Romeo & Juliet - a Play of Opposites Essay

In this essay I am going to look at how antitheses are a big part and

However, Tybalt (Capulet) comes along and will not “talk of peace! I hate the word,” leaving Benvolio with no choice but to continue the conflict. The citizens of Verona are obviously sick of the conflict that exists between the Capulets and Montague, as they shout “Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montague!” So it is clear that the people of Verona do not like the frequent civil wars. This negativity towards conflict could also be seen as a metaphor for maintaining the peace in Shakespearean society.

In order to understand Romeo and Juliet, it must be remembered that these two heralds of love were little more than children. In Renaissance England, the category of adolescence was not recognized (Cox 391). A person went from childhood to adulthood without the liberty that is allowed to modern adolescents. Nowadays, the teenage years are accepted as a turbulent period in which defiance of authority and assertion of "self" are not only allowed, but also expected. Adults explain away even the most inexplicable behavior of teenagers as "just a phase". However, as this was not done in Shakespeare’s England, both Romeo and Juliet were expected to take on the roles of adults, and were chastised for their refusal to enter in the adult world as their parents would have them. Juliet is first presented to the audience as a young woman who has come to marrying age: “Well, think of marriage now; younger than you, / Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, / Are made already mothers…Thus then in brief: / The valiant Paris seeks you for his love”(1.3.69-74). Juliet is presented with the idea of marrying Paris with

William Shakespeare is widely known for all of his literary works; one of his most famous love tragedies being 'Romeo and Juliet'. A Shakespearean definition of tragedy exemplifies the sense that human beings are inevitably doomed through their own failures or errors, the ironic action of their virtues, or even through the nature of fate and destiny (Sayour, Susan, 2007). Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale based on two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. Throughout the play, Shakespeare intentionally draws on text structures and language features in order to replicate the attitudes, values and beliefs of Elizabethan audiences and intertwine it into his

Shakespeare understood that with young love came rebellion, (which upon Juliet’s marriage to Paris being advanced ahead of time), made the lovers more determined to defy their scorning families and the chain of being. Had their families ceased their feud and with time, let their children get to personally know each other, their young love might’ve extended into true love. Shakespeare presents the complexities and faults with young love in the play with rebellion and time as catalysts in their downfall, suggesting a negative view of the human nature.

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Shakespeare uses detailed examples to draw clear images of his characters for the audience. Romeo and Juliet is a play about two rival families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Romeo struggles because he is blinded by his love for Juliet and will do anything, even risk death, to see Juliet. Shakespeare uses examples in the story to portray Romeo as an impulsive and passionate character. He demonstrates that he is passionate and impulsive by his inner thoughts and feelings, his actions, and how others view him.

Hate, misery, and quarrels consume Verona as two lovers struggle to continue the existence of their affection. As progenies of the Montague and Capulet houses, Romeo and Juliet encounter one another, and with a single glance, they capture each other’s heart. However, as enemies, their love faces constant obstacles and sufferings. Throughout the journey of these protagonists, playwright, William Shakespeare, includes a recurring theme, known as a motif, in his theatrical work where he compares the minds of adults and adolescents. Furthermore, during the rivalry between the two households, William Shakespeare accommodates the constant surges of hate and sorrow in his tragic play, Romeo and Juliet, in order to develop a motif of youth vs age.

The theme of anger is strongly shown through violence in “Romeo and Juliet”. “Romeo and Juliet” is an extremely violent play; an example of this is when Romeo kills Tybalt because Romeo was angry about how Tybalt killed Mercutio. Romeo states, “Staying

In Act 3 Scene I: we also see a large amount of both physical and verbal conflict when Tybalt seeks further confrontation, however, Romeo refuses to fight and instead Mercutio becomes involved in the battle. The metaphor “These hot days is the mad blood stirring” Is used to compare the heat of the day with the heat of their hatred. “mad blood” is also personification used to describe their anger and creates depth and drama in Mercutio’s statement. The physical conflict also occurs in this scene and as a result, Mercutio is killed by Tybalt. Mercutio’s fatal wound brings him to his realization that the group conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues has cost him his life. Before passing Mercutio wishes that bad things come to both families by saying “a plague a’ both your houses” This can be seen as foreshadowing since bad things do

Romeo and Juliet is indeed a comedy, a way that you cant tell its a comedy is by one of the characters “Nurse.” `Throughout the play the nurse is continuosly being sarcastic and making funny remarks. For example the Nurse said, “I would say thou hadst sucked wisdom from thy teat.” Out of all the things the nurse couldve said in this situation she decided to go with the funner thing to say. Another time the nurse made a funny or sarcastic comment was when she said, “Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.” Back then you wouldnt think that they would say things like “go girl”. So by the nurse saying that is somsthing that would make you think that this is in fact a comedy. In the time frame where Romeo and Juliet was written, some things that the nurse says just arent things you would say when your trying to be serious about something that you genuinly care about. Which is even more reason to prove that Romeo and Juliet is a comedy.

Franson, J. Karl. "`Too Soon Marr'd': Juliet's Age as Symbol in Romeo and Juliet." Papers on Language & Literature, vol. 32, no. 3, Summer96, pp. 244-262. EBSCOhost,

Romeo and Juliet shows the reader how prejudice and conflict can teach us how to hate, and how love can deeply influence our actions. In this text, the various characters experience their own versions of love and violence. The text even begins with unnecessary violence; servants of the Montague and Capulet households start a fight on the streets of Verona. Citizens swarm around to watch the fray as Benvolio arrives. Benvolio is Romeo’s cousin, a Montague, and is soft-hearted. He tries to bring peace to both parties. Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin, a Capulet, is cold and despises the Montagues with a hate that is incurable. “ Now by the stock and honour of my kin to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.”. He fuels the fire and violence erupts. Weapons are drawn. The Prince of Verona is

Imagine strolling through the cobblestone streets of London, the morning dew on everything visible reflecting the sunshine into fresh eyes eagerly looking for a legendary building, the Globe Theatre. Soon these fresh eyes will be watching one of the most extraordinary plays ever written, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. This play is set in the Renaissance time also known as the Elizabethan period. This play is about two lovers separated by their family's feud. These lovers known as Romeo and Juliet will do pretty much anything to make sure they are together, even if it means taking there own lives. In this play William Shakespeare uses subtle themes of light and dark, He also uses the characters Romeo and Tybalt to advance

The magnification of Romeo and Juliet’s love is emphasized through the obstacles, such as their parents, family history, and the way they feel the need to rebel. What is a relationship that blossomed from the beginning, was dreadfully taken down by the families who decide to be selfish and heighten the hatred between them. Juliet is seen denying her father’s wishes and expressing her love for Romeo, which seems to further signify the love they have. Their marriage being so soon, disobeys the ways that older people, and their parents, might think of how long two should wait until marriage.