The First Meeting of Romeo and Juliet

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The First Meeting of Romeo and Juliet

The meeting of Romeo and Juliet is possibly the most decisive point of

the play. Shakespeare undoubtedly used stagecraft and language devices

to create the desired atmosphere, the idea of love at first sight. The

meeting of Romeo and Juliet is cleverly written to represent a sonnet.

Sonnets are concerned with the idea of love, which makes it an

appropriate device to use. This passage can be contrasted to the love

that Romeo once felt for Rosaline, however Romeo in the first instance

was unwilling and unable to act upon his shallow feelings towards the

object of his affection, while at his very first meeting with Juliet

he has been able to make contact with her rather than view from afar.

The passage is written in verse to show the nobility of Romeo and

Juliet and to remind the audience that these 'children' are far from

ordinary and must fulfill what is required of them. However the rhyme

gives the section a flowing and constant texture similar to love. The

section has a religious and spiritual feel creating the image of

divine and pure loving, strengthening the audience's belief of 'love

at first sight'. One can imagine how Shakespeare used stagecraft

effectively and many similar methods still exist today, I believe that

the most effective is for all the remaining characters present to

freeze in a certain unified position allowing the audience to

concentrate on Romeo and Juliet. The audience feels that Romeo's love

for Juliet is much purer than his love for Rosaline, "This holy

shrine…" in contrast to "She is too fair…" In the first quote Romeo

compares Juliet to a divine being while in the second extract he

merely comments on the beauty of Rosaline, leading the audience to

believe that the first love is deeper than the second but still in a

strange manner contempary.

The intensity of their love is strengthened by the fact that it is

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