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Jacquelyn Fedyk
Mr.Hakim
English 9
27 March 2015
Romeo and Juliet
When two people fall in love anything can happen. In this case
the lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, family rivals, fall in
love. As the Shakespearean tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, progresses the
lovers unrequired love is presented to us in an adventurous and
dangerous way. In the beginning of the play, Romeos internal
struggles appear, Juliets introduction complicates his internal
struggles, Romeo remains static, leading to his tragic end demise:
suicide.

In 1.1 Shakespeare uses figurative language and allusions in

order to demonstrate Romeos internal struggle with his unrequited
love for Rosaline. Shakespeare uses allusions in 1.1 when Romeo talks
about his feelings towards Rosaline and how she does not feel the
same about him and in the process makes a comparison to Cupid and
Diana: Shell not be hit With Cupids arrow. She hath Dians wit
(1.1.222-23). Diana is the goddess of chastity, who avoided all of
Cupids arrows. In this case Rosalina, is an example is Diana because
Rosaline wants nothing to do with Romeo. Shakespeare also uses
imagery to portray Romeos struggle: Nor bide the encounter of
assailing eyes, Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold (1.1.227-28).
The assailing eyes represents Romeos love for her and the saintseducing gold represents his riches. This demonstrates how Rosaline
does not care about wealth and his love for her because she is devoted
to living a chaste life with no children and no spouse. Therefore, no
matter what, Rosaline will not want to be with Romeo, which hurts
Romeo in the process.
In Act 2, Romeos introduction to Juliet complicates his internal
struggles, which is represented through Shakespeares figurative
language and allusions. In the beginning of 2.2 Romeo sneaks into
Capulets garden and eavesdrops on Juliets window. In this scene,
Shakespeare uses a metaphor that exemplifies Romeos love and
passion for Juliet: It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun,

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and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with
grief(2.2.2-4). Romeo compares Juliets beauty to the sun and says
the moon looks sick and green because it is jealous of her beauty.
Romeos expression of deep conflicted love complicates his internal
struggle for Juliet, a woman who is considered his forbidden love. In the
same scene, Romeo speaks fondly again of Juliet when he compares
her to an angel. This whole time Juliet does not know that Romeo is
listening in on her dialogue. O, speak again, bright angel! For thou
art as glorious to this night, being oer my head, as a winged
messenger of heaven(2.2.28-30). Shakespeare utilizes the angel
metaphor and conceit for the beauty, which makes the love in this act
more complex. The depth that Shakespeare goes to in order to convey
Juliets beauty is more evident in act II than act I, which can symbolize
their love growing for each other more and more as the play continues.
Their relationship and situation is becoming more dangerous because
of the fact they are growing in love and they long to see each other but
if the parents were to find out it would be the end of them both. When
Juliet finds out an unknown is listening in on her private thoughts,
Romeo expresses his love furthermore: And but thou love me, let
them find me here. My life were better ended by their hate than death
prorogued, wanting of they love (2.2.85-87) Romeo would rather die
from hatred of the family than have his death postponed and not be
able to be with Juliet again. The situation becomes increasingly
hazardous at this point because someone could hear them talking and
Romeo would be executed. Throughout this Act Shakespeare makes
manifest of Romeos love for Juliet and how their situation is becoming
more dangerous which is foreshadowing for what is to come.

In Acts 3-5, because Romeo does not evolve as the play comes to
a close, it leads to Romeos tragic demise: death. Romeo has
consistent characteristics throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet. At the
end of Act 3, Romeo calls for revenge immediately after he realizes
that Benvolio has passed away: And fire-eyed fury be my conduct
now. Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again That late thou gavest
me, for Mercutios soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for
thine to keep him company (3.1.86-90). Romeo does not think twice
about wanting to kill Tybalt. As the result of killing Tybalt, Romeo gets
exiled from the city of Verona. At the time, rage guided Romeos
actions, instead of thinking things through and thinking about the
possible consequences for killing the cousin of his beloved, Juliet. Also,
at the beginning of Act 5, Balthasar tells Romeo about the sorrowful
story of Juliets passing. Romeo does not hesitate to stop and think of
the possible reasonings for this tragic event. As soon as Balthasar
notified Romeo of the news he devised a decision: Well, Juliet, I will lie

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with thee tonight (5.1.36). As a consequence for being exiled, Romeo
was unaware of Juliets faked death. Therefore he planned to kill
himself to be with his love, Juliet. Romeo is very impulsive and does not
think of the possible conclusions or consequences before he responds
to a situation. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo does not
evolve, which eventually leads to his tragic demise.