Romeo And Juliet Coursework Essay

JACK PӦELVOORDE
Romeo and Juliet Coursework
In this essay I will analyse the main theme of love within the Shakespearian play Romeo and Juliet. Written in 1597 the themes of the play are contemporary of the period. There are several variation of love; inconsistency, doubt, nature, light, religion and fate. All of which will be expressed in this essay.
From the very start of the play we see Romeo as a man whose obsession with love controls his life. We first see Romeo talking to his great friend Benvolio; he is “burdened” by love, so much so he barely knows what time of day it is “is the day so young … Ay me, sad hours seem long”; it seems that his love or ex-love is controlling his life, he states “griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breasts”&”I

However she is there with Paris, described as a “man of wax” by the nurse, furthermore she suggests Juliet to “seek happy love” both emphasize her vision of love – mainly a rowdy sexual relationship, which is something her father was keen to delay; showing the significant role of the nurse in Juliet’s life, a fun more maternal figure; especially considering she was a wet nurse for Juliet when she was a baby. At the ball Romeo says “she doth teach the torches to burn bright “this draws attention to her overwhelming beauty/ she is a radiant creature. Furthermore by using the simile “as rich as a jewel in an Ethiops ear” emphasizing she is very precious plus highlighting the contrast showing she is truly radiant. Further shown by Shakespeare’s use of religious imagery to compare his lips to pilgrims that wish to kiss the shrine/saint that is Juliet, this also shows they are prepared to worship each other; further emphasizing the elevated significance of their love. The balcony scene is where their loving language becomes more significant. Religious imagery is used to show their emotions; starting with Romeo being prepared to

However, it is not all romance this part of the play is riddled with foreshadowing and doubts. “Within the infant rid…poison hath residence” this statement by the Friar reminds us that growth (in this case growth of love ) isn’t always beautiful and can be significantly painful, and foreshadows the tragedy that is to come. When Romeo informs Friar Lawrence of his intentions, he assumes the marriage is to be with Rosaline (Romeo previously spoke about her frequently with the Friar ) emphasizes Romeos rapid changing attitude towards romance; it also shows that he can be unreliable whilst also foreshadowing the doubts that Juliet experiences later in the play. This attitude towards roman is later shown in the way the pair arrange to be wed, as their conversation is short and it is planned fully in one night, after never meeting before; which could easily lead to failure. The fact that the pair choose to include the nurse in their plan shows that Romeo trusts Juliet’s confidante this also shows the pair share a similar attitude towards love as the nurse does-love being a joke and something that will always come to an abrupt ending. Even their wedding is rushed, hurried and abrupt, because all the lovers want is to make love and love with a sexual nature. When the beautiful eve finally comes, although Juliet is blissfully unaware of her cousins Tybalt’s death (killed by her lover) & that her lover has been