In a male dominated world, women are often viewed as dependent on men and will often go against their personal morals. In Romeo and Juliet, the author William Shakespeare illustrates this through the characters of Romeo and Juliet, and portrays Juliet going against her own morals of not wanting to marry after meeting a man, Romeo. Shakespeare illustrates how Juliet is not an example of a strong female character through oxymorons, irony, and figurative language. Shakespeare expresses how Juliet is a weak female character through his use of oxymorons. Juliet has recently learned of the death of her cousin, Tybalt, caused by Romeo. She is in denial and incapable of grasping the fact that her lover is a murderer, as she expresses her feelings: …show more content…
Juliet’s internal conflict with accepting the fact her lover is the killer of her dear cousin highlights her struggle to choose between the man she is related to and grew up with and the man she has devoted herself to through marriage, even after making it clear she had no interest in marrying in the first place. Earlier, after Romeo and Juliet have expressed their love towards each other and have decided they want to get married, it is time for Romeo to depart. As he leaves, Juliet says, “Good night, good night”. Parting is such sweet/ sorrow/ That I shall say “Good night” till it be morrow” (Shakespeare 2.2.199-201). Shakespeare includes an oxymoron to express how much Juliet does not want Romeo to leave her in that moment because of how deep her love is for him. Juliet not wanting to see Romeo go as well as agreeing to marry him contradicts her own ideals of not having a man as her main priority and not wanting to get married. Juliet not showing loyalty to her ideals and morals exemplifies how she is not a strong female character. In the story of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare demonstrates how Juliet does not represent a strong female character using
Shakespeare expresses her mature conclusion about the events occurring when she says, “ O what a beast was I to chide at him. / Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? (Rom. III. 2. 95-97.)” The author conveys Juliet’s thoughts of how her impolite comments were not good and could potentially make her a bad wife for not vocalizing positive statements about her husband. Juliet continues to show awareness for her responsibilities as a wife and support her
Juliet is no longer herself without him. ‘O, break, my heart! Poor Bankrupt, break at once’. Juliet’s heart has lost everything worth living for ‘Vile earth, to earth resign, and motion here’, she believes her life should end due to the fact she believes she is worthless, and should be surrendered to the grave. The theme of love is expressed through the passage, shown between the Nurse and Juliet. The nurse desires Juliet’s happiness; she helped Juliet with the secret marriage with Romeo and tries to convince the Capulets to not arrange a marriage with Count Paris. After the event of Tybalt’s death, she believes it is best for Juliet to forget about banished Romeo. Juliet ‘chides’ Romeo over his contradictory peace and violence. Juliet questions ‘Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?’ as she reflects on how she spoke poorly about him. Shakespeare conveys love throughout Romeo and Juliet as a brutal, powerful emotion which captures individuals and at times turns them against their wold and
Juliet’s character is a collection of innocence, youth and naïveness. Her portrayal, however, did not fit well with the stereotypical view of how an Elizabethan women should have been. Women back then had to obey their fathers and husbands. They weren’t granted free will and so Juliet initial portrayal is girl who is an obeying daughter but when she discovers love she becomes a disobedient daughter to be faithful to her husband (Romeo).
Three strongly recognised language techniques are used to highlight romance between the two main characters in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The most overwhelming techniques comprised of the poetic text have long been acknowledged as metaphors, personification and symbols. These techniques focus on the devotion and love shared between the romantic ‘Star-crossed Lovers’ throughout the dramatic tragedy.
“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 famous poet Oscar Wilde once said that “The heart was made to be broken.”. Romeo and Juliet is a tale of two star-crossed lovers who in their love for each other were willing to sacrifice their lives. In Act 1, Scene 5 of “Romeo and Juliet”, William Shakespeare portrays Romeo as temperamental using hyperbole. Romeo says “ Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
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
“‘Romeo is banished.’ There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, in that word's death. No words can that woe sound.”– or so Juliet grieves over Romeo’s banishment, hurt with the reality that nothing will never dull its pain (3.2, 135-137). In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Romeo and Juliet, a young, tentative girl named Juliet meets the charming Romeo who, even after knowing for just a day, causes her to disregard rationale and reason in order to pursue the new feeling of desire she had yet to experience. Her heart takes her to express her love in a soliloquy on a balcony, and to craft poetic speeches about this lover whose outward presentation later proves to be a facade masking a darker side she never knew existed. Juliet first viewed
Juliet is conflicted about her feelings about Romeo once she hears that he had killed Tybalt. She is conflicted with her feelings towards describing Romeo as a, “A damned saint, an honorable villain!”(3.2.79). Her description of Romeo shows that she sees him as a good person who seems to make bad decisions and actions. Juliet sides with Romeo in her confusion, “My husband lives, that Tybalt would have
Shakespeare's Use of Language to Show the Relationship Between Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses a lot of similes, metaphors and imagery to describe the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. Some of the language he uses is very sexual and intimate. In act 2 scene 2 Shakespeare shows how Romeo and Juliet are falling in love with one another and the use of his language shows the power of their love. The very first line of the scene Romeo says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound.” Romeo is talking about Mercutio joking about something he has never felt.
Juliet’s weakness to be controlled by love leads her to make unadvised and irresponsible decisions that contribute to her choice of ending her life. Characterized as a young and rash teenager, with no interest in love and marriage at first, Juliet wants to be independent. However, after she first lays eyes on Romeo, Juliet’s perception of love is quick to change. Their strong love easily manipulates and clouds her judgment. Even if she is cautious and realizes their love is too fast, the rush of feelings from having a first love overcomes her. Her soft-spoken words symbolically foreshadow the journey of Romeo and Juliet’s love. “Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, / I have no joy of this contract tonight. / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;…/ This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, / May prove to be a beauteous flower when next we meet” (2.2. 117-123). The blooming flower is indicative of their growing love, especially Juliet. Being her first experience of true love, her actions become more rash the deeper she falls in, even ...
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.
Romeo has a passion for love that is unbreakable, and he will do anything to get who he wants, no matter the consequences that might follow. An example of this is when Romeo goes to Juliet’s balcony and confesses his love for her, but what he does not understand is that “if they do see thee, they will murder thee” (Shakespeare II.ii.75). Romeo has trouble accepting the reality that it will not work out for him or her because of family differences. The intensity of love in both of these texts becomes a dangerous and violent thing.
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
Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ subtly but effectively explores the theme of gender, the challenges faced by women, and the toxic masculinity of society within the harsh landscape of America’s Great Depression. The objectification of women, misogyny, and the cruel societal expectations towards women are embedded throughout the novella, allowing the readers to explore Steinbeck’s craft, through a feminist critical lens, with several women characters. Steinbeck also shows and criticises society's toxic masculinity through the men on the ranch, acting as a microcosm of the wider society in 1930s America. Throughout the novella, Steinbeck intentionally exposes the challenges women faced and the toxic masculinity of men in a male-dominated society,