The Use Of Motifs In Romeo And Juliet By William Shakespeare

The story Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare is one of the greatest love story written some will say. These two lover come from feuding families, Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet. They are known for their spontaneous love but yet tragic ending. Throughout the story William Shakespeare uses a literary device called a motif. A motif help explains the theme, it’s an reoccurring element to explain the central idea using images, sounds, ideas or words. William Shakespeare used many motifs in the story but I decide to choose light and dark. Light and dark is an reoccurring imagery to compare Romeo and Juliet’s love and romance. The light and dark imagery is brought up many times but used in slightly different ways to enhance different meanings.

Romeo compares Juliey to light throughout the play. when Romeo and Juliet first met and fell in love with each other from across the dance floor, Romeo says that she teaches "the torches to burn bright" (I.v.43). She is also "the sun" who can "kill the envious moon" (II.ii.3), and later in this scene, Shakespeare says that her eyes are like "two

of the fairest stars in all the heaven" (II.ii.15). But hers is a light that shows best against the darkness; she "hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear" (I.v.44-45). The comparison to Juliet and the light shows the significance of Juliet beauty.