William Shakespeare's Language in Romeo and Juliet
The language plays an important role in “Romeo and Juliet” as it
defines and characterizes the characters in the play. It is used to
display which social class they are in, signals the change in the
characters and reflects their mood or feelings. The languages special
importance lies in giving color to the love between Romeo and Juliet.
The importance and social status of a character can easily be
identified by the way they speak. The more important characters, which
all belong to the higher classes all speak in verse form and use much
imagery. This verse is sometimes even in sonnet form. The imagery used
gives color to the language and there are certain imageries, which
reappear more often in the play, so called iterative imageries, one of
these is light and darkness. This image gives a strong contrast used
to describe Romeo’s and Juliet’s love for one another. The less
important characters, which most of the time are the lower class, such
as servants or musicians, do not have such richness in their word
choice to bring color to the language. They speak in prose and often
speak very bawdily. The language was used as a tool to separate the
more important and less important characters.
The bawdy language is mainly used by Mercutio and the Nurse but they
mention physical love in different contexts. Mercutio is made
sympathetic to the audience because he is joking a lot, teases other
characters and mocks them with bawdy remarks. He does this for fun and
amuses the audience by for example singing “An old hare hoar, and an
old hare hoar” (Act 2, Scene 4) about the Nurse. The Nurse how...
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...ones such as a flower. “This bud of love, by summer's
ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” (Act
2, Scene 2) describes how their love with time can grow from a small
bud to a big, beautiful flower. However they fear the association of
their love with lightning and the moon because they pass so fast. The
imagery is an essential part of the play and it brings color to the
play.
The language was Shakespeare’s most important tool. Through the
language he tells the audience about each character’s personality and
position. Their mood also reflects on the way they talk and to express
their feelings the character’s use imagery of every kind representing
every sense. Shakespeare’s language is so rich that it can substitute
for the special effects which can be seen in today’s movies and
theatre.
The Language of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Gibson says that Shakespeare "brilliantly transformed whatever he worked on", through his use of language. Shakespeare was fascinated by language. Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet uses words and tools to do his work and conjure images of every different emotion.
To show that the Nurse is not very well educated she does not speak in
The Language in William Shakespeare's Act Three Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet. The scene opens peacefully and gently. Lines 1-25 are highly poetic. reflect the beauty of the romantic scene.
Friar Lawrence is a humble and holy who is respected by the other characters. Figurative language and dramatic conventions give a well-grounded understanding of his motives, traits and values. His main motive is peace between the families he “All I had wanted to achieve was peace.” As a friar he respects the Montague’s and Capulet’s. The quote represents his motive that he wanted the feuding to stop. When he married Romeo and Juliet he wished for more then their happiness. He hoped that the marriage would bring families together. When witnessing the deaths he says in sorrow, “I’m a friar holy and peaceful.” “Oh lord the poor deaths that lie in front of me. Are due to my greed to resolve the feud.” The term friar represents his traits, being
This rhetorical feature is only one of a large arsenal that Shakespeare utilizes to convey his story. Romeo begins his ritualistic display of affection in a grand manner, his language resplendent with beautiful imagery. At the open, there is little dialogue; Romeo must first woo his intended. This being achieved through antithetical couplets to highlight the differences between Juliet and everything inferior around her; 'Juliet is the sun...Kill the envious moon ', 'She speaks yet she says nothing ', are prime examples of this technique. This is also often assisted by; 'godly ' references that of 'heaven ' and that of the 'angel, ' to emphasize his rhetoric. Indeed, the rhyming verse adds a pleasant sound to the ear, to heighten the effect of Romeo 's words, a technique very much commonplace in that era of
agreed to do as she is told but has given an answer which will please
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.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy about two feuding families and the children from each house that meet and fall madly in love but are forbidden to be together. Within the language Shakespeare uses a lot of technical terms that also describe the thoughts and feelings of the main people. For example oxymora is used a lot when Romeo is describing his love for Rosaline and Juliet, ?O brawling love, o loving hate? as the opposites show he is confused and resembles the two family?s conflicts. It also shows that love has pros and cons as does everything in life, which is an example of dramatic irony as Romeo doesn?t realise how true it?s going to be. This also helps us understand the dramatic effects of the language.
Romeo’s language in Act V scene III is one of the main factors as to why we feel so much sympathy for the two lovers: “Do not interrupt me in my course”, from Romeo’s emotive language we feel sorry for him as we are made aware of his determination to resign to fate and end his own life. “Why I descend into this bed of death...
His love for Rosaline is great but yet she can not say the same and
Although true love is a dominant theme in both plays Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing, there are differences in the way that true love is developed in both of them and the changes it makes in the personality of the lovers. In Romeo and Juliet love between the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, is more passionate and romantic, springing up at first sight between them. Love controls and changes both of them completely, turning them to more simple and pure; it affects their language that turns to be really the language of their heart. Romeo becomes a lover poet, expressing his love to Juliet by comparing her to the sun, "Juliet is the sun" (2.2.3) and to stars, describing here as an angel and a messenger of heaven, "o, speak again, bright angel, for though art/ As is winged messenger of heaven" (2.2.26-28). The language that the both lovers use is an important instrument to show and to express their love. The change in Juliet's behavior is noticeable. Whereas she used to obey the authority of her nurse, she now defies authority. This is a sure sign of her emerging independence, and is a crucial factor in understanding her decision to marry Romeo and defy her parents.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Language of Literature. Ed. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2002. Print.
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction from the beginning because of the hatred between the two families, Montagues and Capulets. Shakespeare juxtaposes the themes of love and hatred. He continuously puts them side by side, and even though they are opposites, when seen together you realise that they are driven from the same thing; passion. Shakespeare uses many different language and dramatic techniques to convey this idea.
unclean.” and at the end of the play "For never was a story of more
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