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Poison In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

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The main characters of this play are of course Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Juliet starts off in the play as a 13 year old that is naïve and sheltered to the world around her. She quickly matures and becomes arguably the main character of the play since Shakespeare gave her the most soliloquy’s and she undergoes the most change within the time frame of the play. Her journey to becoming a witty, driven woman is staggering from the vulnerable young girl she once was. Romeo in contrast, is in love with the idea of love as seen in the being of the play with Rosaline. He is rash and impulsive leading to multiple consequences in the play. He has a Dionysian approach to life often acting from his emotions, whether that be love or anger in terms …show more content…

In Act 2, scene 2, the Friar remarks how plants, herbs can be used for good or bad. Poison is initially the cause of Romeo and Juliet’s death. When Romeo takes the poison, it is a symbol of the depth to which he loves Juliet unable to live without her in turn taking his own life. The poison as well represents the Montagues and the Capulets deadly feud and how their feud is the catalysis for their children’s death. It shows how society tends to tarnish or ruin the good thing and turn them fatal. The symbol of light and darkness is also plays a key role symbolically. During the day the men fight and prone to violence and the night protects them. Romeo and Juliet often refer to each other as some sort of light source in the darkness. Possibly love is the brightest spot, amidst the chaotic feud of their families. Night time in the play occurs during the key moments for Romeo and Juliet. This is the time where they meet, pledge their love, elope and commit suicide. Night serves as a liberator as well as a sense of foreboding danger, in the darkness Romeo and Juliet are freed from societal rules. Archetypes: An obvious archetype is that of star-crossed lovers. Romeo and Juliet_are tragic lovers that paid the price for their parents’ feud. Romeo is that of a tragic hero. Friar Lawerence is the mentor to Romeo and Juliet giving them advice throughout the play. Mercutio and Benvolio are Romeo’s archetypal sidekicks. The innocents represent Romeo and Juliet since they paid the price of their parents’

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