Romeo And Juliet Light And Dark Analysis

Light is always followed by darkness but for two star-crossed lovers darkness arrives too early. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a tragic play that explores many dimensions of adolescent love. Romeo and Juliet's love is star-crossed but these two try to defy all odds. Throughout the play Shakespeare hints toward their tragic outcome. In addition we constantly see Juliet comparing good to bad when confronted with grief. Lastly, the ignorance of adolescent decision making is highlighted through their actions. Shakespeare uses light and dark as a motif to convey the theme that people cannot escape the inevitability of their fate.
While Romeo sleeps he is visited by a special guest. This visitor is Queen Mab and she leaves a message of an untimely death for Romeo in his dreams. Shakespeare elaborately describes Queen Mab to be a little fairy that visits people in their sleep and leaves them with a message seen through a dream. Romeo dreams that he will experience an untimely death if he goes to the Capulet party. Romeo is easily persuaded by Benvolio and Mercutio to go to the party partially because he is in an exaggerated depression since he couldn't be with Rosaline. Although he most likely is already contemplating death, we can see that he is still fazed by his dream. “I fear too early, for my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/With this night’s revels, and expire the term/Of a despisèd life closed in my breast/By some vile forfeit of untimely death./But he that hath the steerage of my course,/Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen.”(Act i.iv.107-114). Romeo speaks of the night bringing something bad, this thought is an example of how Shakespeare associates the ...

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...ce of adolescent decision making. Tragically Romeo is able to fulfill his plan and kill himself unaware that Juliet is still alive and just under a potion. Juliet wakes to find Romeo has died and decides herself that she should also join Romeo in darkness.

Throughout the tragedy Shakespeare foreshadows the conclusion numerous times by adding clues toward what will happen next. In addition, when in times of despair Juliet constantly will resort to comparing good to bad. Finally, adolescent decision making is truly perceived to be ignorant. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet’s tragic fate was able to end a feud that had torn apart two families for several generations. The theme that people cannot escape their own fate is shown through the motif light and dark. Although Romeo and Juliet entered the dark together they now will spend eternity in the light.