Textualism In Romeo And Juliet

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In the play, “Romeo and Juliet”, William Shakespeare has effectively portrayed Romeo as a character who is a hopeless romantic. By utilisation of textual and language features in Lines 1-101 in Act 2, Scene 2, the audience is positioned to perceive Romeo as willing to do anything for his love, Juliet. In the general plot of the scene, Romeo stands beneath Juliet’s balcony listening to her soliloquy of love directed to him. Romeo eventually confronts her, resulting in the pair of star-crossed lovers exchanging their expressions of devotion. Despite the despair over the feud between the two families of the lovers, the couple eventually decide to marry. Romeo is first seen a hopeless romantic when he climbs up a balcony in order to see Juliet …show more content…

And none but fools do wear it; cast it off”. In this passage Romeo uses an intricate conceit to express one simple desire – to take Juliet’s virginity. Textual features such as specific word choice portray this idea, to position the audience to feel that Romeo’s depths to falling in love with Juliet is foolish. “Vestal livery”, is used to describe Juliet’s virginal uniform, which Romeo wants to take it off her as metaphorically only fools wear it. As Romeo is a hopeless romantic, he is clearly obsessed with Juliet and wanting to proceed to further stages of their relationship extremely quickly. Romeo’s attitudes have evolved from passionate compliments, to now show his lustful and lewd personality as he eagerly awaits to take Juliet’s virginity. Furthermore, Shakespeare has created Romeo as a character who is willing to break the rules to stay with Juliet. So far in the passage, Romeo’s hopeless romanticism is seen as he is greatly attached to her. This message is further conveyed to the audience in Lines 49-51, “I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptised. Henceforth I will never be Romeo”. Romeo doesn’t care about his family or who he is, as his motive to be with Juliet forever. The use of consonance, “thee”, “thy”, by Shakespeare exemplifies Romeo’s hopeless romanticism as he proposes to Juliet passionately. Romeo has been effectively

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