Review of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Review of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet was written in Shakespearian times which gives it a

dramatic difference to anything of the same genre that would have been

written today, it uses less stage direction and more description of

people, giving it a unique feel.

Shakespeare was a very in-depth writer using oxymorons and sonnets in

the middle of speech to emphasise a point especially during speeches

about love. In act 1 scene 1 Romeo has a speech about his love for

Rosaline in this he uses a lot of oxymoron's "Feather of lead, Bright

Smoke, cold fire" he is confused about his love for Rosaline, he loves

her but she is playing 'Hard to get', so he is confused if he is or

isn't in Rosaline's favour, "This love feel, I that feel no love in

this", he is asking his friend Benvolio for help with the matter, if

you look at this closer it seems as if it is reflecting his life and

lively hood in Verona.

The prince's speech is a good example of the type of language

Shakespeare uses, "that quench the fire of your pernicious rage", he

speaks in an angered tone as if fighting and confrontations happen a

lot in Verona and that the prince is getting angrier as it proceeds

and continues to happen. He calms down the fighting and begins to

shout at the families to stop fighting, "If you ever disturb our

streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace". He is

threatening the Capulets and Montague's to stop or they will be

banished or executed. He then calls for the leaders of each family at

a calmer time to explain there actions, "you Capulet shall come along

with me, and Montague come you this afternoon" he is now calmed down

and is speaking as if he is ashamed not angry.

Romeo and Juliet's first speech is a much more loving speech and this

is shown by sonnets and oxymoron's again showing the confusion of love

and life in Verona.