Literary Analysis of The Play of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet appear to be conflicting characters as shown in a scene where Romeo finds himself outside Juliet’s window. Juliet asks Romeo “[h]ow comest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? [t]he orchard walls are high and hard to climb” (2.2.67-68), but Romeo replies “[w]ith love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls” (2.2.71). Juliet acts in a more realistic and mature manner, whereas Romeo’s unrealistic behavior contrasts with Juliet’s character. By portraying the characters as opposites, Shakespeare conveys the idea of balance. This idea can be found in a certain character as well. Romeo’s character of good and evil is depicted during the fight with Tybalt. When Tybalt instigates Romeo by saying “thou art a villain” (3.1.62), Romeo remains calm and declares “Villain am I none. Therefore farewell” (3.1.65-66), displaying his good character. Later on, after Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo craves revenge and decides to avenge his friend, allowing his negative side to take over. This internal conflict of good and evil in a character is another example of the idea of equilibrium in the play. Characters and their characterization are significant additions to the idea of harmony.

Maddie Lewis Period 5 March 1st 2024 Prompt #2 Friar Lawrence is one of the most important characters in Romeo & Juliet. If it weren’t for him, Romeo and Juliet’s marriage likely would have never happened. The Friar is introduced in Act II, Scene III when he is tending to his herbs in his garden and Romeo shows up to ask the Friar to help him marry Juliet. During this scene, the Friar talks about his plants and how some plants may smell sweet or look beautiful, but they could kill you in an instant if you ate them.

The level 3 individual question that seemed outstanding for an analysis paper is “How far would people go for their true love without deliberating the fact that Romeo and Juliet come from families that despise each other?” Just look at what the Capulets and Montagues have executed in the Shakespearean book and play. All that they have done were sharing blows with one another, but nobody knows how the fight had started/when it will end. Romeo and Juliet are two fact-based lovers, in which Romeo and Juliet’s names really mean “passionate, mutual love” If I recall from Shakespearean text, “Two households ( Montagues and Capulets ) both alike in dignity, In Fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From Ancient Grudge, break to new mutiny, Where civil

When Juliet hears that the wedding has been moved up to the next day, she drinks the

Introduction In Elizabethan England, herbs and plants were used and as highly regarded in everyday life. Although, in modern times the notion of potions, and poisons made from plants are fantastical, In Shakespeare’s time they were ever present and inspired many aspects within his works. Many historians believe that herbs and plants were used extensively in an average elizabethan, such as food, medicine, and many other common uses in addition to the outlandish. While, the use of herbs and plants may seem audacious now, back then it seemed at the center of life, giving many people a longer life.

“I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes; And but thou love me, let me find me here. My life were better ended by their hate than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.” (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, line 14-17) Romeo and Juliet first saw each other at a ball and fell in love right then and there, but they couldn’t be together because their family hated each other. This scene shows a mood of romance because they couldn’t see each other but they found ways to still be able to see each other.

The quote contrasts two opposing themes: birth and death. The author utilized this contrast to say that life is given and taken all in the same place. This mere idea in the context of Romeo and Juliet’s love is a way of foreshadowing, perhaps that their death would come sooner than anticipated. Combined with the initial personification about good and evil, the reader could make assumptions about what would happen in scenes to come. Additionally, while the Friar collects his weeds, rocks, and flowers, he contrasts them to humans. The earthly gems he collected were a symbol to everyone on earth. Like humans, Friar Lawrence spoke of “plants, stones, and their true qualities,” indicating that each where slightly different in their own way. He went on to connect this to his earlier contrast of good and evil, this time referring to how bad plants or “bad people,” could turn bad because of outside things by saying “Revolts from the true birth, stumbling on abuse. Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, and vice sometime by action dignified [Romeo Enters]” (2.3.

I am heartbroken over the deaths of my master and friend, Romeo, Juliet, who brought Romeo great happiness, and county Paris, who I knew to be a very honorable man. I hope that this court session will bring justice for Romeo, Juliet, and Paris. To help bring this justice, I will truthfully tell you all that I know.

When analysing Romeo and Juliet it becomes apparent that while the two main characters’ lives were said to be predetermined by fate, it is Romeo's deep love for Juliet that acts as the catalyst that sets his fate into motion. Romeo was bound to love juliet but it was Romeo’s deep love for juliet that gets Romeo in to trouble. Additionally, Romeo gets to caught up in the one and only love of his life and when all the sudden it was gone he decided to kill himself. Although Romeo stated, “with love's light wings did I o’erperch these walls”( 2.2.73-75). This would prove that know matter what happens romeo will always go after Juliet/love Juliet. Ultimately, it is Romeo who is to romantic therefor creating the fate for himself and Juliet.

William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet,” is arguably the most widely known tragic love story of all time. Although it has been the subject of debate and controversy, it has inspired many love stories in recent times. One of the most controversial details of the play, are the relationships that Friar Lawrence and Nurse, have with Romeo and Juliet. Many argue that they were not being responsible with their actions regarding Romeo and Juliet’s marriage. Others say that their actions were justified, because the two teens trusted them. Nurse and Friar Lawrence did not do the “right thing” in this situation, and contributed to the events which eventually led to the death of Romeo and Juliet.

Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film, Romeo + Juliet effectively appropriates the Shakespearean 16th century love tragedy. So why has Luhrmann decided to appropriate Romeo and Juliet? By changing the context, Luhrmann effectively makes the play relevant, discussing his contextual concerns of the 1990’s. This is done through the use of themes in the film, love, family disputes and hate which have remained similar to the original play, although the way they have been presented are different, in particular the form and characters. The form has had an obvious change as the original play has been adapted into a film. Characters in the film have also been appropriated to correspond with Luhrmann's contextual concerns. Hence, Luhrmann successfully appropriates the original Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet by maintaining similar themes, but altering the form and characterisation to fit his contextual concerns.

Friar Lawrence plays a major role in the play “Romeo and Juliet”, and he is one of the key characters that make this play by William Shakespeare the renowned romantic tragedy that it is. In Italy during the 1400’s – 1500’s religion played a strong and influential part of society. Holy men known as Friars were therefore very trusted and respected. Anointed by God they lead a life of permanent commitment and were bound by vows of poverty, obedience, chastity and a life of prayer. The Franciscan Friar, in the play, is shown to be an expert of plants and remedies and it is this characteristic which enables him to make the beneficial comparisons between the healing and harming side of plants and herbs, a key importance to the play. The Friar’s role as friend and advisor to Romeo and Juliet highlights the conflicts between parents and their children. The centrality of the Friar’s role suggests a notable failure in parental love and this is why in their isolation Romeo and Juliet turn to the Friar for neutral advice. To begin with the Friar can’t believe how Romeo has abandoned Rosaline, his once beloved, and quickly fallen in love with Juliet. However he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in the hope marriage will end the feud between the Montague and Capulet households. Ironically, his intentions were never truly fulfilled because the circumstances surrounding the marriage made it almost impossible for peace to occur. Thus emphasising the Friar’s naive underestimations of fate.

Before their marriage, the Friar attempts to warn the young lovers that hardships could come along and become an issue if their relationship does not have firm roots. Unfortunately, Romeo and Juliet, in their young idealism, do not listen to his words of wisdom and instead believe that their love could conquer all and could never be affected by hardships. Romeo expresses his view by saying, “ but come what sorrow can,/ It cannot countervail the exchange of joy/ That one short minutes gives me in her sight” (Shakespeare II, vi, 3-5). On the other hand, Friar Laurence insinuates an opposing idea by saying “the sweetest honey/ It is loathsome in his own deliciousness” (Shakespeare II, vi, 11-13). In both quotes, it is evident that Romeo and the Friar have juxtaposing ideas about the upcoming relationship and its consequences. Romeo’s notion is that no matter how sorrowful a circumstance can get, joy can always overshadow it. This dangerous thinking proves Romeo’s arrogance in his love and helps further him as a character by portraying his naivety and blind optimism. However,

Romeo and Juliet, a classic play by William Shakespeare, is known to many as a tragedy. But what makes this play tragic? Audiences favor this story because of the emotions evoked from a tale of love that sees two young souls torn apart. However, Romeo and Juliet when under my own definition of tragedy, does not resemble a tragic play. While the death of Mercutio and the deaths of Romeo and Juliet seem tragic, the story does not show one failing when trying to reach their full potential, instead the audience sees a forbidden love and death as a result, which does not demonstrate tragedy. Instead, Romeo and Juliet face flaws from within their families and society, forcing them to stay apart due to conflict. While both Romeo and Juliet try to reach the goal of being together and fail, the flaws of others cause the conflict, not the flaws of themselves. My definition surrounds the idea that the flaws of oneself leads to his or her demise, meaning that the play misses a key characteristic of the definition of tragedy. Both characters seem to die a “tragic death,” however, their death can only be considered sad or upsetting, especially to the audience. This play instead consists of somber scenes that show aspects of a tragedy, but not enough to place this play in a tragic category in the classic definition or in my own definition because the flaws of the main characters do not cause the fall of the characters as they try to reach their full potential. If a character who fell as a

In the play “Romeo and Juliet,” William Shakespeare uses the duality of good and evil in Friar Laurence’s soliloquy to reveal the power of balance throughout one’s life. Friar Laurence picks herbs and compares life to a poisonous plant, which serves as a metaphor for Romeo and Juliet’s rushed love and reveals how good things can be manipulated. While the sun rises early in the morning, Friar walks into the garden and talks to himself as he picks up plants. He claims how good plants are able to do bad when misused. He explains, “For this, being smelled, with that part cheers each part; / Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart” (Shakespeare II.iii.25-26).