The audience is introduced to the two key themes of love and hate in the prologue that Shakespeare starts the play with a Prologue. Shakespeare uses many words about hate to show how much anger there is between the two families, for instance, ‘grudge’, ‘foe’, ‘fatal’, ‘rage’. However Shakespeare only uses a few words about love and this suggests to the audience that something bad will happen to Romeo and Juliet in the end. It also suggests that Romeo and Juliet love is true love because despite the hatred among the families they still remain to together “pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.’’ This shows that their life is destined to be governed by fate, and that their love is destined to be. Shakespeare also uses the oxymoron “death-marked love” to show that Romeo and Juliet’s love will end in tragedy. It also shows that love and hate are closely linked throughout the play.
Act scene 1 is where the audience Romeo for the first time and we learn that he thinks he is in love with Rosaline. However his love is unrequited and this leaves Romeo feeling depressed and lonely. Romeo is a typical Elizabethan protagonist who is love sick and chasing rejected love. Shakespeare uses many oxymoron’s to show that Romeo is confused and frustrated about love. For instance Shakespeare uses the oxymoron “bright smoke” to present Romeo’s state of mind. Love should be bright but for Romeo love is “smoke” because he doesn’t know if Rosaline loves him. Shakespeare also uses the image “cold fire” to present Romeo’s feelings towards Rosaline. Feelings of love should be like a warm fire but for Romeo this love is cold because Rosaline keeps rejecting him and this affects his mental state. The oxymoron ‘sick’ health’’ suggest that Romeo is seriously love sick. He should be feeling happy and well but instead he’s feeling anxious and depressed. Romeo compares Rosaline to Dian the Goddess of hunting and chastity who avoided cupid’s arrow. This suggests that every time Romeo tries to show his love for Rosaline she rejects him and this also shows that Romeo is frustrated and doesn’t know what to do to get Rosaline into bed. This also suggests that Rosaline is treating Romeo like a servant because she plays games with Romeos heart. Romeo makes a reference to Zeus who had his way with woman by disguising himself, when he says: “Nor open her lap to saint-seducing gold” This suggests that Rosaline won’t even let Zeus seduce her. This suggest Romeo doesn’t love Rosaline he only wants to have sex with Rosaline but she doesn’t want to have sex with him this reference suggests that his love for Rosaline is more about lust. This also shows that Romeo is self absorbed and that when things don’t go his way he gets depressed. Romeo uses military words to describe how he is fighting for Rosaline’s love: ‘she will not stay the siege of loving terms’. This suggests that Romeo has to battle for Rosaline’s love.
In contrast Shakespeare uses comparison instead of using oxymoron’s when Romeo is describing his love for Juliet. This shows that Romeo is describing how special Juliet is to him. Romeo and Juliet first meet at a Caplets party Romeo spots Juliet from a distance and she stands out of the crowds so Romeo compares her to a snowy dove trooping with crows’’. Shakespeare tries to show us the audience that Juliet is innocent and pure and she stands out in front of the crowd compared to everyone else in the room. The reference to crows creates an image of bad luck and misfortune. Shakespeare is trying to suggest that something bad will occur. Shakespeare also uses comparison to show Juliet’s incredible beauty: “She doth teach the torches to burn bright”. This tells us that Juliet's beauty is much brighter than that of the torches. She is so much brighter that she teaches the torches how to shine this is a poetic exaggeration. It is important for Romeo to say this, as the audience cannot see Juliet's beauty. But the metaphor also tells us that it is night, as Romeo can see the torches he compares her to. Romeo compares Juliet to ‘a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear’ which suggests that she is precious and valuable and the contrast of the bright jewel on the dark skin highlights how much she stands out among all the other women in the crowd. Romeo realises his love for Rosaline is false when he says “did my heart love till now. This suggest that Romeo is confused and cannot believe he has been able to love Rosaline for so long but when he sees Juliet he is taken by her beauty and instantly falls in love.
This the only time the Romeo and Juliet are able to be with each other without interference.
The most important part of Act 1 scene 5 is when Romeo and Juliet actually meet eyes and talk for the first time. Shakespeare used a sonnet structure to show the connection and love between Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare also expresses the lover’s feelings of each other. Romeo started off the sonnet by comparing Juliet to a ‘’holy shrine’’ this means Romeo is underneath Juliet and she’s above Romeo. Romeo sees Juliet as more valuable than himself this shows that Romeo sees Juliet as something holy and special but Juliet feels it the other way. Shakespeare often repeats the word ‘kiss’ to show that Romeo and Juliet’s love is requited and not false. Romeo’s love to Rosaline shows a heavy contrast because she doesn’t show the love. Romeo felt confused and love sick and he didn’t feel like he was himself anymore. His love wasn’t true for Rosaline for he’s a normal teenager just wanting was sex. However with Juliet it is very different. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in the scene to emphasize how Juliet predicts her own future and her love for Romeo when she says “ my grave is likely to be my wedding bed” this is dramatic because Juliet doesn’t know what will happen to her. This quote is very important in the play because this quote tells the beginning and the end of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet also says “my only love sprung from my hate!” this quote is very important because it explains the whole of Act one Scene five.
Shakespeare shows the audience that love and hate needs to exist in order for true love to blossom. He also shows true love can direct people’s lives. This is exposed by showing the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet as true love being conquered by hate. Romeo and Juliet continued to see each other behind their families back to prove there love is true and nothing can get in the way of that. But in the end the hatred destroys and the Friars wish for peace is finally answered.
