Romeo and Juliet

846 Words2 Pages

Throughout the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Juliet Capulet views on love and marriage dramatically changes. In the beginning of the play Juliet has mixed feelings about love and marriage, but once meeting her “Star-crossed lover”, she changes the way that she feels. In the end, Juliet tragically kills herself once she realizes that Romeo killed himself. Shakespeare provides evidence for this change through Juliet's use of language, imagery, and dramatic irony in the play.
Juliet's first introduction was in Act 1, Scene 3, establishes the fact that she does not think about getting married, and love. Lord Capulet asks Juliet what she thinks about marriage and Juliet replies "it is an honour that I dream not of (1.3.67)." Later in the same scene, Juliet's mother asks her if she can "like of Paris' love(1.3.97)?" Juliet replies that she will "look to like (1.3.98)", but she does not use the word love. In Act 1, Scene 5, Juliet meets Romeo for the first time and he kisses her. At first she tries to avoid having him kiss her hand, playing with his imagery of the pilgrim and the saint, but she then allows him to kiss her. Juliet's interest in Romeo is different from the indifference she shows in 1.3, when she is talking to her mother. Juliet is beginning to consider love, because she is starting to fall in love with Romeo.
Juliet's soliloquy on the balcony reveals her true feelings towards Romeo. Juliet thinks she is alone, so she reveals her true feelings towards Romeo, but the audience knows that Romeo is listening to her talk, from a bush in the Capulets yard. Juliet dwells on Romeo's name and desire his company. Juliet said, "be but sworn my love (2.2.35)." and "be some other name (2.2.35)." She stat...

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...something she didn't care about before. Her love for Romeo changed the way she spoke and the things she was concerned with. When Romeo convinces Juliet to give him her vow of love she changes both the things she spends time talking about, and the way she talks. She uses more complex imagery and is less concerned with practical matters, like the family feud or the possibility her parents will find out about Romeo. Romeo's banishment and her parents making her marry Paris made her desperate and gave her the fearlessness to take the potion and pretend to be dead. Her love for Romeo changed her character to allow her to attempt things she would not have otherwise. Juliet's suicide is ultimately the final confirmation of her shift to being a romantic. She rejects the practical option, and without Romeo, without their marriage, and without love, ends her life.

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