(I.III.97)
She is telling her mother that she will try to like Paris, and so she is obeying her parent’s orders, to a certain extent.
Juliet is also very young, younger than Romeo, being only 13 years old, nearly 14.
‘Come Lamas Eve at night shall she be fourteen’
(I.III.17)
You will se that Juliet’s, along with Romeo’s, age plays a part in the play later on in this essay.
Juliet is also a very intelligent and independent young woman. I can tell you this as it is quoted in a critic’s line:
‘Although Juliet is only thirteen years old, she displays a
Precociously independent intelligence.’
(Cedric Watts- Professor of English at Sussex University. Longman critical essays, Romeo & Juliet).
So, we see that Juliet is an obedient, young, intelligent and independent person who doesn’t fall in love easily. These are all key aspects as we move through the play.
‘The use of the chorus is not easily discovered.’ These are the words of one of the first and greatest of Shakespeare editors, Dr Samuel Johnson, who was writing in the 18th century.
To find out why Shakespeare used the chorus you have to look at it very carefully, in detail, and you must read the play. Once you have done this you should see that the chorus simply tells the whole story at the beginning.
There are many purposes of Shakespeare doing this. Firstly, it tells you that Romeo & Juliet are going to die.
‘The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love’
(Chorus.9)
Secondly, it reminds you of the doom the relationship is in right from the start, so even the early relationship is on edge. You can see this in the quote above.
Lastly, it tells you of the feud between the two families. (Motague & Capulet).
‘From ancient grudge break to new mutiny’
(Chorus.3)
Knowing all this keeps the reader on edge, and the reader is always wondering when they are going to die, and how?
Shakespeare has engineered the scenes in a very particular way.
At the start of the play (I.I) Shakespeare starts off with a quarrel between the two families, Capulets and Montagues, in the quiet streets of ‘fair Verona.’ This quarrel becomes very serious and more and more people get involved. The Prince ends up having to break the quarrel, and to try and stop it happening again, the Prince has to make a threat.
‘If you ever disturb our streets again,
Your lives will pay the forfeit of the
Peace’
(I.I.94-95)
So, the play goes straight in and tells you of the hate of the two families.
Then in the next scene you see Benvolio and Romeo talking about Romeo’s love ‘for a woman.’
So, it has gone from the two families quarrelling, to Romeo’s love ‘for a woman.’
So, now we can see that Shakespeare has engineered the scenes so that you are constantly reminded of the love-hate situation, and basis for the whole play.
If you read through the play you will see that there is extensive use of comparison. Some of these comparisons are crucial to how we see Romeo & Juliet.
You have the continual comparison of the love and hate of the play, up until Romeo & Juliet die.
‘My only love sprung from my only hate!’
(I.V.137)
This line is one of the best uses of this particular comparison.
There are then the comparisons that add to the poetic and romantic theme to the play. For instance the comparisons with light.
‘O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!’
(I.IV.43)
There are the comparisons with jewels.
‘rich jewel in Ethiop’s ear’
(I.IV.45)
And there are religious comparisons throughout.
‘For saints have hands pilgrims’ hands do touch,’
(I.IV.98)
All of these comparisons are essential to the working and theme of the play. They add to the love and hate of the play. There are always comparisons reminding, telling you, that they are going to die. And then there are the comparisons that add to the romanticism of the play, and the love that Romeo & Juliet share together.
Shakespeare uses language to his advantage. He has a firm grasp of the ‘old English’ language as you will see in all of his plays, sonnets and poetry.
Shakespeare’s plays are mainly written in ‘blank verse,’ which is the form preferred by most dramatists and this is especially true to Romeo & Juliet.
Shakespeare has used language very emotively. He is trying to get the readers emotions going while reading the text. He also uses language to try and make the readers think. Shakespeare makes you think of distinctions between feelings and responses that can be adjudged as ‘real,’ or ‘true,’ or ‘natural.’ This is especially true to the early scenes in the play. For example, looking at Benvolios speech (I.I.118-130), it begins with a reference to the sunrise- ‘the worshipped sun/ peered forth the golden window of the east.’
This is full of imagery and puts strong images in your mind. You find this sort of striking imagery throughout the play.
The language of Shakespeare, and the way he uses it, draws the readers in. It draws your heart and emotions, along with your brain, and the reader gets totally caught up in the text. Shakespeare has also included many sonnets throughout the play, for which he is very famous for writing.
On e of the most romantic, and poetic, sonnets are in the early scenes (Act II). This sonnet stretches from line 92 to 105. A sonnet (which is a love poem), also gets the readers emotions brewing while reading it.
Many People may ask, what is the point in having Rosalind in the play, if no one ever sees her?
Well, there is one very good, and simple, answer for this. That reason is to show how easily Romeo falls in and out of love. Shakespeare is trying to emphasise Romeo’s immaturity for love and relationships, and to show his age!
People may ask also, What’s the use for Paris, as Juliet never marries him?
Again there is a good, and simple, reason for him. Really it is the same reason for using Rosalind, only the other way around. Shakespeare is showing us that the intelligent Juliet doesn’t fall in love easily, and has to be pushed by her parents.
The first meeting between Romeo & Juliet takes place at the Capulets party.
The Montagues, along with Romeo, aren’t meant to be there. They are there to try and take Romeo’s mind off of Rosalind, and to see the other beauties that are all around him.
When Romeo first sees Juliet he instantly falls in love.
‘What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand
of younder knight?’
(I.V.41)
Again showing that he falls in love easily, but showing how romantic he is at the same time.
Romeo does not speak directly to Juliet at first; this is until line 92, which is the start of that romantic sonnet. Shakespeare uses a concoction of romantic and poetic language, using comparisons and imagery throughout the sonnet.
Romeo & Juliet then find out that they are enemies. Shakespeare is putting this strain on their relationship to remind you of the hate of the families, straight after they have just fallen in love with each other. Juliet instantly falls in love with Romeo, but knows it can’t be. And as we know Juliet does not fall in love easily, this is the real thing. Romeo is her first and only love.
‘my only love sprung from my only hate!’
(I.V.137)
But, could we say the same for Romeo?
We now move on to the famous orchard scene. This scene starts off with Romeo climbing the high orchard wall in order to get to his beloved Juliet.
Juliet appears above at her balcony, when Shakespeare starts to use his romantic and poetic language once again, trying to emphasise how romantic Romeo is.
It is the east and Juliet is the sun!’
(II.I.2)
He is saying that Juliet is the centre of his universe, she is the ‘light,’ and he can’t live without her.
In this line there is very striking imagery, we have to visualise Juliet as the sun.
But, at this point we must remember Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet based on her looks, and not the person.
So many people would say that Shakespeare is telling us that Romeo just wants to use Juliet for SEX! But this isn’t the case, as we will see later.
Juliet cannot hear Romeo speaking to her at this moment- Shakespeare is showing us that he means it- it is not just a chat up line. Romeo means it, and he ‘loves’ Juliet very much.
Romeo thinks that he would never be able to get close to Juliet, as she is Montague, sworn ‘enemy’ to the Capulets.
‘O that I were a glove upon that hand’
(II.II.26)
Shakespeare is reminding us of the danger of Romeo being there, and the hate of the families, and in respect, half of the play. He is also reminding us of the divide between the two lovers.
Juliet then starts to speak, and Romeo who is watching, or almost stalking Juliet as to not get to close, asks her to speak again, quietly.
‘O speak again, bright angel’
(II.II.26)
Shakespeare is using comparison in this line. ‘Bright’ is a comparison to the light, a romantic jester, reminding you of the strong bonds, and love, that makes up half of the play.
Also, ‘angel,’ Shakespeare is reminding you of the death to come, but also of Juliet’s pureness and beauty.
Shakespeare does not let you forget the hate that limits Romeo & Juliet’s relationship.
Romeo he intercepts, and the engage in conversation. Juliet, at this point, comes across as being ‘loved,’ and she secretly enjoys it. But at the same time she is worried about Romeo getting caught, so again Shakespeare does not let you forget that Romeo is in a lot of danger, being on enemy territory.
‘If any of my kinsmen find thee here’
(II.II.65)
Juliet is worried, as she has just pledged her undying love for Romeo, and she thinks that he is going to take advantage as he heard her. He could be using this, and he may just want SEX!
Romeo says to Juliet, will she leave him so unsatisfied? (II.II.125).
Juliet is wary of this remark and asks him what satisfaction can he have tonight? (II.II.126).
Romeo then proposes to Juliet.
‘Loves faithful vow for mine’
(II.II.127)
There is a rush to get married and Juliet accepts. This shows you of Juliet’s youngness, and slight immaturity. She has the philosophy that if you fall in love you must get married. Shakespeare has done this partly to show that they have to rush to get married because of the hate of the two families, also to show the great love they share together. Also it is because around the time that Shakespeare wrote the play (1594-1596), that was the philosophy of most of the people. There is another element that contributes to the rush to get married; being Juliet’s arranged marriage.
As Juliet accepts the marriage proposal, and she did not have a view to getting married, it shows us that this is the real thing, this is ‘real love.’
Shakespeare tries to get across the point that this marriage should not happen, and that it will bring problems throughout the relationship. Showing the love-hate theme of the play.
In conclusion I would say that Shakespeare has shown us the love-hate situation of the play, and has presented Romeo & Juliet’s early relationship in a planned and very particular way. He has shown us how easily Romeo falls in love, and how hard it is to get Juliet to fall in love. He has shown us the hate of the two families and the problems this would cause in their later relationship. He has shown us that love conquers hate, as the two get together regardless of the consequences.
So, we have to ask ourselves, is it worth all the risks and problems of the hate surrounding you to get involved with someone from the family that is your enemy? And, does it take the death of your only children to solve an age-old feud? I’ll leave these up to you.