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Introduction

IN SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGEDIES DEATH IS A SUDDEN SEVERING OF LIFE, HIS CHARACTERS DIE PRESERVING TO THE LAST CONSCIOUSNESS OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND THE PERSONALITIES THEY HAVE POSESSED THROUGHOUT Throughout 'Romeo and Juliet' Shakespeare includes linguistic devices and vivid imagery, which he conflates to form a metaphorical structure. The subjects of this structure are of death and attraction. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet are not sudden, or a surprise, as they have been fortold throughout the play. The repetition of phrases such as * 'he may not have access To breath such vows as lovers used to swear' * 'Within the infant rind of this weak flower poison hath residence' * 'My grave is like to be my wedding bed' are foreshadows to the suicides at the end of the play. The latter line is said at the end of the ball scene in which Romeo and Juliet dance. Fair Juliet makes a joke that if Romeo were married she would die. All of the lines connect together to emphasize fate and the deaths of the suicidal youths. The recurrence of such images proves the unexpectedness of the deaths to be untrue; and lends the play its metaphorical structure. The line foreshadows Juliet's death; she ends her life after she finds out the man she admires has just died laying beside her. ...read more.

Middle

The nothing he had to live for. Juliet was also destined for death while she was still young and irrational. She does not always think about her actions before she commits them. She utters, "Shall I be married...No, No, this shall forbid it". She does not think of the repercussions of her actions. Her thoughts are not followed through and the deaths of Romeo and herself could be thought of as her responsibility. The Chorus refers to the death of the "star-crossed lovers" as Juliet verbalizes, "My grave is like to be my wedding bed." She marries Romeo just as her parents agree that she should be married to Master Paris. Instead of rationally thinking about her circumstances, Juliet decides to fake her own death. And this later initiates her grave suicide. Her mind is immature and she does not know how to handle her situation. She goes to Friar Lawrence, who has been on occasion wrong and illogical. He earlier asked Romeo "was thou with Rosaline?" because he wrongly believed this to be so, but the truth was hidden from his sight. His advice is thought of as prudent but Shakespeare suggests this is untrue. The "counsel" sought by Juliet has many repercussions culminating in the suicides of the couple. ...read more.

Conclusion

Fate controls everyone, and everything. The 'star-crossed lovers' were destined to die, no matter what happened. These directors showed it in a different form, from a perspective that nobody else has. These people stand out from the crowd, and as a result they have directed some great films that touch the hearts of people that watch them. "How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry" Romeo was happy to die, as was Juliet. He was tired of being alive, and alone, and hated his existence, as he had no one to turn to. This play has such intense hatred and unbelievably powerful verse. Shakespeare has included real feeling that a youth of Romeos' age would feel. Stress, loneliness, and the lack of hope; many teenagers suffer from these feelings. This causes them to do as Romeo and his bride did; suicide becomes the answer. Shakespeare uniquely showed real emotions at such an intense way without damaging his play. Many interpretations are that 'Romeo and Juliet' is a great play, a play of truth, a play of death. With just one tiny hope left in Romeo the lives of the couple might not have ended at such an early age; or maybe fate took over and nothing could stop bereavement, not even all the hope in the world. - 1 - ...read more.

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