she was shocked to find her lover's body in a pool of his own blood. After viewing the torn hat and veil, she demised what must have occurred and threw herself upon the ground in despair. After crying for hours and finding no release from her pain, Thisbe picked up Pyramus's knife and plunged it into her breast, murmuring "at least we will be together in the next life."

Her blood, like that of Pyramus covered the once white mulberries of the tree, turning them blood red. It is said that from that point on, the berries never again bore clear fruit. Instead they were always blood red in honor of the lovers who could not live one without the other.

There is no denying that this story bears a remarkable resemblance to that of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, begging the question: Did Shakespeare plaigerize Greek mythology? I leave it to you to decide.