comment on Shakespeare's use of language and imagery,

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Naomi Wood                4/27/2007

With reference to Act 1 Scene 5: lines 43 to 52 and lines 92 to 109 and Act 2 Scene 2, comment on Shakespeare’s use of language and imagery, and show how this firmly establishes Romeo and Juliet as 16th Century lovers

 Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is a dramatic love story between to 16th Century lovers, this essay will consider the imagery and language Shakespeare uses and how this establishes Romeo and Juliet as 16th Century lovers.

 When Romeo first set eyes on Juliet at the Capulet ball he compliments her, “cheek of night,” Romeo thinks she is soft and looks superb. He describes her as a “rich jewel” as she shines and is full of beauty, Shakespeare compares Juliet against an unattractive background of an “Ethiop’s ear” which makes her be prominent and be stunning. Juliet is “beauty too rich for use, for Earth too dear,” she is too attractive and valuable for this Earth. Juliet’s loveliness stands out amongst the ugly, “so shows a snowy dove trooping with crows.” Romeo speaks of Juliet’s angelic qualities; her persona affects him positively, influencing his speech. In the closing lines of this extract Romeo denies his sight as he has “ne’er saw true beauty till this night,” Romeo is so astounded by Juliet’s splendour he doesn’t believe she’s real.

        Act 1 Scene 5: lines 92 to 109 is a Shakespearean sonnet, a love poem made up of 14 lines- 3 quatrains and 1 rhyming couplet. Romeo “profanes” with his “unworthiest hand.” Shakespeare calls Juliet’s hand “this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,” Romeo doesn’t think it is a big sin. Shakespeare uses religious imagery such as Romeo’s lips like “two blushing pilgrims, ready stand.” His lips are like two travellers on a journey to reach their god. Juliet continues his imagery, “Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,” Romeo’s hand shows proper respect in touching her hand. By Romeo and Juliet both using metaphors like “holy palmers,” “saints, “pilgrims” and “pray,” Shakespeare is confirming the purity of their love. “Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?” “Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer,” Juliet tells Romeo saints only use their lips for prayer. “Oh then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do! They pray,” Grant my prayer “thou lest faith turn to despair,” Juliet is above the ordinary and Romeo calls her a saint to give her a sense of royalty and purity, he wants there lips to touch like hands do. Romeo kisses her celebrating their new love. The kiss is a sin “give me my sin again”. He kisses “by the book,” expertly.

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        After the ball has ended Romeo climbs over the wall into Capulet’s orchard. He speaks of his love for fair Juliet “it is the east and Juliet is the Sun,” “Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief.” Juliet is just as radiant and bright as the sun, Romeo sees her as above everyone else and powerful. The “envious moon” is jealous of her and is nothing compared to her beauty. Juliet’s an innocent virgin, her “vestal livery is but sick and green,” others are jealous of her, as she is more ...

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