The whole political body was referred to ‘Body Politic’. The Queen was the personification of ‘Body Politic’. She had all the responsibility of keeping order. In the play the Body Politic is the Prince. The role of the Prince is in his name, Prince Escales. Scales, to ensure balance in society. To make sure there is no chaos and disorder ensuring the health of the ‘Order of Being’.
The first extract that I will write about is the wedding vows of Romeo and Juliet, in Act2 Scene6. In the extract they are both saying their vows to each other in the presence of Friar Lawrence. They are the only characters in the scene. Romeo and Juliet both love each other and Friar Lawrence is there to marry them, hoping to cease the violence, between the two warring families. Although Friar Lawrence first had doubts about marrying the couple, as he thought Romeo was getting married too fast after first being besotted with Rosaline, then marrying Juliet days after he met her. The scene has a lot of love with a lot of emotive language. Both Romeo and Juliet expressing how much joy they bring to each others. Romeo says “Ah Juliet, if the measure of thy joy be heaped like mine that thy skill be more to blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath this neighbour air.” (line 24 Act 2 Scene 6) Romeo speaks lovingly of the mutual love for each other. Juliet replies “They are but beggars that can count their worth. But my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.” Saying that her love for Romeo is so great, that she cannot add up half of its wealth, this can be seen as a hyperbole. Its powerful language and imagery, leaving the audience in awe as they try to imagine what Juliet just said. Also when Friar Lawrence says “These violent delights have violent ends” (line 9 Act2 Scene6) there is an irony behind it, as the ‘violent delights’ portray the love of Romeo and Juliet which result in deaths of Tybalt, Mercutio and Paris. The ‘violent delights’ and ‘violent ends’ seem to prophesise the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Next I will talk about Juliet’s soliloquy (Line 1 – 30) from the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2. She is speaking of her love for Romeo and how she wishes for the night to come. “Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus' lodging: such a Wagoner, As Phaeton would whip you to the west, And bring in cloudy night immediately” she wants the sun to set so night can come, and she can see Romeo. The theme of time is presented in the first lines, as Juliet wants the night to come fast, like their decision to get married, rushed. The main theme is love; she talks of Romeo jumping into her arms “Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen”, her love growing larger “Love grow bold”. She also talks of making love “I have bought the mansion of love, but not possessed it, and though I am sold, not yet enjoyed.” There is also the theme of Light and Dark, “Whiter than new snow upon a raven’s back.” It is also a contrast; these images also blend into the theme of love as they are natural, serene and passive images. The scene happens at night another example of theme of Light and Dark. It creates a tension as darkness holds the unexpected. Also the darkness is the cover that the couple use to meet each other, as they first met at night in Capulet’s mansion, and they also meet at Juliet’s balcony at night. The night is also a foreshadowing of when they also die, at night. Juliet’s soliloquy contrasts with the hate that was in the previous scene. The consequences of the hate in the previous scene, Romeo killing Tybalt, affect love. This is as Juliet will learn that Romeo has been exiled and all her wishes for love will not occur.
The next extract I will talk about is from Act 3 scene 5. The extract is Capulet telling, or commanding Juliet to marry Paris. He first enters the scene after Lady Capulet has failed to persuade Juliet to marry Paris. At first he seems sympathetic “How now, a conduit, girl? What, still in tears?” (Line 125 onwards). Showing a theme of fatherly love, as he is concerned about the well being of his child. When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, because she is married to Romeo, Capulet’s feelings and language change. He tells Juliet “To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.” Capulet will drag Juliet on a ‘hurdle’ (a frame which prisoners were carried on) regardless of her feelings. He then hurls an array of insults at Juliet. “Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face!”(line 156). Calling her rotting flesh (carrion). ‘Baggage’ as if she is just luggage or an accessory. Then insulting her appearance by calling her ‘tallow-face’, a pale face. These were spiteful comments in the 16th Century, even though they seem mild and funny today. He then gives Juliet an ultimatum “I tell the what: get thee to church a ‘Thursday, Or never after look me in the face.” Either get married or you will no longer be in the family. Showing the theme of hate, it shows he isn’t concerned about his daughter. Capulet can be considered as personification of hate because of the language he uses and the way he treats Juliet. Capulet’s outburst at Juliet causes shock to the audience as it is hard to believe that a father can insult his own daughter .This creates tension, as Juliet cannot marry Paris as she is already married to Romeo, but she must or she will no longer have a family. This is also irony, as Juliet has to marry Paris even though she is already married to Romeo.
The next extract will be taken form Act 4 scene 5 when the Capulets, Paris, Nurse and Farther Lawrence find Juliet ‘dead’. At the beginning of the scene the Nurse is speaking merrily as she is happy that Juliet is getting married. The tone for now is joyful until the Nurse finds Juliet dead, a sharp change in the atmosphere occurs as the dreaded news of Juliet being ‘dead’, is shouted around the house. The Capulets are devastated that their only child is dead, as is Nurse as Juliet was her surrogate daughter. Paris is distraught as the wife he had sought is ‘gone’ as she is ‘dead’. As of this, they have a lot of hate to express. The Nurse hates the day “O day, O day, O day, O hateful day!”(Line 52). Paris uses harsh words of hate “Wronged, spited, slain!” He lashes out at death “Most detestable Death”(line 55). Capulet expresses how Death has stolen and wedded Juliet “Death is my heir, My daughter he hath wedded” (line 38). Personifying death as something that has taken his child. The audience know that Juliet is not dead, a dramatic irony, as people in the play mourn for Juliet when she is not dead.
In the end Shakespeare shows how the passionate love between Romeo and Juliet ended the fiery wrath between their families. Shakespeare may be saying the power of love is unstoppable and colossal force that not even hatred can conquer. It also shows that love does not run smoothly, as Romeo and Juliet fell in love but the war between their families was the impediment between of their love. However even though Romeo was a Montague and Juliet a Capulet, both raging families trapped in an ancient war, their love for one another was so immense they were willing to die for each other, finally ending the hate between their families.
