Examples Of Motifs In Romeo And Juliet

Motifs in Romeo and Juliet

Do you ever feel like you're misunderstood? Like no one ever takes your side? Do your perspectives and opinions change as you get older? Throughout the novel of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, as Romeo and Juliet’s relationship grows, presents multiple motifs in their relationship that help develop the theme and show how great of a difference age can make in relationships, choices, and life in general. As Shakespeare lays out his novel of Romeo and Juliet, many motifs are displayed including the most prominent ones of knowledge & ignorance and youth & adulthood. These motifs are used to develop the theme that there are always two perspectives and two sides to everything which often are because of age differences.

One of the most prominent motifs portrayed in the romance story of Romeo and Juliet was the comparison of knowledge and ignorance. From the first act to the last, Romeo and Juliet were caught up in a fast-paced relationship, although it might have been unwise. They first met at the ball, fell in love, then planned to marry. At the balcony scene they exchange vows:
JULIET. What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
ROMEO. Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.
JULIET. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it...My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite”(2.2.133, 134, 135, and 138).
From this conversation we are able to gather that the couple has already been swept away by each other, not necessarily thinking about or knowing what could be the result of their love. But in order to show the theme, Shakespeare also showed the wisdom and knowledge of Juliet’s parents in the beginning of Act 1. Her father says to Paris: “My child is yet a stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, Let two more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride”(1.2.7). Lord Capulet saw the youth that was still in Juliet and, using the knowledge that it could bring great consequences if she married too early, told Paris to wait a little bit. Although this seemed to be in vain as the story progressed, it still elaborated on the theme that there are two sides of the story because the parents might have more experience and Romeo and Juliet aren’t as aware of the effects of marrying at the wrong time, but the parents might not have understood the depth and meaning of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. And finally, a vital piece of evidence that was presented in Romeo and Juliet was when Romeo decided to kill himself because he heard that Juliet was dead, when she really wasn’t. Romeo went to the apothecary to get poison and said, “Let me have a dram of poison, such soon-speding gear as will disperse itself through all the veins that the life-weary taker may fall dead and that the trunk may be discharged of breath…”(5.1.62). This choice to commit suicide greatly affected their lives and resulted in not just Romeo’s death but also Juliet’s and caused the story to end sadly because Romeo lacked the knowledge, and was ignorant, of Juliet’s plan. From these examples of people having wisdom and characters showing ignorance, the motif of knowledge & ignorance and the theme that there are always two sides were both able to be seen.
Another important modif that Shakespeare presented in his novel was youth versus adulthood/age.

Near the end of the novel, we are able to see two very different perspectives from Juliet and her father, Lord Capulet, that illustrate the theme, as well. When Juliet's parents suggest, or order, Juliet’s marriage to Paris, Juliet says: “He shall not make me there a joyful bride! I wonder at this haste, that I must wed ere he that should be husband comes to woo! I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet!”(3.5.121). This significantly demonstrates how much youth Juliet still has left in her. She cannot be persuaded to see reason, but also shows courage to stand with who and what she believes in and is able to show her father how strong her love for Romeo really is. Another quote that shows her true devotion is in Act 3 when Juliet still speaks well of Romeo even after he killed her cousin: “But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband...My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, and Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then?”(3.2.110 and 3.2.115). This is an example of when Juliet openly shows how strong and true her feelings are for Romeo. She knows that once Romeo is her husband, she should support him, which might in some cases mean supporting him more than her cousin Tybalt. But there is also not only Romeo and Juliet’s side of true passion and youthfulness-there is also Lord Capulet’s side. The argument that Paris truly is a good man, that Lord Capulet has more experience in adulthood, and that Juliet is too quick to give up her family for Romeo shows that Lord Capulet’s ideas and feelings against Romeo do have some importance and wisdom to them. But he also forces his opinion and will on his daughter by saying: “But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next to go with Paris to Saint Peter’s church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle

thither!”(3.5.154). Lord Capulet is not able to see Juliet’s youthful perspective of true love and Juliet isn’t able to see his wisdom, which is one of the events that causes the unfortunate ending. The idea that not being able to see the other perspective, especially one of a different age than you, can cause many problems, as shown through this motif of youth & adulthood.
In the end, Shakespeare is able to clearly show how two of the most meaningful motifs, youth & adulthood and knowledge & ignorance, relate to the theme and show the importance of seeing the other side of things, and the consequences that might follow if one lacks this skill. So next time you disagree with someone or get in a fight, will you be able to see the other side of the story? Will you be more wise and relate to both the perspective of the younger people and also the perspective of the experienced adults? Will this, in turn, be able to lower the number of arguments and make the world a better place?