How does Shakespeare explore the themes of hate and love through the words of his characters in Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

How does Shakespeare explore the themes of hate and love through the words of his characters in Romeo and Juliet? Essay Romeo and Juliet is a story of two warring families who despise each other. The Montague is the house of Romeos. The house of Juliets family is the Capulets the play rotates between passionate love scenes to ghastly bloody fight scenes. Also in the play, there are different types of love such as unrequited love, love at first sight, parental love, friendship love and love of family honour and name. In the essay, I will look at the language of love and hate in a variety of scenes. In act 1 scene, one Romeo is in love with Rosaline but she does not show love back to him, this is unrequited love. For example in that hit you miss: shell not be hit with cupids arrow. This illustrates the idea that he has expressed his love but has been rejected as though cupids arrow just deflected of her. He uses oxymorons, which means using impossible opposites such as love, and hate, which is used throughout the play. An example of an oxymoron is Heres much to do with hate, but more with love. This is a good example of an oxymoron because it illustrates what an oxymoron is and how it can be used. Moreover, Romeo sounds as though he is in love with the sensation of being in love, not actually being in love. For example, Heres much to do with hate, but more with love. Why then o brawling love, o loving hate. This suggests that he is not in love because he is not saying anything about Rosaline. Romeo is just confused because this is the first time he has been in love and does not know how to control his overwhelming emotions. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeare explore the themes of hate and love through the words of his characters in Romeo and Juliet? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeare explore the themes of hate and love through the words of his characters in Romeo and Juliet? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeare explore the themes of hate and love through the words of his characters in Romeo and Juliet? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer At the start of act 1 scene 5, we see Romeo talking about Juliet but not speaking to her. He describes her as a rich jewel and a torch that burns bright. This suggests that her very presence lightens up the roam. He also says Beauty too rich for use. This illustrates the idea that her beauty is too great for everybody to handle in everyday use. This makes Romeo completely forget about Rosaline. This justifies the point in paragraph 1 that the love that Romeo felt for Rosaline was artificial because he has totally forgot about Rosaline. Romeo then uses religious imagery. The key phrase, which shows this, is Ill watch her place of stand, and touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. This illustrates the idea that if you touch her hand all your sins will be washed away. Furthermore, it could mean she will bless because you have been touched by something so beautiful. When Romeo and Juliet speak for the first time, it is love at first sight. They kiss. For example Thus from my lips. This is illustrating that this is love at first sight because they become very passionate with each other even though they do not know a thing about each other. Romeo knows that it is a sin but he cannot resist. For example, Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urgd! Give me my sin again. This is implying that he does not want to stop being with Juliet. He wants his urge to trespass so he could carry on kissing Juliet. He even knows that it is not right because he keeps calling it a sin. Juliet he even knows that it is wrong and she should not be doing this but she is so much in love, the same as Romeo, she cannot resist, also the same as Romeo. Shakespeare very cleverly put there conversation into a form of a sonnet, which is a short poem with a set structure. The sonnet suggests their love is mutual. Act 2 scene 2 is probably the most important scene in the play because this is the scene, which Romeo ; Juliet declare their love and agree to marry the next day. First Romeo arrives but Juliet is not in the scene at this time. Romeo describes Juliet as the sun and light. For instance, he says, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon. This illustrates the idea that Juliet is the sun which is bright and sweet and when she appears through the window she will kill the moon and everything will become light and beautiful, the same as she is. This could also be classified as light and dark imagery because it involves the brightness of the sun and the darkness of the moon. He also uses other light and dark imagery to describe Juliet such as Two of the fairest stars in all of heaven plus The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars. Shakespeare has to use light and dark imagery because all the plays would be performed during the day in an opened air theatre. The light and dark imagery helps the audience to believe it was night. Romeo is felling exited at the prospect of meeting Juliet again. We know this because he used a lot of question marks and explanation marks. For instance she speaks, yet she says nothing; what of that? Secondly see how she leans her cheek upon her hand! and finally That I might touch that cheek! All these explanation and question marks make the audience and readers feel as though there is a sense of jumpiness with in Romeo that wants to break free. Juliet however knows that it is wrong for them two to be seeing each other because of there names and wishes Romeo were not a Montague. For example, o Romeo deny thy father name and refuse thy name. This is showing, even though she is not talking to Romeo she wants him to change his birth name and refuse to be a Montague. She also said Or if thou wilt not, be sworn my love, and Ill no longer be a Capulet. This is implying that she is so much in love she will no longer be a Capulet if Romeo swears his love to her. This makes Juliet feel scared of what is going to happen in the future and happy at the same time because she will be with Romeo. In act 5 scene 3 Romeo is saying goodbye to Juliet for the final time at her burial tomb. He thinks she is dead but the audience the knows she is not and this makes them uneasy. He goes to the tomb to kill him self however, the audience and reader does not know this so it is a surprise to them when he kills himself. Before he goes into the tomb, Paris is there so he has to kill him. He does not want to kill him but Paris would not let him go inside to see Juliet. After he has killed Paris, he lays him next to Juliet. As he enters Juliets grave he straight away uses light imagery to describe her. For example, for here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes this a feasting presence full of light. This illustrates the idea that Juliets presence in the grave lightens up the grave. Secondly, Romeo talks about his love for his wife by saying O how may I call this a lightning? O my love, my wife, This is implying that he truly loves her because he is saying his love and his wife before that he called her Juliet. However, the most effective word here is light, ning because it means sprits and the dead. This is good in the play because the audience does not want Juliet to go and leave the play. Finally, Romeo uses gross imagery to where he says with worms that are thy chambermaids. The most effective words here are worms and chambermaids because it is saying that the worms will be her maids and she will always look beautiful because the worms will act as her maids. It addition it could imply that she is still so magnificent everything will treat her greatly. He finally kills himself by drinking poison but he makes it in memory of Juliet. Act 1 scene 1, the first scene of the play Shakespeare starts with an opening violent scene to indulge the audience and readers into the play. Tybalts language reveals that he is an aggressive character and has extreme motives. For instance what, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. This suggests that he gets angry quickly because he immediately wants a fight with Benvolio even though he wants peace, I do but keep the piece. Another explanation could be he just likes to fight. This gives the impression to the audience that he is a violent character. His motives could be seen as extreme. For instance what, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee. This suggests that he is a horrible person because the Montagues want peace but he wants a fight. This makes him the bad person in the play, which the audience loves to hate. Later on in the scene lord, Capulet hears about the fight. He wants to grab his sword and join in the fight. For example, Give me my long sword. This emphasises the fact that he want to join in the fight so quickly because he calls for his sword straight away without thinking. He does not even consider how old he is. Shakespeare starts the play with a gruesome fight scene to distinguish the hate the two families have for each other. In act 1 scene 5, the ball scene in which the Montagues intrude. It is also the scene, which Capulet and Tybalt get in an argument. Tybalt gets angry quickly at Capulet because he recognizes Romeos voice at the party. He wants to start a fight with Romeo; the quotation that supports this is This, by his voice should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. This illustrates the idea that he is so tuned in to the hatred he can spot a Montague with there voice. It also implies he wants a fight straight away the same as act 1 scene 1. He also calls Romeo a slave which is offensive because in Shakespearian time slaves were the lowest of the lowest. This is also love of family honour, which compensates for his hate to Montagues. Capulet however does not think it is a big problem because they are doing no harm. In those days, it was wrong to insult a guest. Tybalt shows aggression to Capulet for instance it fits when such a villain is a guest: Ill not endure him. This suggests Tybalt cannot stand him even though Romeo is doing nothing wrong. Capulet becomes angry with Tybalt because he is the head of the family and he expects to be listened to. The quotation that supports this is Am I the master here or you. Capulet finds it insulting to being listened to. At the very end of the scene, Tybalt says, I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bittrest gall. Here he is implying he will calm down for the moment but he will to turn something sweet and innocent to something bad and bitter. Act 3 scene 1 is a fight scene. The fight between Tybalt and Mercutio comes about because they both are too proud of themselves and their personal honour in addition they do not want to show weakness to each other. For example, Benvolio sees the Capulets come towards them therefore he warns Mercutio but he does not care, By my heel, I care not. This shows that he will be protective over his honour. He wants to fight. Tybalt will not step down either because he likes a fight. They both are arrogant characters. Mercutio is the one who challenges the fight. When he says, Heres my fiddlestick, heres that shall make you dance. This is him being arrogant, he is over confident that he will win the fight. It could also be a simile because fiddlestick is a musical instrument but he is referring to his sword and dance is making move about because he is going to hit him. When Romeo enters, the audience feels tension because he has just come from the church where he got married to Juliet. Romeo wants the fight to stop because he is apart of Tybalt family as well as Mercutios. Romeo best describes this when he says to Tybalt the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting. This illustrates the idea that Romeo does not want to fight because he secretly knows that they are family now. However, Tybalt is so hooked on the hate he has for Romeo he just wants to fight. For example, boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me, therfor turn and draw. Here is insulting Romeo by calling him boy even though he is an adult. He is hoping by insulting him he will be able to get him to fight. Tybalt then hurts Mercutio. This could be the warning that Tybalt was giving at the party, that he will turn something sweet to something bitter. While Mercutio is hurt he uses gross imagery which is the quote A plague a both houses! This is gross imagery because a plague is disgusting so he is saying his wound is disgusting. It could also mean the continence of distraught and despair which has happened through and something that may continue. This makes the audience feel tension and lures them into the play even deeper. When Mercutio dies, Romeo is filled with rage towards Tybalt and sets of after him to kill him, which he does.