Friar Lawerence also views Romeo’s emotions as aggressive and out of proportion and he condemns Romeo’s behaviour. He fare warns Romeo that; ‘These violent delights have violent ends.’ The repetition of “Violence”, here suggests the extreme nature and danger, which is linked with Romeo’s feelings and implies that his love will end vigorously. The simile used, ‘Like fire and power,’ implicates volatility, which hints at death. Additionally the words that Romeo utters before assassinating Tybalt are, ‘And fire – eyed fury be my conduct now!’ Romeo is shouting with extreme passion as conveyed by the exclamation mark. He is shouting in a beast like manner either him or Tybalt will join Mercutio in death. Moreover Romeo personifies his fury to Tybalt which makes it sound like a beast or vast creature is possessing him. Then when Juliet hears that Romeo has murdered Tybalt she becomes furious. A term she used to describe Romeo is, “wolvish – ravening lamb.” This oxymoronic phrase demonstrates that Juliet is torn by her love. The fact that Juliet uses evil animal reference illustrates that she also finds him bestial even if only for a moment as the word “wolvish” implies savagery. Friar Lawerence views Romeo’s wild response to his banishment as savage. He says that Romeo has lost control and to him as a beast as well. He also questions Romeo’s masculinity by saying, ‘Art thou a man?’ This implies that Romeo’s behaviour must be very . Furthermore when Romeo decided to attend Juliet’s grave he happens to find Paris there also mourning and he reacts furiously as shown when he threatens, ‘I will tear thee joint by joint.’ It can be suggested if this was the right way to react as before he had told Juliet previously that he would be nicer to her family. Romeo puts himself in comparison with an animal due to his abnormal behaviour. Romeo is also behaving in a manner and in a place of worship. This implies that Romeo’s love for Juliet is pure passion he doesn’t think things through and the reference of the animal references suggests that Romeo is increasingly animalistic and volatile. This is shown in the line, ‘More fierce and more inexorable far, than empty tigers or the roaring sea.’ The metaphor here as well as the use of repetition of “more” is emphatic which creates enhances the impression that Romeo is very unpredictable.
On Romeo’s first contemplation of Juliet he appears to be in love with her at first sight. This piece of dialogue is written in the structure of a sonnet which has the rhythm of a heartbeat as created by the iambic parameter. This enhances the fact that they are in love as sonnets are traditionally used in poems and the fact that the hearts are beating in unison. A number of religious phrases are used as well which suggests that there love is spiritual. The religious words used include ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Devotion’ and these create the sense that this love is pure, which was ordained by God. The actual sonnet begins with the sentence being spread out between the characters as the words begin to get closer it appears that Romeo and Juliet also physically get closer, leading up to a Romantic kiss which occurs in the line, ‘Saints do not move, through for prayers’ sake. Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.’ This is were the lines appear to be closest at the end of the sonnet leading up to the romantic kiss which creates a sense of climax. Additionally Romeo refers to Juliet as a ‘Saint’ or a ‘Holy Shrine.’ This insinuates that he looks to her as a goddess and that he worships her while he sees himself unworthy of her. Judging from this, their love is meant to be seen as utopian. When Romeo approaches Juliet on the balcony, he proclaims, ‘O speak again bright angel.’ Romeo metamorphosis Juliet into an ‘Angelic Saint’, which portrays that she, is celestial in his new. Moreover Romeo convinces Friar Lawerence to unite Juliet and he by saying he adores her so much that he would lay his life down in order to marry Juliet by saying, ‘Then love-devouring death do what he dare; It is enough I may but call her name.’ The plosive alliteration used here conveys he is in extreme passion, he is also forceful to convince Friar Lawerence to agree to the marriage. The fact that Romeo is prepared to put his life on the line for Juliet shows that he is in complete adoration of her. What is more, Romeo executes himself as Juliet is dead and admits that he can’t bare another minute without her. This is shown in the line, ‘A precious ring, a ring I must see.’ The epizcuxis here emphasises and the audience’s attention towards the symbol of the eternal love the wedding ring. This shows his feelings for Juliet are immortal and beyond death and as he loves her so much he wants to die whilst kissing her lips. This is evident in the line, ‘Thus with a kiss I die.’ This highlights the finality and the triumph in which he is happy to die whilst kissing her. Obviously Romeo perceives Juliet as a demi-god and that she is beyond being human but is a purely angelic object. The fact that Romeo repeatedly puts his life on the line for her shows he is not just physically attracted and that he is in complete adoration towards Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet did not choose to fall in love but it was just fate. This is indicated in the line, ‘A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.’ This sentence shows that there was no choice involved in who they fall in love with and it was meant to be. ‘Death’ shows they will die together and as well as fall in love with each other. In the extract Romeo also uses the words, ‘Death’ and ‘Stars.’ These words imply that Romeo in now finally aware that he has no control over his love for Juliet and is also conscious that he will die early should he persue this whilst love is desirable death is not and clearly demonstrates they have no choice. This is emphasised in the phrase, ‘My mind misgives.’ The alliteration used here creates an ominous impression and the sense that Romeo is slightly delusional. Juliet also shares awareness of the same idea as her words. ‘Prodigious birth’ shows that she is saying that their love is also fated and this shows to be true as Romeo is also seen as the enemy. This is said in the line. ‘Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy.’ The rhyming couplet here emphasises the word ‘Enemy’ and illustrates that Juliet has no control over her love for Romeo. Shakespeare also personifies their love as a gift from cupid. Cupid is said to be blind traditionally so he has no control over who he may choose to take hands. Cupid is portrayed as ‘Tyrannous’, ‘Muffled’, ‘Without eyes’ in this tragedy.
‘Tyrannous’ and ‘Rough’ suggest that the love is over controlling and dictatorial emphasising the he wields over human lives. When it states that cupid’s ‘View is muffled’ it emphasises that no one can control him or who he may choose to join hearts and because he is blind the control of who he may choose to fall in love. Additionally Romeo’s view of love is that it is an illness to which there is no cure as it rakes control of your emotions. The metaphors Romeo uses to personify love is that it is ‘Smoke’. This emphasises that he sees love as poisonous fog, which is blinding so you do not control who you fall in love with. He also depicts it is ‘Fire’ which implies passion and obsession. The ‘Fire’ emphasises the volatility of the emotion and its danger. ‘A choking gall’ is another metaphor used by Romeo to portray love. This implies it is a sickness and a kind of cancer. There is nothing Romeo can do to prevent it because it is all consuming and beyond control. From this I can see that the relationship is seen as a cancer seen to be incurable.
From studying and writing this essay I can say that I think Romeo is in complete adoration of Juliet. Whilst I realised Romeo was fickle because of his “love” for Rosaline I then saw that fate played apart in his love for Juliet. Although Romeo is seen to be very volatile and unthinking I still think his love for Juliet is pure because he sacrifices himself for her showing anything will be done to win his loved one.
