Ms.

Marshall March 24, 2010 Period 6 Title Romeo and Juliet is the most famous romance of the entire Shakespearean collection, of not the entire theatrical realm. A romance, of course, has much to do with love. The lone in Romeo and Juliet is extremely daring, passionate, and sacrificial. In this classic story, Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers whose families loathe one another. Despite this hundred- year old feud, Romeo and Juliets undying love is not at all deluded. Throughout the entire play, Romeo and Juliet make sacrificial decisions which affect their whole lives. In the end, this extreme love is taken to length and both lovers pay with their lives. Based on these events; in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the theme; love is the strongest of all emotions, is shown through sonnets, puns, dramatic irony, soliloquies, iambic pentameter, and rhymed couplet. The play truly becomes a romance when Romeo first sees Juliet. Prior to seeing Juliet, Romeo was distressing over a past love, Rosaline. But, once Romeo sets his eyes upon Juliet, he is captivated by her beauty; Oh doth she teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night. / Like a rich jewel on al Ethiopes ear / beauty too rich for use, for earth, too dear. Romeo instantaneously forgets the sadness he had and develops an obsession over Juliet. Romeo then goes to mingle with his newly found love;

Marshall 2

Romeo: then dont move while I act out my prayer. (He kisses her) Juliet: Then have my lips the sin that they took. Romeo: Sin from thy lips? O, trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin back! (They kiss again)

The puns Romeo is using in the dialogue demonstrates a more playful side to Romeo. This conveys the sense that Romeo is truly falling for Juliet and now he is happier and not dwelling on the past as he was moments before. Notice how Romeo moves extremely fast when it comes to romance. Within the play, both Romeo and Juliet defy their friends and family just to be with each other. This makes the romance a lot more difficult, and yet, a lot more passionate and fast paced. I conjure thee by Rosalines bright eyes, by her high forehead, by her scarlet lip. In this dialogue, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to enforce the fact that Romeo has left his friends to go see Juliet. Mercutio and Benvolio believe Romeo is has ventured off to go see Rosaline when in actuality, Romeo has put his life in danger to go see Juliet, a young girl whom he only just met. Romeo is already leaving those who he loves behind for Juliet; as is Juliet for Romeo; Ancient damnation! O, most wicked fiend! / Is more sin to wish me thus foresworn / Or to displease my lord with that same tongue. / Which she hath praised him above compare. / So many thousand times. Go counselor. / Thou my bosom henceforth shall twain. / To the friar, to know his remedy / If all else fail, myself have the power to die.

Marshall 3

This soliloquy explains Juliets real desire to go to the friar. She doesnt want to confess for yelling at her father, but wants to see what the friar will think of when it comes to getting out of marrying Paris. This is yet another example of how Romeo and Juliet to those who they love. Juliet has lied to her whole family and is willing to lie even more to get her life with Romeo. Numerous times throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet both pledge to die for each other, which is a huge commitment for two people who only just met. Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight. Lets see for means. O, mischief, thou art swift. Upon hearing of Juliets death, Shakespeare uses a soliloquy to convey to the audience that Romeo is frantic. He is now acting out of desperation, and like always, Romeo is moving too fast. Romeo is now determined to find Juliets grave and kill himself there. Vile earth; to earth resign; end motion here; / and thou and Romeo press one heavy bier. Juliet says this when the Nurse rushes into her room, frantic, attempting to tell Juliet about Tybalts death. Juliet misinterprets and beings to believe that Romeo is the one who is dead. Juliet begins to rant on about how she will kill herself. Shakespeare shows the importance of this quote by using two literary devices; rhymed couplet and dramatic irony. The events cited, as well as the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet, reinforce the reason the theme of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is; love is the strongest of all emotions. Love changed Romeo and Juliets entire lives, making them defy and lie to their loved ones, coaxing them into moving their relationship too fast, and lastly, taking their lives. Perhaps if Romeo and Juliet avoided some of these negative factors the outcome of their romance would have been different. It is important to remember that loving out of desperation, like Romeo, can sometimes

Marshall 4

lead to even more despair, and that love doesnt mean giving up others whom you love also. Shakespeare possibly wanted his audience to see all the damage love can do and to remember this as we go into a world where love is around every corner because; these aspects most likely caused the heartbreaking and tragic death of Romeo and Juliet.