How does Shakespeare's use of stage directions in Romeo and Juliet impact elements such as character, conflict, and theme?

No
copies of Shakespeare's plays written in his own hand have been discovered, but most Shakespeare
scholars agree thatlikely wrote very few, if any, stage directions for his plays.

Scholars also agree that Shakespeare had little or nothing to do with the publication
of his plays during his lifetime. Early printings of Shakespeare's plays were
"pirated" versionsstolen copies of the plays or prompt scripts used in performance and
published by book printers hoping to make a "quick buck" on a popular play.

The modern published versions of Shakespeare's plays are scholars' and editors'
"best guesses" as to what Shakespeare actually wrote based on the different versions
of his plays that have come down to us over the years. The stage directions in modern versions
of are written by editors, not by Shakespeare.

For
example, modern editions of and begin act 1, scene 1 with "Verona. A
public place. Enterandwith swords and bucklers of the...