Romeo and Juliet – Where Opposites Attract
The idea that opposites attract has been around for millennia; when two are different there is tension leading to chemistry which makes for interest. There is a notion of not being the same or going against what it the original/norm which appeals to humans and so people are attracted to opposites. William Shakespeare has a grasp on this motif; using uncommon pairings to create deeper significance to a phrase. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare demonstrates how the use of opposites helps convey a notion in a more powerful way through contrast of light vs dark and use of oxymorons.
In the book Shakespeare is able to break through the confines of what is considered socially right to achieve a new level of comprehension. Humans are taught that the notion of light is
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This idea of contradicting is seen throughout the milestones of their relationship after consummating their marriage Juliet did not want to see Romeo go but alas, ““More light and light, more dark and dark our woes” (3.5.36). The more the sun came the worse it got [for the young lovers] because Romeo had to leave and their time together was coming to an end. In the dark he was safe for no one would come. As it got lighter [or day outside] more people approached forcing him away causing distress to the couple. Since the relationship is in contradiction of the “rules” it cannot transpire in “normal” hours. Along with breaking the boundaries of word definitions Shakespeare’s uses oxymorons (words that are contradictory in the same phrase) to show depth of thought; every idea has two sides that oppose each other sometimes referred to as the devil and the angel. Shakespeare’s unveils both sides of the argument providing readers with a profounder vision into a character’s personality. In the beginning of the story before there was Juliet there was another
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a story of two young lovers. These two hearts, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet belong to feuding families. The family feud causes them to keep their love a secret and therefore only Romeo, Juliet, Benvolio, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence know of their love. Romeo and Juliet are able to look past the feud and let themselves fall in mad love with the other. They let themselves do almost anything for the other and at times it seems like too much to do, even for the one they love. Although fate and character traits play a key role in the play, ultimately Rome and Juliet’s personal choices lead to their downfall.Fate originates all of the conflicts in Romeo and Juliet, from when they met until they die.
Romeo and Juliet are madly in love with each other and will go to any lengths to be together.
William Shakespeare is really famous for his writings, especially Romeo and Juliet. A pair of two star crossed lovers take place, on their mission to unite two houses, Capulets and Montagues, once and for all. In the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare presents a lot of paradoxes. This provides a lot of contrast to the text and allows readers to think harder and better understand the intricacies of this writing. In this play, there are many paradoxical themes expressed through the text for example good versus evil, love versus hate, and many more. All these paradoxes are communicated through figurative language, characterization, sound devices, and literary foils. These are literary devices that authors use to help readers to visualize
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as a Play Of Opposites In the play Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare utilizes opposites in both the thoughts and actions of the characters in Romeo and Juliet. Outlined are contrasts of crime and violence versus peace and law, love versus hate, and young versus old. The uses of crime & violence versus peace and law are demonstrated in Act 3, Scene 1.
In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, the author portrays certain themes of antithesis that are outlined from the play. The major form that we have interpreted from the play is love and hate or that of violence and peace. These themes are portrayed strongly in many scenes of Romeo and Juliet, and it is what keeps the plot going. Shakespeare may have wanted to show how hate and love, violence and peace, can lead to something that is great in the
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet uses opposing forces to express the differences and problems splitting Verona. He uses themes of Life and death, Light and dark, young and old, free will and fate and many other themes that are constantly being brought up throughout the play. Shakespeare used many of these opposing forces and sonnets as at the time he wrote the play this was very big and popular among the people.
Themes of Love and Hate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction from the beginning because of hatred. between the two families, Montagues and Capulets. Therefore, Themes of love and hate are very important in the play as the plot is driven by these two themes. Shakespeare brings out the love between the two rivals through Romeo and Juliet and their relationships with the Friar and the Nurse.
Shakespeare has many prime examples of symbolism in Romeo and Juliet that helps the audience understand the relationship love and hate have, and how it relates to the plot. One example is of the light and dark (day and night). Although the day has the sun and is brighter and happier, their love flourishes in the dark. Due to this, Romeo constantly refers to Juliet as the sun. When Romeo is observing Juliet at her deathbed, he states, “For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes This vault a feasting presence full of light” (5.3 85-86) Even when Juliet is dead, Romeo proclaims that her beauty makes the vault full of light. Even when she is no longer alive, she is still the sun. Although people don’t consider death and beauty to be at all related, these two contradictions fit well together. Throughout all of these examples, Shakespeare represents that love and hate need each other to survive, just like the day and night, the light and dark, and the death and
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction from the beginning because of the hatred between the two families, Montagues and Capulets. Shakespeare juxtaposes the themes of love and hatred. He continuously puts them side by side, and even though they are opposites, when seen together you realise that they are driven from the same thing; passion. Shakespeare uses many different language and dramatic techniques to convey this idea.
The audience would have enjoyed the idea of a young couple fighting. against fate, using their strength and freewill to try to bring the two families together, and holding on to their love. This idea again, thanks for sharing. relies on the antitheses integrated in the play, and the oxymoron's. used in the play to create a sense of confusion, happiness, love or hate about the character or scene Antitheses are central to Romeo and Juliet because if they weren't.
Works Cited:.. Shakespeare, William. The. Romeo and Juliet. Eds. Maynard Mack and Robert Bayton.
Opposites involving love and hate strongly reveal to the reader how different the Capulets and the Montagues are. Juliet realizes how she is supposed to hate Romeo when she says “My only love sprung from my only hate!” in act one scene five line 138. The love and the hate is referring to Romeo, who is a Montague. Juliet is a Capulet and referring to a Montague and the differences between the two parties. Romeo says “My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.” What Romeo is saying is that he would rather die f
Love is a very powerful force which some believe has the capability to overpower hate. Within the play, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare displays various events in which the characters convey the message that love can conquer all. The characters in this play continue to forgive the ones they love, even under harsh circumstances. Additionally, Shakespeare effectively demonstrates how Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another overpowers significant emotional scenes within the play, including the feuding between their two families. Furthermore, by the end of the play the reader sees how love defeats the shock of death and how Romeo and Juliet’s love ends the ancient feud between the Capulets and Montagues. Using these three events, the reader sees Shakespeare’s message of how love can conquer all. In the desperate battle between love and hate, Shakespeare believes love to be the more powerful force in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the views of love held by the character Romeo contrast sharply with the views of Mercutio. Romeo's character seems to suffer from a type of manic depression. He is in love with his sadness, quickly enraptured and easily crushed again on a passionate roller coaster of emotion. Mercutio, by contrast is much more practical and level headed. His perceptions are clear and quick, characterized by precise thought and careful evaluation. Romeo, true to his character begins his appearance in the play by wallowing in his depression over Rosaline who does not return his love:
In the first scene of Act one there is the servants Sampson and Gregory talking about sexual love. As they both talk about taking girls virginity. They both sound arrogant as they talk as if it is through experience. To them the thoughts of taking a girl’s virginity seems a joking matter.