William Shakespeare is really famous for his writings, especially Romeo and Juliet. A pair of two star crossed lovers take place, on their mission to unite two houses, Capulets and Montagues, once and for all. In the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare presents a lot of paradoxes. This provides a lot of contrast to the text and allows readers to think harder and better understand the intricacies of this writing. In this play, there are many paradoxical themes expressed through the text for example good versus evil, love versus hate, and many more. All these paradoxes are communicated through figurative language, characterization, sound devices, and literary foils. These are literary devices that authors use to help readers to visualize …show more content…
When Friar Lawrence was collecting flowers in his basket he states, “Within the infant rind of this weak flower, poison hath residence and medicine power”(2.3.25). This tells and shows us that there is good and bad in everything of this world, for example the flower contains poison and medicine, and depends on what part of the flower is used. Also it shows that within a weak flower there can be both something great and something harmful. Furthermore, the flower demonstrates that although something might seem little, it may become very dangerous. The same flower that can kill people, can also cure them as well. During Friar Lawrences huge monologue in Act 2, when he was picking flowers, he states, “In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will” (2.3.30-31), here the Friar compares humans to plants and suggests everyone has civility and crudeness in themselves much like plants have the power to help or hurt. In a plant, whichever part of it is used is extremely potent and will spread rapidly. In a human, each person’s good and bad influences spread through his or her actions. Here, Friar Lawrence uses the paradox of medicine versus poison, and good versus bad to draw a comparison between humans and …show more content…
When Nurse comes to tell Juliet what happened to Romeo and Tybalt, Juliet was really surprised. Juliet inquires “When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend, in mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?”(3.2.87-88), comparing good versus evil drawing attention to the fact that although Romeo’s actions were evil, referring to Romeo killing Tybalt over the murder of Mercutio, his outward appearance remained appealing. Due to Romeo’s grave offense, he is now considered as a “devil”, but his appearance is so beautiful. The theme of opposites show that Juliet is astonished of Romeo’s internal conflict and deceiving external appearances. She continues to wonder, “Was ever book containing such vile matter, so fairly bound?”(3.2.89-90). Juliet is now asking if there was ever a book containing unpleasant things have a beautiful cover, using the metaphor of a bound book comment on her lover. Juliet is really confused in this section because she never thought Romeo would kill someone due to his previously shown solicitous nature. Juliet is trying to reconcile how if anyone is good, they can commit a horrible act, like how Romeo killed Tybalt. The universal truth is that good people do bad things
William Shakespeare, author of thirty-eight plays includes the literary technique, foil, in one of his most popular plays, “Romeo and Juliet.” The tragedy consists of conflicted, complex characters, and characters whose personality contrast with another and emphasize another’s attributes adds another dimension to an already celebrated piece of
William Shakespeare’s diverse use of rhetorical and figurative language enhances and develops the moods he conveys, thus creating vast and various atmospheres throughout his works. An example of one his works that uses many of these devices is Shakespeare’s renowned Romeo and Juliet. In the famous play, the two lovebirds (Romeo and Juliet), fall in a forbidden love as the long-lasting rivalry between their two families continues its onslaught. The couple later on tragically commit suicide, which ultimately ends the feud. During the journey of the two lovers, Shakespeare expresses clearly the mood of each scene using figurative language.
Shakespeare unleashes the whole spectrum of emotions, always having at least two scenarios for each scene. These usually come from the characters and Romeo and Juliet is rich in many different uses of language. The play Romeo and Juliet is full of oppositions that beset the doomed lovers. In the prologue, we hear of an "ancient grudge break." to a new mutiny.
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet uses opposing forces to express the differences and problems splitting Verona. He uses themes of Life and death, Light and dark, young and old, free will and fate and many other themes that are constantly being brought up throughout the play. Shakespeare used many of these opposing forces and sonnets as at the time he wrote the play this was very big and popular among the people.
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction from the beginning because of the hatred between the two families, Montagues and Capulets. Shakespeare juxtaposes the themes of love and hatred. He continuously puts them side by side, and even though they are opposites, when seen together you realise that they are driven from the same thing; passion. Shakespeare uses many different language and dramatic techniques to convey this idea.
I. In lines 23-31 of act II, scene III, Friar Lawrence is talking about the medicine from a flower and how it can be used to help the body, but that it could be harmful if misused. A connection I made was to how some people in the world misuse things intended help them, which would then cause them damage. People who misuse drugs meant for aiding the body are a prime example of this; the drugs (technically speaking) come from the Earth, but are being misemployed, and are able to harm individuals rather than help them, especially when taken in larger quantities than intended.. This seemed to have a bit of a symbolic meaning for helping to understand the rest of the play regarding Romeo and Juliet being in love. A little bit of love can be a good
In the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses oxymorons, paradox, pun, and or juxtaposition to indirectly characterized characters. Oxymorons, paradox and puns all contribute to juxtaposition. Because if the way they spoke, many of the examples found in Romeo and Juliet are paradoxical. Shakespeare doesn't tell the audience about his characters. He uses his language. William Shakespeare uses literary devices in Romeo and Juliet to portray complex characters.
However, Juliet wakes up at the moment when Romeo falls dead on her lap and she exclaims, “Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end” (5.3.167), signifying the untimely death of Romeo that occurred due to his unnecessary haste. The suicides of Romeo and Juliet reflect their hasty and impulsive decisions as well as the dishonesty of Friar Lawrence and the Nurse. Romeo’s haste in drinking the venomous poison, Friar’s cowardice in handling the consequences as well as the Nurse’s choice of standing against the relationship of Romeo and Juliet contribute equally to their fatal end. Therefore, dishonesty and haste can result in undesirable circumstances to any individual.
Romeo and Juliet’s irrational decisions turn them into pathetic figures that make poor choices, which lead to their deaths. Their poor actions not only affect their families but all who get in their way. Before getting married they were warned about the consequences that their rushed love could trigger, however they paid no attention to the opinions of others and through the course of the play did everything in their power to hold onto their relationships. Their parents on going feud caused them to keep their relationship a secret, which lead to their illogical decisions such as resulting to suicide as the answer to all their problems. Romeo and Juliet truly never reflected through any of their decisions, they were unreasonable and selfish making them pathetic characters.
How Shakespeare Presents the Idea of Contrast in Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is one of the first tragedies Shakespeare wrote yet. of the most enjoyable plays. One of the reasons that it is so enjoyable is because Shakespeare uses so much contrast throughout the the whole play of the game. He contrasts themes, characters, language and structure. make the play exciting and keep the audience on their toes.
“We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow, I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us to-day.” (Shakespeare II.III. 60). Romeo’s impulsiveness is clearly shown through this quote that he states. The reason for Romeo’s impulsiveness is because he just recently met Juliet and he decides to marry her very quickly. Also this quote reveals to the audience Romeo’s hamartia. Since he is too quick and rash it will inevitably lead him to his fatal death; and through this quote you could see where Romeo went wrong and how it will greatly affect him. Furthermore Romeo leads the audience to believe that he is just infatuated by Juliet’s looks; due to the fact he was strongly in love with Rosaline and then all of sudden falls in love with Juliet and forgets about Rosaline which he claimed to be his one and only love. “Young men’s love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”(II.III.65). This quote that Friar Lawrence states planted into the readers mind that Romeo might not be truly in love but rather infatuated. This tragic play takes place in fair Verona where a quarrel between two families takes place due to an ancient grudge. Both families, Montague and Capulet hate each other with a great passion. Two lovers named Romeo and Juliet are both from the two opposing families and they love and marry each other in secret without their families knowing. Because of their impulsiveness and rash decisions it causes them to lead themselves to die a tragic death. Foil characters aid to heighten or highlight an attribute in another character which furthers the plot. Romeo is heightened and influenced by secondary characters that eventually brings out his hamartia, peripeteia, and anagnorisis. These chara...
Countless people all around the world are familiar with the idea of the famously tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. Their heart wrenching love story has been an inspiration for many literature pieces throughout various genres and later cinematic works of art. The young couple was not only memorable for their passionate, devoted love, but also the tragic events that ultimately lead to their death. One aspect of the play that has a strong impact on the audience is Shakespeare’s use of charismatic and compelling language seen throughout the play. The unique personality traits used to describe Romeo and Juliet allows many to relate to the young lovers. Shakespeare’s use of descriptive language, allows the audience to understand the societal expectations, beliefs, and values set out for the men and women of Verona, Italy. Romeo’s character, however, can be been seen defying these expectations and also
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story about two lovers who are from two disputing families, and their eventual suicides. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony throughout the play to create tension for the audience and foreshadow the ending. Dramatic irony is when the words or actions of characters in a story have a different meaning to the reader than to the characters. This is because the reader knows something that the characters do not. Romeo and Juliet’s death could have been prevented if the characters in the story weren’t so ignorant of their situations, and often times the reader recognizes this.
Romeo and Juliet is a romantic love story about a young lad named Romeo who has fallen in love with Lady Juliet, but is unable to marry her because of a long-lasting family feud. The play ends in the death of both these characters and the reunion of the friendship between the families. Romeo is in love with Juliet, and this is a true, passionate love (unlike the love Paris has for her or the love Romeo had for Rosaline) that nothing can overcome, not even the hatred between their two families that is the reason for the death of their two children. Throughout the play, Shakespeare thoroughly explores the themes of both true love and false love and hatred. Without either of these themes, the play would loose its romantic touch and probably would not be as famous as it is today.
Shakespeare was a very fine play writer, who examined human nature and exposed it through literature. One of his famous plays, Romeo and Juliet, depict many different themes such as, fate vs. freewill, duty vs. self, feuds, appearance vs. reality, parents choose who we marry, love at first sight and confidante. Appearance vs. reality is one of the themes that are portrayed through out the play. It means, things aren’t always what they seem to be. Something or someone might appear to be another thing, but the reality is different. Romeo and Juliet show appearance vs. reality through out the play because of their secret marriage. Examples of appearance vs. reality are when Juliet finds out about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment. Juliet’s parents think that Juliet is crying about Tybalt’s death, but she is crying about Romeo’s banishment, when the couple (Romeo and Juliet) get married, but everybody thinks they are still single and when the nurse finds Juliet dead and the Capulet’s have an unnecessary funeral for Juliet even though she is not dead and had only swallowed Friar Lawrence’s potion, which put her into a long sleep.