Examples Of Motifs In Romeo And Juliet

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Motifs in Romeo and Juliet
Do you ever feel like you're misunderstood? Like no one ever takes your side? Do your perspectives and opinions change as you get older? Throughout the novel of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, as Romeo and Juliet’s relationship grows, presents multiple motifs in their relationship that help develop the theme and show how great of a difference age can make in relationships, choices, and life in general. As Shakespeare lays out his novel of Romeo and Juliet, many motifs are displayed including the most prominent ones of knowledge & ignorance and youth & adulthood. These motifs are used to develop the theme that there are always two perspectives and two sides to everything which often are because of age differences. …show more content…

Near the end of the novel, we are able to see two very different perspectives from Juliet and her father, Lord Capulet, that illustrate the theme, as well. When Juliet's parents suggest, or order, Juliet’s marriage to Paris, Juliet says: “He shall not make me there a joyful bride! I wonder at this haste, that I must wed ere he that should be husband comes to woo! I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet!”(3.5.121). This significantly demonstrates how much youth Juliet still has left in her. She cannot be persuaded to see reason, but also shows courage to stand with who and what she believes in and is able to show her father how strong her love for Romeo really is. Another quote that shows her true devotion is in Act 3 when Juliet still speaks well of Romeo even after he killed her cousin: “But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband...My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, and Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then?”(3.2.110 and 3.2.115). This is an example of when Juliet openly shows how strong and true her feelings are for Romeo. She knows that once Romeo is her husband, she should support him, which might in some cases mean supporting him more than her cousin Tybalt. But there is also not only Romeo and Juliet’s side of true passion and youthfulness-there is also Lord Capulet’s side. The argument that Paris truly is a good man, that Lord Capulet has more experience in adulthood, and that Juliet is too quick to give up her family for Romeo shows that Lord Capulet’s ideas and feelings against Romeo do have some importance and wisdom to them. But he also forces his opinion and will on his daughter by saying: “But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next to go with Paris to Saint Peter’s church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle

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