connecting with romeo and juliet

Personally, I have little connections with these title characters. The things they do and what they say and just how they talk is much different from me and how I do what I do. I see not many relations with me and the characters but if I had to choose one I would say that I am closest related to Benvolio. I look out for my friends and I'll help them if they need it so that's as close to a character in the play as I can get. I think that the way the characters act in the play is very peculiar and extremely dramatic. I realize that this is a play and it's supposed to be dramatic but it is dramatic and sometimes overly dramatic. An instance of  over dramatizing something was when Tybalt wanted to "strike down" romeo for being at the party. I find it funny how Romeo and Juliet are "star-crossed lovers" and all these things happen when in our time that rarely ever happens and is most likely that it doesn't happen at all. I've noticed that all of the people in the play have a lot of pride and dignity because if they are willing to fight to the death just because they've had a grudge against each other for years upon years then they must have high opinions of themselves.
I'm reading fine on my own. However, there are many occasions where i don't pick up on a specific idea or happening because of the way Shakespeare likes to word things and how different he talked from now. I think that reading at home is a good idea because you get time to try and decipher Shakespeare's unique language on your own which expands your horizons and then going over it in class only strengthens the foundation of your knowledge. On my own, I'm able to get what is happening but I do have trouble understanding what is happening sometimes and why and i also have trouble with the setting.  I don't really pick up on the hints on the setting. Yes, deciphering Shakespeare's language is getting easier and has begun to make more sense. Being able to read at home and then read in class is, in my opinion, a really good thing. being able to read and try to understand on your own and then coming to class and reading together to hear how things are said and then talking about it really helps to understand where I am in the play and what is happening.