...the Function of Speed in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet is an avalanche. As a loose pebble in the snowcapped mountain wobbles in the wind, Romeo yodels to Juliet in the cliffs just to send it tumbling, lightly, down a vertical abyss. It does not end there, of course, for this pebble held back the rocks and boulders constituting the height of the peak, and the reaction now begins as each individual stone rolls with momentum. They pick up speed and snow, growing in velocity and size until the inevitable occurs and Romeo and Juliet are engulfed in the upheaval and finished forever. William Shakespeare’s version of the play Romeo and Juliet, taken from Arthur Brooke’s play similarly titled Romeus and Juliet, is a fast paced tragedy in which a boy and girl from two feuding families meet, fall in love, bond in matrimony, and commit suicide in a matter of four days. Compared to the nine-month romance that takes place in Brooke’s play, Shakespeare’s version is a consciously hastened piece of work during which the most significant parts of a young couple’s lives begin and end in less than one week. Speed, a well-utilized literary tool in Shakespeare’s play, serves to emphasize emotion, as opposed to reason, in the characters’ decisions. Through this device, Shakespeare demonstrates his skills as a playwright by showing control of time in the play. Perhaps the most well known episode in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the balcony scene is a prime example of passionate...
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...HATRED AND VIOLENCE BREED ONLY TRAGGEDY Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare. “Hatred and violence breed only tragedy”, is a major theme in this play. The Montague and Capulet are two rival families. They were involved in a family feud that goes back years before anyone can remember. However, the grudge still continues, due to the fact that both families are not ready to forgive and forget the past. The families’ ongoing quarrels and feud, lead to the deaths of several characters including the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The characters who died first in Romeo and Juliet are Mercutio and Tybalt. They were associated in each other’s deaths. Tybalt, hot-tempered cousin of Juliet, vowed to get revenge on Romeo for sneaking in to the Capulet Ball without an invitation. The day Tybalt came seeking for Romeo, is the day he was wedded to young Juliet. Romeo wants to keep peace between him and his new relative but Tybalt keeps tantalizing him with rude insults and remarks. Romeo, not wanting to pick a fight, retrieves and soon Mercutio jumps in because he wants to defend his best friend. Tybalt and Mercutio challenge each other to a sword fight. Romeo tries to stop them because he does not want his best friend or his relative to get hurt so he intervenes. At that moment, Tybalt stabbed Mercutio “under Romeo’s arm”. In anger and guilt, Romeo retaliates and catches Tybalt, and because of his impulsiveness, Romeo kills Tybalt. Mercutio's death...
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...infatuated love towards Rosaline to a more true and youthful love he feels for Juliet. Shakespeare uses literary devices such as celestial and religious imagery to portray this change. When Romeo for the first time sets his eyes on Juliet he uses light imagery to express his feelings ‘arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon’. For Romeo, Juliet is the sun who has brought brightness into his life. This beautifully romantic imagery highlights the purity of Romeo’s feelings and underscores to the reader the powerful force of love that Romeo is now entangled in. Moreover, Shakespeare uses religious imagery to underscore purity and strength of Romeo’s feelings. The protagonist refers to Juliet as a ‘bright angel’, who is ‘a winged messenger of heaven’ and as a ‘dear saint’. This religious imagery underscores the perfection of Romeo’s love to Juliet – just as angels and saints aregood and perfect, to Romeo, she is so too. Interestingly, in Act 2 Scene 2 Romeo’s syntax becomes more structured and less broken down by the constant repetition of ‘o’ – ‘the brightness of her cheek would shame those stars/As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven/Would through the airy region stream so bright’. Through change in syntax, Shakespeare signals to the reader Romeo’s changed attitude to love –he is no longer bewildered, but he is ascertained in his strong and passionate feeling to Juliet.Finally, Romeo’s blind love towards Juliet is underscored by the use of dramatic irony in Act 2 Scene 2, adding suspense...
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...The famous play of Romeo and Juliet written by Shakespeare in 1595 is about a love relationship trying to rise above anger, family feuds and other challenges. The main theme centers on romance especially of the leading characters – Romeo and his Juliet. The story takes places in the city of Verona where it was ruled by a prince. Romeo and Juliet falls in love instantly on their first meeting and live through their dream of marrying and living together. But, the city is full of anger by a long feud between their lovers’ families - the Montagues and the Capulets. This fued leads to varies fights, efforts and plots to break up the lovers. Sadly It ends by Juliet killing herself, and shortly after Romeo does the same thing out of despair. Their sad and hopeless endings does in the end bring good to the city as both families decides to end their fights and issues live in peace. Shakespeare cleverly tells this story in a emotional narration fully of drama enhanced through is effective use of poetic device and dramatic techniques. After reading this intense story and almost living through its acts and scenes, I will analyze the techniques used by Shakespeare and how they convey the themes love and fate in this powerful play. My focus will be on scene 2, Act 1. I scene 2, A .. In Scene … to the long disagreement between their families – the. The story takes place in romantic city of Verona where any families it interrupts the city of Verona and causes tragic results...
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...Romeo and Juliet: The Movie I believe that this play/movie is based off of a conflict theory. The reason I say this is because both families here are trying to gain power and also trying to be the dominant family. As I go into detail on this movie it will explain the conflict theory. William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is fully summarized in Shakespeare's prologue: "Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny where civil blood make civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star crossed lovers who take their life" (Universal, 1996). This movie is a masterful culmination of the director's phenomenal ability to create a powerful introduction, to select a realistic, but surreal setting, to choose realistic actors, and to enact specialized dramatic effects. Sitting in the theater, watching this movie for the first time, I heard static break in to interrupt the beginning credits. A newscaster, sounding serious, came on the screen in a special report. I sat up to pay attention. She was reporting a tragedy that had recently happened in some place called Verona. I was pulled in thinking it to be a true special report. Ah-hah!! It was a trick. A trick to get people to do just what I did. Trained are we to listen to newscasts, our life-line in present day society, where we receive a lot of our information. A trick, and...
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...William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers of all times. One of his most famous tragic plays is Romeo and Juliet. Within this play Shakespeare takes characters, events and themes to model human behaviours. Within Act III, Scene I it displays both characters and events that demonstrate human behaviour. When Tybalt and Romeo quarrel and Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, it all ends tragically with Tybalt slaying Mercutio. Within Act III, Scene I this is revealed by the way the characters are portrayed within the scene with the different personality types for each of the characters. Human behaviour is also modelled with the events that occur and who the characters react to the situations that occur within the scene. The themes of death and haste also occur within the Act III, Scene I and these themes which relate back to human behaviour in through the events and the way the characters react. Looking at characters, events and themes in depth the audience can see how within this tragic scene human behaviours are explored within the text. The characters within Romeo and Juliet all have completely different personality types. Mercutio is a believable character as he represents a care free character that is not afraid to do or say what he likes, in a way he just does not care what people think of him. In Act III, Scene I Benvolio warns that the Capulet’s are coming and that they should move off the street. Mercutio replies with “By my heel, I care not”, which means...
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...‘Romeo and Juliet/Catrin/Follower’ Controlled Assessment: Examining Shakespeare’s ideologies on parental influence and the impact on modern/Elizabethan audiences: Examine the way Shakespeare presents the relationship between Juliet and her parents. By Tiffanie Gould, 10x1 The iconic tragedy written by the world’s most honoured writer William Shakespeare, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a title the world is familiar with. Its impact on modern society is impeccable, whether related to love, tragedy or both moral and academic education, the modern media adopts its philosophy. Shakespeare is trying to educate, and the ever-pending battle is the matter of character vs. society; relationships differ even today between parent and child, and the way it may be interpreted is affected by women’s role in society in Elizabethan England and how the audience’s perspective of prejudice and patriarchy. Shakespeare explores emotions and allows adjustments in the relationship in an attempt to drop the audience’s jaws open in eras of both old and new. In this assessment, I will examine just how the way Shakespeare presents the relationship between Juliet and Lord/Lady Capulet with supported evidence. Lord Capulet: the very wealthy patriarch of the Capulet family and empire, probably just as important, the husband of Lady Capulet, the uncle of Tybalt, potential father-in-law of Count Paris, legitimate (but unknowingly) the father-in-law of Romeo Montague… and the father of Juliet Capulet-Montague....
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...How does Fate play a role in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Change Slide: What is fate? Fate is the idea that the future is already planned even if people do not know what is going to happen to them. I’m going to talk about Romeo and Juliet, a play by William Shakespeare's, one of the greatest love stories of all time. This story has been known to be timeless even though it was written around 1595. This play is a story of forbidden love that is resolved in two tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, who come from feuding families. Their ignorance of defy and falling in love is not accepted by their families. For the five short days they share love, many events take place. All of the events surround characters from both the Montague and Capulet families. The powers and affects of love and hate are also very evident between the two families throughout the play. In the end, Romeo and Juliet's love finds a tragic way to overcome the hate between their families. The story mainly revolves around Juliet while she grows up and falls in love, only to have fate keep her from complete happiness. Change Slide: Juliet is the beautiful, courageous young daughter of Capulet, a rich man in Verona. Shakespeare made her character a mere thirteen years old, but she acts very mature compared to her age. She appears to be practical, honest, and loyal to herself and her family. The play is about how she discovers and loses love. She appears to have thought very little about love and marriage...
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...The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is about two young teenagers, Romeo Monatague, and Juliet Capulet who fall deeply in love and are forced to keep their love a secreat in order to prevent the dissapointment of there feuding familes. Romeo and Juliets fate, immature acts, and secrets soon lead up to Romeo and Juliets downfall. Fate is a power that predetemines events and controls destiny. In the story, William Shakesphere is controlling Romeo and Juliet, which brings fate at fault of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It was fate that brought Romeo and Juliet together, and made their family’s rivalrys. It is also what brought them to their downfall. If Romeo and Juliet had never met at the party, Friar Lawrence had never married them, and Juliets father wasnt forceing her to marry Paris, none of this would have happened. Fate in this story is unavoidable. Frair Lawerence played a huge role in Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. A Friar is looked up to and held responsible alot more. The Frair should have known better then to marry two young teenagers, just to end the families feud. The plan the Friar had to keep Romeo and Juliet together was insufficiently thought out which ultimatly was a major part in the tragedy. Even though Friar Lawerence knows that both the Monatague’s and Capulet’s wont be very happy with his descion to marry them, he still continues to do so. If Frair Lawrence wasnt stupid enough to keep the secreat, none of this would have happened. Juliet would have never dranken...
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...portrayed in Romeo and Juliet. The two lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, were immature in both life and love, driven by desire and excitement as well as inexperience, causing them to fail at distinguishing true love from infatuation, which lead them to a fatal path. Even though he had experience in the area of love, Romeo was an immature lover in the way he approached it. Romeo talked of his deep love for Rosaline by saying she is “too fair, too wise” (I, i, 224), but when he saw the more beautiful Juliet at the party, Rosaline was completely forgotten. “Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” (II, i, 5-6). This prologue stated how Romeo’s immaturity influenced his ways as a lover because he only loved according to the feelings of physical attraction. Likewise, Romeo’s first words to Juliet were that of wanting to kiss her: “My lips two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” (I, v, 95-96). These instances within the play showed the fickle personality of Romeo that created a basis for the star-crossed lovers’ ultimate end. Juliet also lacked the wisdom to make right decisions in life due to her young age as the Nurse only described her to be thirteen years old: “On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen” (I, iii, 22). Regarding love, Juliet was inexperienced given that she had not fallen in love with anyone before. When her mother asked about her thoughts on marriage, Juliet replied, “It is an...
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...Romeo and Juliet In the play Romeo and Juliet the tragic demise of the main character is ultimately caused by Romeo. Romeos role in the play it to come across as a foolish youth whose heart was heavy with love for Rosaline, as she has sworn to die a virgin. In his despair he has turned to Juliet a beautiful young lady who is his enemy’s daughter not out of love but out of lust as he fell in love with her as soon as they meet without any knowledge of Juliet who she is as a person nor how she will think of him when she finds out that he is the enemies son. Romeo has decided to ask her hand in marriage without the blessing of their family’s they decided to do the wedding secretly. I believe Romeo is to blame as he has let his heart fall foolishly in love with Rosaline. Romeo has fell to deeply for Rosaline, which has caused him to feel depressed. (“It is sad that cupid, blind s he is, can still shoot his arrow into my heart and make me a slave to it … what appears to be good is not! What is light is heavy, smoke is bright, fire cold and health, sick! Asleep but awake- is this what it is so much love but I receive none” pg. 53 lines 160- 170)by feeling like this he has caused himself to be an easy target for lust not love. As soon as Romeo saw Juliet he started to comment on her beauty, (“what lady is that who makes beautiful the hand of the knights over there”. Pg. 56 line 40).(“ oh her beauty is brighter than the torches! She stands against the night like a rare jewel in...
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...Although these texts were written more than a century apart, they both explore the changeable and intricate relationships between a parent and their child. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’ portray similar relationships between a parent and child. The structure of each text highlights the conflict and aggression, as the tension progresses. The scenes intensify when the powerful, controlling father figure feels his authority has been challenged by a child in the family. Firstly, in 'Romeo and Juliet' Lord Capulet expresses his forceful, vicious side when Juliet commits an act of disobedience. She decides to not follow her father's ‘decree’ to marry Paris, stimulating her father to act violently. Similarly, in 'An Inspector Calls', Priestly presents Mr Birling as a pompous man initially. However, as the tension increases, the atmosphere begins to change, and he becomes agitated as Sheila begins to answer back, revealing all of their crimes. There is a sense of hostility towards his children, as he feels they are to blame for the monstrosities that had occurred that night, potentially putting him at a disadvantage. Shakespeare and Priestly use a variety of techniques to present the relationships and theme of parental control and authority. Act 1: Scene 2 In this scene, Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet as a man who cares deeply for his pride and reputation, but above all his daughter. However, Lord Capulet seems to have a deceptive nature, when speaking about his...
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...What would you do for love? Would you sacrifice your life for the people you love? “Romeo and Juliet” is a thrilling play that demonstrates both love and hate. Love and hate both come at a cost, whether you lose something you love or something happens that you hate. As Mohandas Gandhi said “Hatred always kills, love never dies.” The play Romeo and Juliet demonstrates and expresses 3 main points relating to this quote. Those main points are love, hate, and marriage. Romeo and Juliet is portrayed as a “love” story but Shakespeare sets it up as a pain and death story. Romeo is in love with a woman named Rosaline at the beginning of the play. Juliet has never thought about getting married before her mother brings up the idea of marrying Paris. Shakespeare has to set their tale as ill-fated at the beginning (as “two star-crossed lovers” ) not only because their families hate each other, but because they do not know anything about what true love really is or even what life is like in the real adult world. When Romeo first lays his eyes upon Juliet, he is overwhelmed by how beautiful she is. He immediately forgets about Rosaline and wants to meet Juliet. Romeo saw Juliet at a ball he never intended on going to. For a few days he kept to himself and was thinking about how much he loves Rosaline. Eventually, Romeos cousin Benvolio convinces him to go. Romeo thinks that there is no point to go but Benvolio tells him “At this same ancient feast of the Capulet's sups the fair Rosaline...
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...This story of star-crossed lovers is one of William Shakespeare’s tenderest dramas. Shakespeare is sympathetic toward Romeo and Juliet, and in attributing their tragedy to fate, rather than to a flaw in their characters, he raises them to heights near perfection, as well as running the risk of creating pathos, not tragedy. They are both sincere, kind, brave, loyal, virtuous, and desperately in love, and their tragedy is greater because of their innocence. The feud between the lovers’ families represents the fate that Romeo and Juliet are powerless to overcome. The lines capture in poetry the youthful and simple passion that characterizes the play. One of the most popular plays of all time, Romeo and Juliet was Shakespeare’s second tragedy (after Titus Andronicus of 1594, a failure). Consequently, the play shows the sometimes artificial lyricism of early comedies such as Love’s Labour’s Lost 1594-1595, . 1598) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (. 1595-1596, . 1600), while its character development predicts the direction of the playwright’s artistic maturity. In Shakespeare’s usual fashion, he based his story on sources that were well known in his day: Masuccio Salernitano’s Novellino (1475), William Painter’s The Palace of Pleasure (1566-1567), and, especially, Arthur Brooke’s poetic The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet (1562). Shakespeare reduces the time of the action from the months it takes in Brooke’s work to a few compact days. In addition to following the conventional...
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...question on everyone’s mind is whether Romeo and Juliet were driven by true lust or love? Some may argue that they lust over each other, and do not truly love each other. Sexual desire is not the case for Romeo and Juliet; it is merely inexperience and immaturity. Firstly, Romeo is just another confused teenager, he does not know love, but he wants love. Romeo is not in love with Juliet or Rosaline, but rather, in love with the idea of love. He goes off of impressions and does not know who Juliet really is, due to the brief amount of time they have been together. In the early parts of the play, Romeo is shown with internal conflict, desperately in love with Rosaline, but the minute he sees Juliet, he changes his mind. Juliet is also inexperienced with love, so she has strong feelings over Romeo's impression. Secondly, it is impossible for one to fall in love at first sight, despite popular belief. Love is something that takes time to develop slowly. However, a week is not enough time for love to develop. It is true that Romeo and Juliet were devoted to each other until their very deaths, but it was not true love that they had. Love and infatuation differ so slightly that this remains a common misconception even today. Lastly, Juliet had men hand-picked by her parents, whom she did not approve of. Juliet was a teenager and felt trapped underneath her parents' constant reminder than she had no freedom - and so she rebelled. Juliet never was able to have her say in the men her...
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