William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Introduction

The two scenes which Romeo and Juliet meet are both filled with an

emotional tension however there is a different sort of tension in the

two scenes. For instance in the first scene the concern is over how

the love could even be born and how it would affect their families. In

the second scene it is more a case of how can their love survive so

soon after it was first created. The language used in each scene is

also different and complex on different levels, whether it is merely

comparisons to Greek goddesses or perhaps questioning the importance

of words Shakespeare has put it into the mouths of Romeo and Juliet.

First Scene

The first scene begins with Romeo appearing beneath Juliet's balcony.

It starts with him comparing Juliet to the sun, rising and killing the

envious moon with references to Greek mythology. Then she appears on

the balcony Romeo below in the garden listening to her personal

thoughts about him and the idea of falling in love with her family's

foe, possibly the most famous line in literature:

"Romeo, Romeo where for art thou Romeo deny thy father and refuse thy

name"

Although these words are not addressed to Romeo he does hear them from

his hiding position in the grounds. He is happy to hear them as he

considers whether or not he should respond to them. Juliet meanwhile

continues talking of the lack of importance of names, saying that

Montague is "not hand nor arm nor face nor any other part belonging to

a man".

"That which we call a rose by any other world would smell as sweet."

This above quote points out that a name is nothing and a word means

nothing more than a word. Then she talks of how great Romeo is and

just then he makes himself heard and gives Juliet the shock of her

life. Romeo then swears that his love is true and that he would give

his name up for their love.

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