The Friar’s interest in plants and flowers and their medicinal purposes suggest to the audience that he is educated and intelligent. A quote to show this would be, “With baleful weeds and precious juiced flowers,” this also shows the Friar’s clear thoughts between both good and bad and enforces the presence of the antithesis in the play. The opposite natures of both sides of the plant represent the feud and hatred between the two families and the love that their children feel for one another.
“And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up the plant”
This again links in with his constant reference to plants, but it also shows that he believes good and bad is present in everyone and if the evil predominates then the man is consumed but the weakness over takes them. This compares the spiritual state of man to the spiritual state of man to the natural state of plants as poison and medicine are found in one plant, just like the good and evil sides of man.
Due to the fact the friar talks a lot about plants and medicine, not only does it show us how intelligent he his, but later on in the play he gives Juliet some medicine to make her go into a deep sleep, this makes it more believable that he could make such a potion.
Juliet’s soliloquy, in Act three scene two, takes place in her room and just three hours after her marriage to Romeo and two hours after the death of Tybalt and that Romeo was to blame for; which at the time she is not aware of. In her soliloquy she defines her character by the use of imperatives and many references to speed. “And bring in cloudy night immediately ” this shows her impatience and reveals her immaturity and youth. She wants the night to come quickly so she can meet Romeo, she also refers a lot to heat which refers to sex and passion “fiery footed steeds”. This shows her love for Romeo, this is also shown with poetic language imagery and paradoxes.
“”thou day in night”
She is also a spiritual character this is shown with references to heaven and the gods. This also shows her intelligence because she has knowledge of Greek mythology ”Towards Phoebus lodging”.
In Juliet’s soliloquy Shakespeare uses metaphors to describe her feelings and reactions towards her love for Romeo at the time this would have been both interesting and easy to understand for the audience.
“It best agrees with the night . Come, civil night,
It best
Due to this tender scene, dramatic irony is introduced, the audience are aware of the previous fight scene however Juliet is not. The audience automatically feels sadness and concern for her, as they are fully aware that her joy will be short lived.
Romeo’s soliloquy Act five scene three, takes place in the Capulets tomb just after he has killed Paris, he grants his dying wish to lay his body besides Juliet’s.
In Shakespeare plays the main character has a fatal flaw and Romeo and Juliet is no exception to this, Romeo is very impulsive and rushes into things without thinking about them in too much detail, this eventually leads to his downfall, this is shown with the use of imperative verbs and many references to speed and travel, similar to Juliet in her soliloquy.
Romeo’s soliloquy reveals a lot about his characters, he shows how deeply in love he is with Juliet “here’s to my love” by committing suicide to be with Juliet this shows that he truly loves her because he is willing to sacrifice his life for her.
During his soliloquy he is very confused and has a fragile state of mind, this is shown with the use of rhetorical questions
“ Said he not so? Or did I dream it so?”
This is referring to Paris, Romeo cant remember what has happened properly. He also uses grotesque language and personifies death
“With worms they are thy chamber –maids”
this shows that his fragile mind is becoming very irrational, his use of grotesque imagery it shows he is confused and it adds to the suspense of his death.
In his soliloquy he talks about his misfortune, and that his death releases him from the torment and suffering and in death he will reunited with his love Juliet.
“sour misfortune’s book!”
here he is saying that he was doomed from the start, and in death it will be peaceful.
The dramatic irony in this soliloquy builds up anxiety of the audience. The length of the soliloquy builds up suspense.
“Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks.
And death’s pale flag is not advanced there.”
This is very dramatic because the audience knows that Juliet is not really dead but Romeo is still unaware if the situation, and finally his death heighten sorrow and sadness.
The main theme of the soliloquy is death; this reminds the audience that the play is a tragedy. It does not further the plot like the friars soliloquy but instead ends it. It also reinforces the theme of love; this is shown with constant references to his love for Juliet
Shakespeare creates dramatic effectiveness in the soliloquy by using paradoxes, he places the important soliloquy in contrast with the previous scenes this reminds the audience that the play is a tragedy. The soliloquies are different because friar’s soliloquy forwards the plot whereas Juliet’s and Romeos do not.
I found Romeo’s soliloquy the most dramatically effective because it is at the climax of the play and the outcome is much worse.
By Katie Goodacre
