What is the difference between saying “yes” or “yeah”? How do these replies, though they have the same meaning, alter one’s perception of the speaker’s level of education, sophistication and personality? William Shakespeare successfully explores the effect of speaking mannerism on perception in his tragedy Romeo and Juliet as characters use differing meters, length of sentences, diction and figurative language in order to enhance characterization. Thus, it is undeniable that Shakespeare masterfully manipulates language in Romeo and Juliet in order to reveal social class and develop character. This will become indisputable through a detailed exploration of the use of language in different social classes and the effect of language on character development.
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses varying meters and quantities of literary devices in order to differentiate the upper class from the lower class. The higher
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class citizens speak mainly in iambic pentameter, a form of blank verse, and their dialogue is rich in literary devices.
This is proven when Lady Capulet raves about Paris’ beauty, stating, “Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face,/ And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen;/ Examine every married lineament,/ And see how one another lends content;/ And what obscur’d in this fair volume lies/ Find written in the margent of his eyes./ This precious book of love, this unbound lover,/ To beautify him, only lacks a cover” (1.3.82-89). Through this quotation, the audience is made aware that Lady Capulet is of high social class as she speaks in iambic pentameter, displaying a superior level of education, which is only accessible to the upper class citizens. Furthermore, her dialogue is rich in figurative language as she uses an extended metaphor to compare Paris to a novel, consequently displaying her ability to paint vivid images in the audience’s mind, proving her to be well-educated
and equally wealthy. In contrast, the lower class citizens of Verona speak solely in prose and often very bawdily. This is proven when the Nurse states, “When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple/ Of my dug, and felt it bitter, pretty fool,/ To see it tetchy and fall out wi’th’dug!/ ‘Shake!’ quoth the dove-house; ‘twas no need, I trow,/ To bid me trudge” (1.3.31-35). The Nurse’s rowdy speaking mannerism and her seemingly endless chatter reveals her to be a member of the lower social class as it displays her lack of sophistication and manners. Similarly, the Nurse’s use of slang and her speech in prose reveals her lack of education, proving her to be of the lower social class as the “luxury” of education was only available to wealthy and noble families. Not only does a character’s language reveal their social class, but it also develops their character.
Friar Lawrence is a humble and holy who is respected by the other characters. Figurative language and dramatic conventions give a well-grounded understanding of his motives, traits and values. His main motive is peace between the families he “All I had wanted to achieve was peace.” As a friar he respects the Montague’s and Capulet’s. The quote represents his motive that he wanted the feuding to stop. When he married Romeo and Juliet he wished for more then their happiness. He hoped that the marriage would bring families together. When witnessing the deaths he says in sorrow, “I’m a friar holy and peaceful.” “Oh lord the poor deaths that lie in front of me. Are due to my greed to resolve the feud.” The term friar represents his traits, being
In this essay I have talked about the devices that are used to raise your expectations even though some of them are false. Romeo and Juliet has many things that an audience can detect to know what they can expect from the rest of the play. I think that to be able to detect these things it can heavily depend on the audience. There are many things that Shakespeare’s audiences would have noticed because they understood the language. Contemporary audiences would have noticed certain things because of what they saw such as how the characters behave.
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.
The story between two lovers whose families are diverse and hate each other “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare. The story which almost everyone knows about and recognizes because of the storyline and because it’s written by the well-known writer in literature Shakespeare. In the text “When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare” written by Thomas Foster the author tells the readers “There is a ubiquity to Shakespeare’s work that makes it rather like a sacred text: at some very deep level he is ingrained in our psyches” (Foster 37). Shakespeare’s work is an important part of history which still lives on until this day and there are many writers who incorporate Shakespeare’s
“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
The Language of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Gibson says that Shakespeare "brilliantly transformed whatever he worked on", through his use of language. Shakespeare was fascinated by language. Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet uses words and tools to do his work and conjure images of every different emotion.
Who would be willing to die for their loved ones? Romeo and Juliet would and did. Romeo and Juliet’s love and death brought two families together who could not even remember the origin of their hate. When the parents saw what their children's love for each other, they realized that their fighting had only led to suffering and insoluble conflict. Romeo and Juliet loved each other to an extent that they killed themselves rather than live apart. They did it with no hiatus. Juliet says before she kills herself, “O happy dagger, This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die.”( 5, 3, 182-183) demonstrating how she would rather die than not be with him.
Compare how Shakespeare and Hardy present situations where their characters’ love and relationships are influenced by the need to uphold appearances within society, with particular reference to Othello and Tess of the d’Urbervilles
One of the main catalysts in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is powerful, uncontrollable emotions; love, hate, wrath, infatuation, and outrage are all apparent in the play and have a direct impact on the tragic events that unfold. In act one, scene two, the strongest emotions conveyed are those of despair, love and sincerity. Shakespeare uses imagery, figurative language and powerful vocabulary to convey these emotions to the audience.
Language and Dramatic Devices in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Introduction Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is known as a love tragedy. features many rhymed verses, especially when Romeo and Juliet first. speak.
The light and dark imagery that Shakespeare uses in this passage describes Juliet as a young and eager lover. Romeo associates Juliet with light meaning goodness. Then Romeo says that Juliet looks like the excellent night. The night that Romeo speaks of represents Rosaline. Romeo basically says through with light and dark imagery, that Juliet is as good as Rosaline to love. Romeo then compares Juliet to a "winged messenger of heaven" who filled with lightness and goodness. He says that all humans look upon this kindness as the messenger "bestrides the lazy puffing clouds" while doing his errands. Romeo explains using this imagery that everyone looks at Juliet because she gives off a stunning and intricate outlook.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Language of Literature. Ed. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2002. Print.
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
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.
unclean.” and at the end of the play "For never was a story of more