Romeo And Juliet Light Imagery Essay

Light imagery is often used in literature and theatre to establish mood. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, contrasting images of light and darkness are used by Romeo to explain his depression after losing Rosaline, his infatuation upon meeting Juliet, as well his attachment and reluctance to leave her later on. Romeo’s use of light imagery underscores the volatility of his emotional responses to events.

Romeo compares Rosaline to the light and his disposition to darkness near the beginning of the play. Before the party starts, Benvolio tries to persuade Romeo that other women are prettier than Rosaline, but Romeo, who is annoyed, tells him that “The all-seeing sun / Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun” (I.ii.92-93). Romeo

believes that Rosaline is unlike any women he has ever seen and that nobody else could compare to her beauty. Benvolio tries again, but Romeo still believes no woman is like Rosaline. He tells Benvolio that there is “no such sight to be shown / But to rejoice in splendor of mine own” (I.ii.101). In this context, splendor means “great light”—Romeo is comparing Rosaline to light, which is usually a sign of happiness and hope. It is also worth noting that splendor can refer to great beauty, as is the most common usage nowadays. At Capulet's door, as his friends are ready to go in to the feast, Romeo announces that he is feeling depressed. He makes a pun, “Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; / Being but heavy, I will bear the light” (I.iv.11-12). Bearing the torches, he wouldn't wear a mask or do any dancing. He is in a dark mood, "heavy," not light-footed, so he will only carry the light. Even pertaining to the single topic of Rosaline, Romeo’s mood swings rapidly from a trance-like longing to a heavy depression; such is expressed through images of darkness and light.

At the party, Romeo meets Juliet for the first time and uses light imagery to express his intense feelings for her.

Upon seeing her, he is star-struck and tells her “she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear” (I.v.44-46). Here, Romeo describes Juliet's beauty in terms of dark and light—a beauty brighter than the blaze of a torch and a presence that makes the whole room light up. The bright blaze of Juliet's beauty, compared to an earring, is made even brighter by the contrasts with the blackness of the ear of an "Ethiope". In the balcony scene, longing for Juliet, Romeo sees her in the window of the Capulet mansion and says, “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun” (II.ii.2-3). Romeo compares Juliet to the sun, which can be interpreted as saying that she is the ‘light of his life’. This also shows that the love Romeo had for Juliet is greater than the love he had for Rosaline, because while he claimed the sun shone brightest on Rosaline, he likens Juliet to the sun itself—a symbol of power and new life. A little later, Romeo compares Juliet to a “bright angel” and tells her that she is “as glorious to the night… as is a winged messenger of heaven” (II.ii.26-28). Romeo, it seems, really believes that Juliet is angelic. An angel is "glorious to the night" because it appears in a "glory," a halo surrounding and emanating from its body.

Romeo has fallen for Juliet, and his attachment to her is even greater than it was to Rosaline as demonstrated by his greater use of light imagery.
Romeo’s use of light imagery is continuous throughout the play, appearing constantly in his bittersweet first and final night married to Juliet.

As Romeo is getting ready to leave, he remarks, “Look, love, what envious streaks / Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east” (III.v.7-8). Romeo paints a picture that is dually beautiful and gloomy, dark with light seeping through, or light covered by clouds of darkness. Little bits of sunlight are filtering through the slowly parting clouds in the east, but those streaks are "envious" because they mark the end of Romeo and Juliet’s happy time together and the beginning of their sad, separate lives. This effect of sad beauty grows in what Romeo says next: “Night’s candles” [i.e. the stars] "are burnt out, and jocund day / Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. / I must be gone and live, or stay and die" (III.v.9-11). The day is perched on the top of the world, ready to announce its triumphant arrival, but for Romeo it means being forced to either leave or be executed—either way he may never see Juliet again. Seeing the sky get lighter as the time passes by, Romeo sums up the sad irony of the situation: "More light and light; more dark and dark our woes!" (III.v.36). The world around Romeo and Juliet is light and happy—it is a beautiful day, and the Capulets are eagerly anticipating Juliet marrying Paris. However, for the two lovers, it seems like everything is just getting darker—to be together again seems impossible, as Romeo

has been exiled to Mantua and Juliet will be marrying Paris. Romeo’s use of light imagery is much different than before as he talks to Juliet one last time; it paints a beautiful yet considerably darker picture.

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Romeo uses light imagery to explain to others, and maybe himself, the impulsive nature of his actions and his emotional instability. Romeo compares both Rosaline and Juliet to light, though his use of imagery is stronger and more plentiful when referring to Juliet. He also references darker images after his last night with Juliet, before he is forced off to Mantua. Light imagery is an excellent expression of emotion, and Romeo, the most emotional character in the story, uses the device perfectly.