Using literary devices conveys ideas and hints at a story’s central themes and meanings. These devices significantly strengthen the story, making it more engaging and helping the readers connect with the characters and the themes. William Shakespeare’s use of literary devices in “Romeo and Juliet” impacts the characterization and themes of the tragedy. Through the theme of passionate young love going against and defying social expectations, literary devices help paint pictures of emotions and imagery, improving the story’s overall meaning. The contrast between love and hate is one of the most eminent examples of juxtaposition in “Romeo and Juliet.” The dispute between the Capulet and the Montague families is the foremost conflict in the play, …show more content…
Romeo comforts Juliet, “Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords! Look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity.” (Shakespeare 2.2.71-73) Romeo is incontestably confident that their love will defy all expectations, yet as the audience, we understand that Juliet's fears may become reality, and they can’t be protected from the fate of their cursed romance. Another instance of dramatic irony in the play was when Romeo saw Juliet lying in her tomb and saw how beautiful she was, even after her demise. Romeo utters to Juliet, “Ah, dear Juliet, Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe That unsubstantial death is amorous, And that the lean abhorred monster keeps Thee here in the dark to be his paramour? For fear of that, I still will stay with thee; And never from this palace of dim night.” (Staylor 5.3.101-107) Engulfed by his passion for Juliet, Romeo decides that he will forswear his life and lay with her in her tomb. The reality of Juliet still containing beauty after death highlights the dramatic irony because, as the audience, we know that Juliet isn’t dead and will wake up
Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century, there is consistent theme of conflict featured in terms of both mental, physical and emotional means. The way this dispute is embodied throughout the duration of the play alternates subject to subject to the character in question- but can be represented through many means.
William Shakespeare, the author of many various forms of writing, was born in Stratford upon Avon, in 1564. He wrote plays and sonnets alike, and occasionally combined the two. “Romeo and Juliet” was an example of this as many sonnets are used in it so as to display their love. This play was perhaps the shortest one that he ever wrote, and it is a tragedy that still warms the hearts of people today. It is, no doubt, amongst the most well known plays by him, and is greatly enjoyed by children and adults alike. In this essay, I will identify the various techniques used in this work of art, explicitly focusing on dramatic irony and foreshadowing.
William Shakespeare’s diverse use of rhetorical and figurative language enhances and develops the moods he conveys, thus creating vast and various atmospheres throughout his works. An example of one his works that uses many of these devices is Shakespeare’s renowned Romeo and Juliet. In the famous play, the two lovebirds (Romeo and Juliet), fall in a forbidden love as the long-lasting rivalry between their two families continues its onslaught. The couple later on tragically commit suicide, which ultimately ends the feud. During the journey of the two lovers, Shakespeare expresses clearly the mood of each scene using figurative language.
“Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex...People are irrational” said physiologist, Hugh Mackay. As a matter of fact nothing was perfect for Romeo and Juliet. Their lives were messy. Their relationship was complex. And they certainly did act irrationally. Romeo and Juliet quickly fell in love at the beginning of the plot in the play, named after them, created by Shakespeare. To be able to escape from her home and be with her love, Juliet drank a potion that made her seem dead. Romeo, not knowing about the plan, took his life at the sight of her “dead” body. When Juliet woke up and saw Romeo dead, she ended up killing herself as well due to his death. Shakespeare portrays the message that being in love can cloud people’s
Romeo furthermore experiences loss in Act 5 Scene 3- the feeling of sorrow towards his newlywed wife Juliet. In this scene, Romeo delivers a monologue to what he believes is Juliet’s corpse. The audience can note that Romeo’s melodramatic nature once again surfaces with this speech, using light and dark imagery (which is a reoccurring theme throughout the play) to poetically pronounce the final soliloquy to his beloved. Somewhat irrationally, Romeo suggests that “unsubstantial death” is “amorous” because Juliet looked so “fair”- believing that a physical form of death has stolen Juliet from him to pursue her as their own lover because she looked so attractive. This absurd notion presents to the audience how Romeo’s reaction to this bereavement
“Why then, O brawling love, O loving hates / these violent delights have violent ends” is as dramatic as Shakespeare would get in his plays to attract his audience. Literary devices are used in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to grab reader’s attention into understanding Shakespeare’s language throughout his tragedies.
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.
There are many different types of love in this world, thus there are many different ways of expressing love. What revolves around that love, and the many different circumstances, trials, and tribulations that a love might face can greatly influence the outcomes of that love. These trials and tribulations can also be seen as different literary elements when used in plays. When looking at Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, he used many different themes and elements to provide complexity to the love story. Shakespeare cleverly takes the main theme of the play, love, and ties in other elements such as time, stage imagery, and language to pull the whole play together in a way that makes one think about the play on other levels.
The prosperous and vibrant Elizabethan Age made England the heart of all commerce, culture, and most importantly, theatre. Romeo and Juliet, the masterpiece tragedy by William Shakespeare, takes place in this time period and relays the story of two young lovers whose ill-fated deaths eventually end an ancient family feud. The two, Romeo and Juliet, come from quarreling families who adamantly disapprove of their union. Thus, after knowing each other for only a few days, the star-crossed pair marries in secrecy and continues their furtive relationship. The situation complicates as the story progresses, with a previous love, arranged marriages, a perilous plan, and several deaths. Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet both fall to the consequences of their actions and have a pain-filled and sorrowful demise. Shakespeare’s use of various tactics in developing Romeo’s character in the play Romeo and Juliet shows that Romeo has an impulsive and emotional disposition. Romeo’s inner feelings, his actions and responses, and others’ opinions about him all help shape his character. William Shakespeare’s methods all combine to draw Romeo’s disposition.
middle of paper ... ... Through the ingenious use of personification in Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare competently conveys the messages of love as lust, clouded judgment and death. In this dramatic tragedy, all of the character’s problems are a result of basing decisions off of their emotions rather than logic. Because of this, two lustful teenagers end up taking their lives over extreme affections and fear of their parents’ disapproval.
In the tremendous play of ‘Romeo & Juliet’, Shakespeare’s ways engages the audience straight away. The astounding methods he uses hooks the audience into the play and allows them to read on, wondering what will happen. The tragic love story of Romeo & Juliet, as mentioned in the prologue, sets a variety of themes throughout Act 1 Scene 5. Many of the recognisable themes are: youth and age, revenge, forbidden love, fate, action and hate. The main idea of the play is a feud that had been going on between two families, The ‘Montagues and Capulets’, the son of the Montagues and the daughter of the Capulets fall in love and the story tells us how tragic, death, happiness and revenge find them throughout the play.
The classic play Romeo and Juliet by the famous playwright William Shakespeare is one of the most beautiful love stories of all time and has captured and inspired readers everywhere. Regardless of the fact that it was written in the 1500’s, it is still being performed and extolled today. There is a multitude of reasons for such continuance of the play. First of all, its everlasting themes of love and hate enable people to deeply relate to the story. Secondly, its memorable characters deeply imprint on the minds of readers. And lastly, above all, is its magnificent language which many writers today regard in awe. These three elements make the acclaimed play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most timeless stories of our lives.
Countless people all around the world are familiar with the idea of the famously tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. Their heart wrenching love story has been an inspiration for many literature pieces throughout various genres and later cinematic works of art. The young couple was not only memorable for their passionate, devoted love, but also the tragic events that ultimately lead to their death. One aspect of the play that has a strong impact on the audience is Shakespeare’s use of charismatic and compelling language seen throughout the play. The unique personality traits used to describe Romeo and Juliet allows many to relate to the young lovers. Shakespeare’s use of descriptive language, allows the audience to understand the societal expectations, beliefs, and values set out for the men and women of Verona, Italy. Romeo’s character, however, can be been seen defying these expectations and also
Techniques and Devices Shakespeare Uses to Show the Power and Beauty of the Love Between Romeo and Juliet
Growing up, much to the surprise of children, reveals the ever-changing elements of life from the nature of various relationships to the challenges that come alongside advanced school-work or employment. Everyone must experience such changes in order to develop as a person, and, as one will quickly come to learn, those moments of surprise and change will continue throughout adulthood. Sometimes these experiences are painful, other times they are uplifting, and no matter what the circumstances, one can take solace in the fact that multiple works of literature are continuously present to encourage readers of all ages in processing each transition and unexpected turn in their journey. One example of such is James Joyce’s 1914 short story, Araby,