Love and hate in Romeo and Juliet.

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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;
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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 ...

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