Love and hate in Romeo and Juliet.
Shakespeare deals with the themes of love and hate very effectively, by using, different language, sonnets and emotions sometimes expressing them by the use of soliloquies.
One could say, Shakespeare adopted these strong ideas from the Greeks of the fourth century. Greeks often performed plays known as, ' tragedies', where the tempting of fates or Gods was a wrongdoing. Therefore whoever did wrong would pay sooner or later. This idea can be reflected in Romeo and Juliet.
Right at the beginning of the play the chorus recites a sonnet. It frames the story- line and prepares the audience for a tragic play by using adjectives, quatrains and links (patterns) to the play.
'From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life:
Doth with their death bury their parents' strife.'
As you can see the idea of 'fate' is being used and it also clearly outlines that the love of the two characters with their tragic deaths ended the hatred of the two families. Also the hate of the families ended the love of the two characters due to the lovers death.
Shakespeare begins the first scene of the play with hatred by using dramatic language and insults. However, the play soon moves on towards the theme of love, which contrasts well with the hatred.
Shakespeare liked to switch from love to hate or hate to love to shoe how close the two elements are and how they run in parallel together.
Act one, Scene five is set in a masquerade ball at the capulets house where Romeo observes the scene.
Once the servants have left, Capulet begins a speech. He welcomes the gentlemen but seems to 'offend' the women;
'Welcome, gentlemen, ladies that have their toes
Unplagued with corns will have a bout with you.'
One could think that this opening line does not make a good atmosphere, possibly with shock from the women. However, Capulet then goes on to saying about how one man can whisper in one ladies ear;
'I have seen the day
That I have worn a visor and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
Such as would please. 'Tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone,'
In one sense, this almost sets the scene into romantic love and one could say almost dreamy for Capulet imagines how magic it all was when he had the pleasure of wearing a mask. Usually, when Shakespeare builds a somewhat, 'dreamy' atmosphere with sonnets or soliloquies the essence of love is brought about.
As Romeo is observing the scene, he is taken in by a young lady (Juliet) and asks the servant who she is;
'What lady's that which doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?'
This is the first time Romeo has seen Juliet let alone talking to her so asking a question about her shows his curiosity. Also one could imagine that Juliet might be wearing a dress that stands out like her beauty for she is at a 'pretty age' or it could be true love at first sight.
Shakespeare uses a soliloquy to express the feelings of Romeo, which brings about the theme of love. Romeo pictures how beautiful she is and compares her to other ladies in the room;
'O, she does teach the torches to burn bright.
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear'
Romeo is fantasizing with Juliet like he is in his own little world where beauty and elegance of a lady is the only thing that matters. Shakespeare describes Juliet like a 'light'; hence 'burn bright' which creates a dreamy, magical atmosphere. The word 'magical' could relate towards the large role fate is playing in the story like the chorus says. As well as this, Shakespeare uses two words, which ...
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'O, she does teach the torches to burn bright.
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear'
Romeo is fantasizing with Juliet like he is in his own little world where beauty and elegance of a lady is the only thing that matters. Shakespeare describes Juliet like a 'light'; hence 'burn bright' which creates a dreamy, magical atmosphere. The word 'magical' could relate towards the large role fate is playing in the story like the chorus says. As well as this, Shakespeare uses two words, which rhyme; 'burn' and 'bright.' One could say, this language is strong which reflects how strong Romeo believes his love to be for Juliet.
Shakespeare uses a simile to describe Juliet's beauty for Romeo believes Juliet is like a dove trooping with crows;
'So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows'
Again the use of colour and imagery portraits Juliet as a white dove amongst crows which are the colour of black. This immediately shows that Romeo believes Juliet to be pure and one could say kind (white) yet everyone else is 'black'. This is very strong language especially for Romeo for normally sexual love is spoken of unlike dreamy, mature and one could say possessive love.
So 'love' in this scene has been strongly emphasized by how Shakespeare uses soliloquies for Romeo. Also the text would have been recited in a way which would make a strong impression/sense of love.
However, the atmosphere of love is broken by Tybalt overhearing a voice believed to be a Montague (Romeo);
'This by his voice should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier boy.'
As soon as Tybalt believes to hear a Montague he is outraged. Tybalt's speech talks about hate very strongly but Romeo's speech says about love very strongly so Shakespeare contrasts the two speeches very well.
Tybalt talks about the death of Romeo, which illustrates how strong the hate actually is;
'Now by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.'
Here Shakespeare uses two words that rhyme- ' Kin' and 'Sin'.
Again, Shakespeare uses two words that rhyme to grab the audience's attention. Normally, whenever Shakespeare uses words that rhyme, the feelings of the character are expressed- in this case 'hate.' To rhyme words is almost like a curse such as the witches in the play 'Macbeth' and such as Romeo has done throughout the play. Also exactly ten syllables have been used which informs it to be rhythmic that causes it to be even more like a curse.
To even pass Tybalt, Capulet could notice his anger, which might inform that Tybalt's face could be going red and he could be very tense. Capulet asks what is annoying him so much and Tybalt replies with an insult towards Romeo;
'Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe:
A Villain that is hither come in spite
To scorn at our solemnity this night.'
(Shakespeare uses insults as a form of hate.)
Tybalt clearly states that Romeo is their opponent due to his identification. Shakespeare would get a big reaction from the audience for Tybalt's insult- 'villain'. It is very strong hateful language - it could be said that the impression of Tybalt is 'black'. This sets the scene completely away from the dreamy atmosphere and now it is black, angry, and dangerous atmosphere.
Capulet tries to calm the anger and hatred of Tybalt but Tybalt says he will not tolerate it;
'I'll not endure him.'
It seems that Tybalt wants to 'pick a fight' with Romeo but Capulet does not want the calmness of other dancers broken by the intolerance of Tybalt;
' God shall mend my soul,
You'll make a mutiny among my guests,
You will set cock-a-hoop, you'll be the man!'
Here, once again Shakespeare uses insults to express the theme of hate.
Tybalt exits with a strong worded speech;
' this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.'
Tybalt threatens vengeance and uses the name 'Montague' like it is an evil substance rather than an identity. Shakespeare shows how just the identity of a man can cause friction. As well as this, Tybalt tempts fate, which would suggest Shakespeare's study (the Greeks of the fourth century) is being used.
When Tybalt leaves, the atmosphere of hatred changes back to the dreamy, love atmosphere when Romeo meets Juliet...
Shakespeare uses a soliloquy to express Romeo and Juliet's feelings for one another. The soliloquy represents something new and fresh, problems and the nature of the love they have for each other. It is shared between them, which connects with how close they feel together and how equally in love they are.
At the time, sonnets were very popular and were traditionally used to represent love and religion. This reflects onto Romeo and Juliet like most sonnets are used throughout all Shakespeare's tragic plays.
The lines spoken by Romeo and Juliet are very short which might relate to either nervousness or once again the dreamy atmosphere present which makes no need for them to talk for true love comes over them.
Romeo uses great skill to 'make his prayer granted' and kisses Juliet;
'Grant a kiss, in case I lose my faith.'
A kiss would have been performed with great feeling and affection and is a strong essence of love. The audience would have felt the love Romeo and Juliet shared.
A sonnet is being recited, however the fourteen lines of it are shared between Romeo and Juliet. This represents how close Romeo and Juliet are.
Shakespeare expresses their love by this method which is very effective, for sonnets at that time were known to represent love; -'true love.'
When Juliet leaves, Romeo finds out she is a Capulet;
'O dear account! My life is my foe's debt.'
After going back and forth from love and hate, Shakespeare brings the two elements together which shows how close the two feelings can be in the tragic play, hence 'running parallel.'
When Romeo leaves, Juliet asks the nurse who the gentleman is but the nurse does not know;
'I know not.'
This same answer was replied to young Romeo when he asked the servant who Juliet was (this is a linkage between Romeo and Juliet.) It shows that both Romeo and Juliet have the same feelings for one another and one is curiosity.
Juliet says to the nurse how disastrous it is for her to fall in love with a Montague;
'Prodigious birth of love it is to me
That I must love a loathed enemy.'
Here, Shakespeare combines love and hate for Juliet's love is Juliet's hate. Again it could be said that Love and Hate are so close and contradict each other. This shocked her like her being a Capulet shocked Romeo.
It seems as if a 'bitterest gall' has come forth -Tybalt's tempting of fates.
So Shakespeare brings about love and hate very closely, causing Romeo and Juliet's love to be Romeo and Juliet's hate.
Act two, Scene six, takes place in Friar Lawrence's cell which could be thought of as a dark place which could relate to black -therefore it could be a wrong doing (hence 'black'.) Romeo and Juliet get married in secret...
Friar Lawrence's opening speech is very powerful and one could think it is a hidden meaning within the play which relates to the future- (like many of Shakespeare's plays are hidden meanings;)
Romeo believes that the love that he and Juliet share could never be outweighed by sorrow -therefore their love is strong. One could say stronger than sorrow. In other words, their love is stronger than their hate. However, the hate around them is just as strong for the same methods are being used (rhymes, soliloquies and strong language;)
'But come what sorrow can,
It can countervail the exchange of joy
That one short minute gives me in her sight.'
Romeo is overpowered by love and speaks so strongly yet seriously about love. He shows so much passion towards Juliet like Juliet does for him. However, Friar Lawrence does not advise such strong love between them due to the fact that he believes their love should not go too fast or it will not endure;
'These violent delights have violent ends,
And in their triumph die; like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.'
This simile is very powerful which helps to explain his feelings. Colour is used which is the fire-red- so colours brought in to this scene so far is red and black which Shakespeare usually uses to represent secrecy (secret love), plots or bad doings (such as Macbeth.)
Friar Lawrence suggests to be moderate within love;
' Therefore love moderately: long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.'
Again a hidden meaning which can relate to the fateful outcome of Romeo and Juliet at the end of the play. Shakespeare uses two words; 'so' and 'slow', which rhyme. Shakespeare has used this method throughout the play, which express the themes of love and hate.
So Shakespeare deals with love and hate by contrasting love and hate to create different atmospheres and to produce a tragedy. Also in the play Shakespeare seemed to talk about fates and events that might happen during the future. As Shakespeare read about the fourth century anyone who did a wrongdoing or tempted fates would pay. In this case death would approach them sooner or later such as Tybalt who tempted fate and of course Romeo and Juliet who loved too strongly and got married in secret.
One could say, love and hate run in parallel, which adds contrasts to the scene such as Tybalt's aggression to Romeo's peacemaking and the love of Romeo and Juliet to the hate of the families. Patterns occur within the story line like, Romeo killing Tybalt and Paris by the sword but dies by potion to Juliet who drugs herself with poison but dies by the sword (dagger.)
The main outline or contrast of the story line as the chorus recites is that Romeo and Juliet's love ends the hate between the families but in another sense, the hatred between the families ends the love of Romeo and Juliet due to their deaths.
William Shakespeare uses strong contrasting language throughout his play which deals with the themes of love and hate, such as Act one scene one where he uses very dramatic insults reflecting hate or Act two Scene two, where a sonnet is spoken between Romeo and Juliet. It suggests the equality and emotions of love in a serious, mature way. It is thought to represent true love or speaking about the essence of love (like the chorus, at the beginning of Act 1 and Act 2.)
Also to note is the fact that in all Shakespeare's 'tragedies' towards the end, something leads to the main character's death(s). One could say that the Greeks of the fourth century influenced Shakespeare on plays of tragedy for he, he studied them. As you can see, a typical tragedy needs to have some sort of opposition and contrasts, such as love and hate. Love and hate are so very close in Romeo and Juliet and contradict each other. Such as Act one scene five, where hate (insults from Tybalt) contradicts with love (Romeo falling in love with Juliet.) Not only would the text be written with strong language, but it would have been recited in a way that would make a strong sense of love or hate.
Hate and Love are sometimes treated as 'Names' like 'a Montague' or 'a Capulet' this causes confusion, especially between Romeo and Juliet. The name Montague or Capulet has also occasionally been spoken as if the identities are evil substances. This causes edginess and hateful atmospheres.
All the structure of the play is built around love and hate, including all the themes and contrasts. Shakespeare uses this structure to deal with the themes of love and hate which creates a typical tragedy-'Romeo and Juliet.'