Juxtaposition In Romeo And Juliet

The well known plays of Shakespeare contribute their recognition to the characters. In his plays characters are made to imitate people. His most famous play Romeo and Juliet is great demonstration of this. Shakespeare shows the complexities of the characters in Romeo and Juliet such as their actions and their emotions through juxtaposition. Juliet is conflicted about her feelings about Romeo once she hears that he had killed Tybalt. She is conflicted with her feelings towards describing Romeo as a, “A damned saint, an honorable villain!”(3.2.79). Her description of Romeo shows that she sees him as a good person who seems to make bad decisions and actions. Juliet sides with Romeo in her confusion, “My husband lives, that Tybalt would have

In his premarital speech he says that “These violent delights have violent ends / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, / Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey / Is loathsome in his own deliciousness / And in the taste confounds the appetite”(2.6.9-13). Friar Laurence is describing how the coming together of Romeo and Juliet will end in conflict as they grow intimate and how their love may lead to confused emotions. After Friar Laurence confesses to the Prince, The Prince says, “Of a poor ‘pothecary, and therewithal / Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. / Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague, See what scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! / And I, for winking at your discords too, / Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished”(5.3.289-295). The Prince is angered at how the Montague and Capulet hate has led to unnecessary deaths in the families and trouble amongst the people. Friar Laurence marries the young lovers in an attempt to bring the families together, but this action causes unseen consequences. In conclusion, Shakespeare explains each character’s complex depth, motivation, and emotion through the use of juxtaposition and indirect characterization. Romeo’s struggle with shallowness is shown through juxtaposition as he proclaims true love, but determines it with his eyes. Juliet’s feelings of love and hate are explained through juxtaposition. Friar Laurence’s desire for peace between the families gives him motivation to marry Romeo and Juliet, but it indirectly causes more grief and sorrow along the way. Shakespeare finds ways to use juxtaposition and indirect characterization to bring characters to