Shakespeare uses many different styles of language to indicate Romeo’s character and his language of love.
The use of oxymoron’s, a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction, in Act 1 Scene 1 suggest that Romeo is a very confused and deep thinking character.
Some of the oxymorons that Romeo uses include; “Serious vanity”; meaning- weighty emptiness. “Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms”; meaning- shapes which appear attractive, and “Still waking sleep” meaning- always awake, yet asleep.
The phrase ‘serious vanity’ contradicts its self by implying that emptiness is heavy but emptiness is light in weight, as there is nothing there so it cannot be heavy.
Next he talks about ‘chaos in a well seeming form’; but chaos suggests that there is no form, structure or shape, therefore how can it be a well seeming form or shape if it has no structure.
Perhaps because he cloaks himself in darkness he feels he is unconscious to the world, to his surroundings and this is why he shuts himself away.
Iambic Pentameter and rhyming couplets are used so that we know that Romeo is born to a high status family and that he is very clever and well educated, reading extensively in his spare time.
Romeo talks of love in Act 1 Scene 1 like there are negative and positive images of love; he also uses hyperbole or exaggeration to express his feelings of love. His love is unrequited by Rosaline. She refuses to love him as she has vowed to live chaste.
Benvolio: “Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?”
Romeo: “She hath…”
Romeo describes love negatively when he uses these words:
“Love is the smoke made with the fume of sighs…”
Love is a smoke, thin and transparent that can be blown away, indicating that love is there and it cannot be seen. It can come and go with the changing of the wind.
“A madness most discreet,
A choking gall…”
Romeo is talking about love as if it were a torture or bitter tasting poison, very painful but hidden so that its madness or pain cannot be seen, as it is disguised with“…a preserving sweet.”
The continuous sweet taste of love, like honey.
Benvolio asks Romeo who is it that he loves and Romeo replies in an elaborate and insincere tone;
Benvolio: “Tell me in sadness, who is it that you love?”
Romeo: “What, shall I groan and tell the?”
This tells us that Romeo considers this to be a task or a chore and it implies that Benvolio should already know the answer. Romeo feels that he is wasting his time and has better things to do than explain himself but also enjoys the attention created by his behavior, from Benvolio.
When Romeo is talking with Benvolio he uses word play and riddles to joke with Benvolio about his love for Rosaline. The image of an arrow is shared between the two friends as they shoot it back and forth to one another.
Some examples of this are used within their conversation;
“I aimed so near when I supposed you loved”
“..good mark man…”
“..right fair mark…”
“..in that hit you miss…”
“..love’s weak childish bow…”
“..she’ll not be hit
With cupid’s arrow…”
From these lines Benvolio guesses that Romeo is in love and Romeo tells him that he is right but she will not return his love. Romeo talks about his love, Rosaline, not being hit with cupid’s arrow because he feels that his love his weak as he is still young. Romeo has not yet told Benvolio who he loves.
Romeo jokes in a way are mocking love, this shows the audience of his insincerity toward his love for Rosalind. This suggests that he has given up on his love for Rosalind because if he were in love with Rosalind he would not be joking about it, he would be trying to convince Benvolio of his love.
Romeo, after locking himself away has promptly changed his tune and now dominates the conversation with Benvolio. We know this because he talks a lot more than Benvolio. He believes that he knows a lot more on the subject of love and implies that Benvolio is a ‘follower’ and does not understand, also by being witty he is showing off. Romeo’s remarks make out that he is the unfortunate party and by creating a scene he gets the attention he seeks and makes everyone feel sorry for him.
In act 1 scene 5, at Capulet’s party, Romeo sees Juliet for the first time and there is a noticeable and dramatic change in his language. Previous to this scene there was a lot of talk about darkness in Romeos language, he talks about himself and how he feels depressed and sad. But the first time he sees Juliet he talks about her constantly, praises her and is genuinely in awe of her.
“…a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear;…”
Romeo is implying that Juliet is a rich jewel on a dark person’s ear, as she stands out from the crowd and she lights up those who surround her. He talks as though she has given him hope allmost like a Goddess, a shrine; she was made to be worshipped.
She is the life that he has been searching for and she is pure. At this point Romeo has almost blanked out any feelings that he previously had for Rosalind and is now mesmerized by the beauty of Juliet:
“Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.”
Romeo’s exaggerated language conveys Juliet’s beauty to be too rich for use, suggesting that she is very precious and valuable, almost like the jewel, an immortal, rare and uncommon, and yet still vulnerable:
“…she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”
In this Romeo is suggesting that Juliet outshines the torches; her beauty shines bright. The torches look up to her, as she is the brightest amongst them and she is teaching them how to burn bright. Romeo is personifying the torches as if they were Juliet’s students. She is the light guiding them all.
Romeo’s love duel with Juliet, known as The Palmer’s Sonnet describes their first meeting and the witty remarks exchanged between them. Their conversation often refers to parts of the body; “..my lips…” “…your hand…” “…palm to palm…”
And religious images: “…pilgrim…” “…saints…” “…faith…”
The sonnet shared between Romeo and Juliet connects them instantly when they first meet. This shows that Romeo and Juliet are united in their feelings toward one another, thinking the same thoughts. You could say they are on the same wavelength. This enforces the fact that they immediately love each other, compared to the artificial love that Romeo had for Rosalind, theirs is a love, pure and true.
The lovers referring to pilgrims suggests that they are also on a journey, the journey of love, strengthening their commitment to one another, and seeing each other as saints, holy and pure.
At the very moment that Romeo and Juliet first talk to each other, Tybalt swears his revenge on Romeo for coming to Capulet’s party: “I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.”, and just as Tybalt is certain that he wants revenge Romeo and Juliet are certain of their love for one another.
Romeo’s change of language makes us believe his love for Juliet is genuine.
Before it was all about himself, he was full of self pity, sulking and moping and down in the dumps. Ultimately he was feeling sad, down and low, rejected by Rosalind.
His focus is now all on Juliet. He has seen the light; the weight has been lifted from his shoulders. He is happy, he has hope.
In act 3 scene 1, we find the two friends, Mercutio and Benvolio talking together.
Benvolio says to Mercutio:
“The day is hot…”
This remark from Benvolio is not just referring to the weather being hot, but also that tempers are hot and fraying and the mood is angry, ready for a fight.
“…the mad blood is stirring.”
This comment from Benvolio suggests again the fighting mood and the foreboding that blood will be spilt. This could mean that both friends and relations blood may be spilt.
That “blood” is personified implies that it can stir and move by its self. That the rage and passion held within can not be controlled by reason and can work independently of the brain clouding thought and vision.
“…mad…” suggests being out of control. Anger and hatred build up, eventually exploding furiously into disorder, craziness and destruction.
The word “stirring” conveys the image of stirring dust, being swept aside to reveal or uncover something more sinister, perhaps the foreboding of Mercutio’s death.
Tybalt insults Romeo by saying to him:
“…thou art a villain.”
This classic insult would normally have had a dramatic effect on someone if you used it toward them but Romeo calmly brushes Tybalt’s insults away and tries to make peace with him.
“…Villain I am none
…I see thou know’st me not.”
After Romeo dismisses Tybalt’s insult, Mercutio is astonished at this slander and challenges Tybalt to a duel. Of course the fiery Tybalt accepts and they fight. At this point Romeo has an edge of panic in his voice and tries to stop Tybalt and Mercutio. While trying to separate the two duelists Romeo comes between them; upon doing this Tybalt stabs Mercutio and realizing that the wound is serious runs off followed by his band of men.
Mercutio knows that his wound may be fatal but still jokes that is only a scratch:
“Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch;…”
But there is also seriousness amongst his joking:
“…‘t is not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church door, but ‘t is enough, ‘t will serve. Ask for
me to-morrow and you shall find me a grave man.”
This suggests that the wound is not as deep as a well but wells are very deep and Mercutio, jokingly tries to reassure his friends that the wound is not deep when it really is and he fears the worst. The wound is not as wide as a church door, suggests that he will be able to fit through the church door at his funeral in his coffin; and if they ask for him tomorrow they will find him a grave man which gives us the impression that he will die and they will be burying him tomorrow but also the fact that he may die a grave man, sad and unhappy.
Mercutio’s last words are spoken as a curse:
“…A plague o’ both your houses!”
Mercutio repeats this several times throughout his joking and also upon his death. A dying mans curse is considered to come true and would be taken very seriously.
When Romeo realizes that Mercutio is dead he is shocked and angry because he knows that it should have been him. This was nothing to do with Mercutio and Romeo is traumatized because he believed that Mercutio was joking and suddenly comprehends that he is dead.
Romeos behavior has changed dramatically in the scenes that we have studied. He has gone from a self indulged, reckless, irrational, explosive and sulky disposition, through to an outward looking, complimentary personality who praises Juliet and in addition, obsesses over her. He is also at times a little irrational when he takes on the mannerisms of those who surround him. With Mercutio’s death he then changes to a wild and avenge-full person. He acts as though he is a coin, calm and collected one moment but as if flipped, to an un-reliable character at any time.
