...Darkness. It is where monsters hide and evil is all around. Darkness veils its lurking creatures and secrets through its absence of light. People see darkness in black cats and eclipses. Society sees black cats as evil by color and witch association. Eclipses perceived as evil for causing darkness. Elizabethans view darkness as evil, as it blocks out light and destroys hope. We see darkness used by William Shakespeare, one of the great writers of the Elizabethan Era. He uses it as a motif in his plays. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the motif of darkness represents foreshadowing of tragedy and the sinful situations faced by Romeo. A source of evil in the Elizabethan era is darkness. During this time period, there are a lot of superstitions flying around. Many of the superstitions involved items of darkness. A black cat...
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...Light Over Dark: The Choice Romeo and Juliet Didn’t Make The purpose of the light/dark motif in Romeo and Juliet is to show how Romeo and Juliet are unable to tell light from dark, or good from bad. I think everyone has the potential to distinguish what choices lead to “light” and what choices keep them in the “dark”. So Romeo and Juliet had that potential but I don’t think they wanted to know about that, since nothing else mattered to them but them. In this play, Romeo and Juliet do never make a clear choice of light over dark because they almost do not want to deal that decision in the middle of their romantic journey. They could have brought their situation which was becoming more of a mess each day, into the light by talking openly about it. However that would’ve ended the feud between the families that would have to be dealt with in some way and I’m sure Romeo and Juliet would not have lost their lives doing that. By ignoring their responsibilities and ignoring the darkness that was rising on them quickly both Romeo and Juliet allow tragedy to take them both. In the first scene, Romeo is depressed because his love for Rosaline is a one-way love. His parents are worried because Romeo spends all his time in the dark. Even when it is light, he shrouds himself in darkness to reflect his dreary mood: Away from the light steals home my heavy son / And private in his chamber pens himself / Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out / And makes himself an artificial night (I...
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...sonnets (166 and 130) and the play Romeo and Juliet best represents his exploration of strong feelings and of love. Romeo and Juliet is a love story written by Shakespeare, it is the most famous tragic love play. It is about “two star-crossed lovers” in different households both alike in dignity which is where the scene begins. At the beginning of the play, there’s a feud going on between the Capulet and Montague families. People involved in the feud have to defend their families and friends, even if that means bloodshed. The main thing is that Shakespeare was trying to describe an exotic place where the audience could believe a tragic love story might happen. Romeo and Juliet are about two households in Verona which is where the scene begins. Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare presents love as a strong and passionate emotion. He generally links love and religion in his play. The prologue is a 14 line sonnet. This describes two families that are both ‘alike in dignity’ and live in Verona; this also tells us that from each household ‘a pair of star-cross’d’ lovers will appears. Their lives are taken to mend the hatred between their families. In Act 1 Scene V takes place at the Capulet’s party. At this point of the play the audience is aware of the fierce rivalry between the two households. In this scene Romeo and Juliet meet each other for the first time. Line 44 is the first extended metaphor relating to light and darkness. “O, she doth teach the torches to...
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...The sky is like an hourglass, time is the sand in it, while night is when most of the sand is in the bottom half, and day is when most the sand is in the upper half. Time flies by as the sand slowly slips from the upper half into the bottom half, changing day into night. In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the two houses, the Montagues and the Capulets hate each other. Romeo, a Montague, falls in love with Juliet, a Capulet, often at night, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet garden to talk to Juliet. Fate divides them apart many ways, the Prince of Verona banishes Romeo, and Juliet drinks a potion as part of a plan. But miscommunication happens and Romeo believes that Juliet is dead, thus commits suicide by drinking poison. Juliet wakes...
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...The Game of Love Juliet waits impatiently for night to fall so Romeo can climb to her balcony unseen and consummate their marriage. Sighing to herself, she wishes the darkness would spread faster. She divulges her nervousness in a soliloquy and invites night to teach her how to tame her racing emotions. Come, civil night, Thou sober-suited matron, all in black, And learn me how to lose a winning match, Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks, With thy black mantle till strange love grow bold, Think true love acted simple modesty. (3.2.10-16) Juliet personifies night as “civil” and a “sober-suited matron, all in black,” which portrays night as a dignified, established woman in contrast with Juliet’s shy inexperience. As a widow, night in her black robes appears modest and humble but instructs Juliet in the...
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...During the play of Romeo and Juliet, the characters show love in many different ways.Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play, which is presented as an immature action. Today, we might use the term “puppy love” to describe this. Romeo’s lover Rosaline is shallow and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence: Romeo – “Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline” Friar Laurence – “For doting, not loving, pupil mine”. In the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses religion in describing the first love & sight of Romeo and Juliet. Such as “good pilgrim” when Juliet first responded to Romeo’s compliment, this show religious use. However during Romeo’s & Juliet’s first meeting they share a sonnet to express each other’s first love for one another, “The gentile sin this” is a very ironic line because it’s end result is death. Just before Romeo & Juliet share their first kiss, Juliet exclaims herself as a saint “Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake” – Juliet is saying that her prayers have been answered. Romeo described Juliet as a saint “O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do”, this means she’s seen holy by Romeo. During the first Balcony scene Shakespeare introduces the example of love from the first meeting of Romeo & Juliet, example such as “Dear saint”. Romeo says “Juliet is the Sun”, which is describing Juliet as a special part...
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...but their families won’t allow it. In the play Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, he writes in motifs for example light and dark or celestial motifs. Shakespeare writes these motifs to have a deeper meaning behind them. The Capulets and the Montagues are sworn enemies, neither are good or bad but these two families represent light and dark. Romeo’s father and mother notices Romeo’s depression because he stays in his room and barely eats. Benvolio tells Romeo’s parents that he will talk to him and see what’s wrong. Romeo tells Benvolio about Rosaline and after that Benvolio tells Romeo that they are going to a party that night to forget Rosaline, “compare her face with some that I shall...
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...out And makes himself an artificial night He talks about Romeo as he is depressed and locked himself in a room. Capulet says: At my poor house look to behold this night Earth treading stars that make heaven light He means there will be a lot of beautiful ladies at the party and their beauties will light up the night sky. Romeo says: Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling Being but heavy, I will bear the light Romeo said this to Benvolio at Capulet party. He doesn’t want to wear a mask because he is in the bad mood, heavy and he will stand still and carry the light. Romeo says: But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun Romeo said this to Juliet. He is saying that her beauty is like the sun. Shining beauty, pure, shiny. Romeo says: Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she Romeo said this to Juliet at the balcony. He is saying that he does not want the sun to arise because that means he will have to go home and there are chances that he will see Juliet again. Act 1 scene 5 Romeo says: O, 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; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows Romeo describes Juliet's beauty in terms of dark and light. "She...
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...characters in Romeo and Juliet and the speakers in the sonnets you have studied. Love is presented through the use of characters, themes, linguistic, structural and contextual references. That pieces are ‘Romeo and Juliet’ written by William Shakespeare, ‘Sonnet 116’ by William Shakespeare again, ‘Sonnet 43’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, ‘Sonnet 130’ by Shakespeare and also ‘Sonnet 18’ again by Shakespeare. They were all written in the time that was considered the Elizabethan Era. A religious theme is set in both Romeo and Juliet and sonnet 43 to convey the attitudes to love. In Romeo and Juliet the theme of religion is used to express their love between each other and suggesting it is similar to religion can impose that it is a life-long commitment and will always be there even if they lose faith. At that time their attitude towards religion was very strong and it was their integral, which links to the love between Romeo and Juliet that now they have found it fully they will be part of each other’s’ lives for eternity. In Act 2, scene 2 Romeo states that Juliet’s eyes were “Two of the fairest stars in all of heaven” this is conveying that Juliet is angelic. Angels are referred to as innocent, Godly, pure and a good person; so although Romeo does not know a lot about her or even spoken to Juliet he is still portraying her as someone who is greatly looked up to and has, in the eyes of a religious person, the huge authority as they are seated with God. Romeo describes Juliet as a “messenger...
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...soliloquy begins with Romeo discovering who he has killed. He is very pitiful and sympathetic towards Paris and also out of control. It says, “when my betossed soul…” and the word “betossed” shows the imagery of ship in a storm and Romeo is now confused. In line 83, it says “ One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book!” and it represents the image of a “ sour misfortune book” which resolute throughout the play and has the idea of his fate controlling the action. Romeo also asks many questions to himself which is another sign of confusion. The line, “ I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave.” tells us that the grave is magnificent as it holds the body of Juliet. In the next part, Romeo sees Juliet. There is a contrast between light and dark as it is set in a dark tomb. “A grave? O no, a lantern, slaughter’d youth” and “This vault a feasting presence full of light” shows us this imagery, Romeo describing Romeo as a source of light in the darkess of the tomb.. Dying in a dark tomb might also represent eternal darkness. It also says “ feasting presence” meaning a festival. It makes the audience more aware of how close the lovers come to finding joy but making their end in darkness all the more tragic. However, these images also suggest a spiritual light that may surround a feast for them beyond death. that with Juliet, he is always happy. The line, “ Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr’d” represents the desperation of Romeo. The “death” is Paris and Romeo is describes himself...
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...young people in the play. Do these two people do the “right thing” by Romeo and Juliet? The nurse and Friar are sophisticated characters that act as parental figures within the prolix and truculent play. The timeless classic Romeo and Juliet (RJ) by William Shakespeare revolves around the notion of determinism, death, love and deception. Despite Romeo and Juliet having warring parents who pay little regard to them, the Nurse and Friar act as parental figures towards them who guide through vexed situations in their best interest, however, this only prolongs their declivity, with the Friar acting as a motif of death and the Nurse acting as a beacon of hope. By understanding the way Shakespeare has shaped the characters of the Friar Lawrence and the Nurse, the audience can understand the way they are presented in the play and the role they play in foreshadowing Romeo and Juliet’s’ cataclysmic fate. In the midst of this thespian play, the Nurse is depicted as a more favorable parental figure rather than Juliet's Parents. This decision is reasonable considering the social taboos of the historical context during the Elizabethan era, which depicts parents of high status as being stern and adamant, making it fairly uncomfortable for the young to discuss personal affairs. Juliet is preferable of the Nurse over her own mother because the Nurse has been looking after her from a very young age, stating that Juliet is like her own daughter, and even remembers that ,"Come Lammas Eve at...
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...Bibliography for Romeo and Juliet · The student writing this Annotated Bibliography is doing their essay on the performance aspects of the play. Therefore their annotations will deal with how the material is useful in that area. The annotations in this example are not 150 words but yours MUST be. You would be expected to add such items as useful quotes, passages etc. that you could use in your essay as support for your thesis. Davis, Lloyd. “’Death-Marked Love’: Desire and Presence in Romeo and Juliet.” Shakespeare Survey 49 (1996): 57-67. Knowing that the love of Romeo and Juliet will end in tragedy from the onset of the play, it is how the events of the play lead to the tragedy that is the essence of the play. Davis explores the darkness and deceit connected with desire and love. Holmer, Joan Ozark. “’Draw if you be men’: Saviolo’s Significance in Romeo and Juliet.” Shakespeare Quarterly 45.2 (1994): 163-189. The fencing material in the play is probably derived from the fencing manual of Saviolo, Vincentio Saviolo his Practise. Salviolo’s ideal view that “condemns male quarrelsomeness as irrational when it pursues personal revenge rather than godly truth and justice” is a source for both tragic and comic elements in the play (189). Levin, Harry. “Form and Formality in Romeo and Juliet.” Shakespeare Quarterly 11.1 (1960): 3-11. Levin points to the unconventionality of the play. Such scenes include the eavesdropping of Romeo during Juliet’s...
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...Friar Laurence, proposes a dangerous plan to Juliet. Friar expresses his disapproval of the wedding plans, telling Paris that he does not know Juliet well enough to get married to her. Once alone, Juliet and the Friar talk about what can be done to save Juliet from the fate of becoming the wife of two men. He has a potion that will make her look dead when she drinks it, and it will keep her the lifeless state for forty-two hours. Juliet excitedly approves of the plan and then she goes home to drink the potion. Capulet and his Lady are busy making wedding arrangements.They are indeed planning a big event - Capulet orders 'twenty cunning cooks'.Juliet comes into the main hall to talk with her father. He is cheerful and his inner being are further...
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...Analysis of short story elements. I. Romeo and Juliet II. Act 5, scene 3 III. William Shakespear IV. Romeo, Juliet V. Friar Laurence, Balthasar, Pasar, Page VI. Man vs. Man VII. From his hiding place, Paris recognizes Romeo as the man who murdered Tybalt, and thus as the man who indirectly murdered Juliet, since it is her grief for her cousin that is supposed to have killed her. As Romeo has been exiled from the city on penalty of death, Paris thinks that Romeo must hate the Capulets so much that he has returned to the tomb to do some dishonor to the corpse of either Tybalt or Juliet. In a rage, Paris accosts Romeo. Romeo pleads with him to leave, but Paris refuses. They draw their swords and fight. Paris’s page runs off to get the civil watch. Romeo kills Paris. As he dies, Paris asks to be laid near Juliet in the tomb, and Romeo consents. IX. Just then, Friar Lawrence enters the churchyard. He encounters Balthasar, who tells him that Romeo is in the tomb. Balthasar says that he fell asleep and dreamed that Romeo fought with and killed someone. Troubled, the friar enters the tomb, where he finds Paris’s body and then Romeo’s. As the friar takes in the bloody scene, Juliet wakes. X. Juliet asks the friar where her husband is. Hearing a noise that he believes is the coming of the watch, the friar quickly replies that both Romeo and Paris are dead, and that she must leave with him. Juliet refuses to leave, and the friar, fearful that the watch is...
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...The Story of ROMEO & JULIET Based on the play by William Shakespeare, as told by Bart Marks In the town of Verona lived two families, the Capulets and the Montagues, engaged in a bitter feud. Among the Montagues was Romeo, a hot-blooded lad with an eye for the ladies. One day, Romeo was recounting for his friends his love for Rosaline, a haughty beauty from a well-to-do family. Romeo's friends chided him for his "love of love" but agreed to a plan to attend the feast of the Capulets', a costume party where Rosaline was expected to make an appearance. The disguises would provide Romeo and his friends a bit of sport and the opportunity to gaze undetected upon the fair Rosaline. Once there, however, Romeo's eyes fell upon Juliet, and he thought of Rosaline no more. Asking around to learn the identity of Juliet, Romeo's voice is recognized by Tybalt, a member of the Capulet clan. Tybalt calls for his sword, but the elder Capulet intervenes, insisting that no blood be shed in his home. So Romeo is tolerated long enough to find an opportunity to speak to Juliet alone, still unaware of her identity. He begs for an opportunity to kiss her hand. She relents. He presses his case, desiring her lips. She has no breath to stop him. Interrupted by the girl's nurse, Romeo learns the name of his heart's desire: Juliet Capulet. The vision of Juliet now invades his every thought. Unable to sleep, Romeo returns late that night to the bedroom window of his love, hiding in the bushes...
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