However, in Act 1 Scene 5, Romeo’s emotions dramatically change, when he catches his first sight of young lady Juliet. In this scene, Shakespeare demonstrates Romeo’s character as a young man, who changes his mind so quickly on subject of love and a man who believe in ‘Love at first sight.’ In addition, Romeo is instantly bowled over by her beauty. He says: “O she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” (Act 1 Scene 5). This metaphor, suggest that Juliet is so beautiful that makes the place looks brighter and it warms his heart. The alliteration ‘Teach the Torches To, Burn Bright’, which made a simple sentence more dramatic and rhythmical. Moreover, Shakespeare presents Romeo’s character as a passionate man and a man obsessed with lust through using passionate words like ‘torches, burn, bright’. The audience can also see that Romeo’s love for Rosaline is quickly forgotten, Romeo says: “Did my heart love till now?” (Act1 Scene 5), which shows that he falls in love too easily for his own good.
Furthermore, Shakespeare wrote for Romeo’s first ever conversation with Juliet a sonnet made up of 14 lines of iambic pentameter, which means each line consists of 10 syllables with regular rhyme scheme. This Shakespearian sonnet allowed us to see a big change in Romeo’s speech and by writing their conversation like this, Shakespeare showed the special bond between Romeo and Juliet.
Previously Romeo’s talk of love has been all doom and gloom. Now he uses religious imagery to convey his feeling as he knows that she is a girl for him. He says, “O then, dear saint, let lips what hands do...” (Act 1 Scene 5, Line 108) Shakespeare put the word ‘saint’ in the middle of the sentence to show, how important Juliet has become for Romeo. It also shows that she takes centre stage in the act as all the party carries around them, but they are completely oblivious to it. Romeo says to Juliet “My lips, two blushing pilgrims” (Act 1 Scene 5, Line 100), this shows that Romeo wants to start a ‘pilgrimage’ or journey of love with Juliet and the ‘blushing pilgrim’ symbolise his initial embarrassment of kissing her with passion and his actual lips as well. Moreover, the use of religious imagery shows that Romeo’s love to Juliet is a serious thing and is too strong to resist. So therefore, Romeo is unable to turn back, which means that he is caught up in the powers of fate.
In the balcony scene, Shakespeare portrays Romeo as a lovesick man, through changing some of his characteristics (as he is in love) such as despite of sex, being fickle, and going for only pretty faces. Shakespeare completely changed the setting to the previous scene as well as the atmosphere, actions, mood and even language used. The previous scene (Act 1 Scene 5) was the party and within that, the atmosphere was completely opposite of balcony scene (Act 2 Scene 2), everyone was shouting, hardly romantic and loads of loud noises. In this scene (Act 2 Scene 2), it is all calm, peaceful and romantic; therefore, the atmosphere is perfect for expressing his love to Juliet as she has stolen his heart. He says “But soft, what light through her window breaks?... It is east, and Juliet is the sun”. Shakespeare uses metaphor, which mentions Juliet as a very bright Sun that shines through her window. Moreover, he used ‘light’ ‘sun’ to portray Juliet, which shows again that Romeo cannot live without her as we cannot live without the Sun and its light. There are other comparisons such as ‘O speak again bright angel...’ In this statement, he compares her to an angel, a glorious bright angel. He speaks of her as his sun, the light and energy of his life. These comparisons are huge comparisons to make, as it shows that he will die without her and it shows that Juliet and their love is more important than his life. The fact that Shakespeare brings religious imagery into Romeo’s use of words means that Romeo believes that fate and God are involved in their lives. However, this scene is made up of less action and more words and the scene tempo is so much slower than the previous one. In the last one, Romeo was so active, and everything was going too fast. In contrast, the balcony scene is so much slower and romantic.
Furthermore, Shakespeare portrays Romeo as a very brave man, as he does not care for his own danger. He knows that if he gets caught he would be shot on the sight being who he is to Juliet’s family, but he is too lovesick and excited. It seems that, as he is on his own with Juliet she is becoming more important than his own life. Romeo says, “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls...And what love can do, that dares love attempt.” Shakespeare used metaphor, which says that love gives Romeo a power, so he can do anything just to be with her. The personification ‘love’s light wings’, shows that for Romeo love is alive as it is strong and emotional. The statement ‘dares love attempt’ shows that love gives Romeo a new courage to try to do things that he was afraid of before. Romeo also proves his true love, as he says, “My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself...because it is enemy to thee.” Shakespeare portrays Romeo again as a man in love as he can give up everything including his own name to be with her. Moreover, Shakespeare put the word ‘saint’ in the middle again to show that Romeo would do anything for her as she is in the centre of his life. It can also suggest that she is his only heart as the heart is in the centre of the body and of course he would die without it.
From this scene, the audience can see the difference between his first love Rosaline and his real love Juliet. When Romeo is with Juliet he talks passionately to her and talks in his poetic language, always comparing her to bright, beautiful and important things. On the other hand, when he talks about Rosaline he uses constant oxymoron ‘O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first create!’, showing that he was confused at that time, but now Juliet is Romeo’s new sort of love, real love and he is willing to do anything for it.
In Act 5 Scene 1, Shakespeare presents Romeo as a hot headed man as he takes things too fast and does things before thinking. This is the main reason why this story ends in tragedy. After Romeo discovers Juliet is dead he says “Is it e’en so? Then I defy you stars!” This statement shows that he disbelieves Juliet’s death and he wants to change the fate. This is of course impossible for him to do as he us caught up in the powers of fate. Romeo continues “Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight” Romeo decided he’d sooner die, than live without Juliet’s love, this also shows that he has changed back to a hot headed man. Moreover, Romeo knows that Friar would think of a plan for him and Juliet, so if he was not such a hot headed man, he would probably go to see friar before making his own decision. Shakespeare uses double meaning in word ‘lie’. The first meaning is lie as in death and the second one is lie as a husband would with his wife. This also proves that his love to Juliet if stronger than death, which is again a big contrast between love and death. As you can see, love wins against death, as Romeo chose to keep his love after life. There is another contrast in this statement ‘Juliet, tonight’, as Juliet was portrayed many times as a bright light, angel and tonight can be related to the death. This again shows the theme in this scene ‘death’ and ‘life’ or ‘love’ and ‘hate’.
In my conclusion, the audience can see Romeo’s different personalities throughout the play. His characteristics changes, when he gets to know Juliet, who has greatly changed his life. Romeo’s thought on love, and his outlook on life, both dramatically change. Shakespeare also portrays Romeo as an impulsive, young and confused man. His passion and youthfulness makes him an extremely likeable character. Romeo is also portrayed as a very romantic man, who finds a true love at the end.
