Light And Dark Imagery In Romeo And Juliet

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Madly-in-love star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet cannot withstand a life without one another. In William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo Montague is aware that the Capulets--such as Juliet--don’t get along very well. However, Romeo finds that Juliet is the most beautiful human being on the Earth and he does so by expressing his love explicitly for her. Juliet is the light constantly pulling Romeo out of his darkness. Due to Romeo and Juliet’s undying love, William Shakespeare uses light and dark imagery as a form of parallelism to convey their emotions towards each other.
Romeo references to Juliet being the light, pulling him in out of his darkness. Lady Montague, Romeo’s mother, is concerned about Romeo’s well being. He has …show more content…

Lady Montague, Romeo’s mother, is concerned about Romeo’s well being. He has been wandering through the woods at night, in tears, and locks himself in his darkened room upon return. “With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew, Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs; But all so soon as the all-cheering sun...The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed...And private in his chamber pens himself, Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, And makes himself an artificial night.” (Act I Sc i Ln 140-148) In this scene, Romeo is depressed because Rosaline has vowed to remain chaste and he cannot get with her. This displays his darkness and sadness within the play. However, when he goes to the party and sees Juliet, he is instantly rejuvenated. “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in Ethiop’s ear--” (Act I Sc V, Ln 49-52) Romeo is hypnotized by Juliet’s beauty, and he immediately forgets about Rosaline. He remarks that she is too precious for this world, and he swears that he has never loved before this moment because he’s never seen true beauty before. Juliet’s beauty is bright in contrast to the blackness of “Ethiope,” taking Romeo out of his darkness. At the party, Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love, and become so overjoyed to the point where their love never

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