The main contrast of this play is that of love and hate, which are also the running themes to this tragedy. The strong emotion of hate is displayed throughout the play due to the civil war between the Montague family and the Capulet family. We learn that this hate is an ‘ancient grudge’ during the prologue.
The main figure of hatred in the Capulet family is Tybalt, who is Juliet’s first cousin. We discover this when Tybalt declares ‘Now by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin,’ he is talking about Romeo during this line. Tybalt is blinded by hatred and malice when he hears Romeos voice. Romeo after his marriage to Juliet refuses to get involved in any fighting with Tybalt because, although Tybalt himself is not aware, they are family. He tries to remain peaceful and even says to Tybalt, ‘ Tybalt the reason I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting.’ Romeo can even be said to have an underlining respectful love for this archenemy of his. Despite this respect and honour, Romeo contradicts his feelings for Tybalt when he discovers that he has murdered his best friend, Mercuito. Romeo has a great love for his friend who throughout the play could often be seen fighting alongside Romeo at any battle scenes.
A character that strongly hates the feud is the Prince of Verona. He is less then sympathetic we he discovers the news that both Romeo and Juliet have taken their own lives. He announces to both the Montague and the Capulet families, ‘See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. This outburst what finally prompts peace between the two rival families.
Apart from Juliet Romeo also claimed to have another love in his life, this being a lady called Rosaline, who we are lead to believe is several years his senior. Rosaline rejects Romeo’s advances because of his age and as a result Romeo apparently becomes quite depressed. Benvlio, Romeos cousin and close friend, tries to cheer him up by taking him to a ball hosted by Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father. Benvolio lures him there with the promise that Rosaline would be there to but this is where he meets and falls in love with Juliet.
This leads to the next example of the love hate contrast to shown is the way in which Lord Capulet acts. Lord Capulet loves and strives for wealth and social position and this love is almost parallel to the love he shows for his wife and child. Capulet loves to show this wealth and popularity but throwing huge balls for the entire higher-class circle of Verona except the Montague’s, he says of this ball, ‘I have invited many a guests, such as I love.’ The reason this ball was thrown by Capulet was to arrange for the meeting of Juliet to Paris, the man he wants her to marry. This is what makes the ball a fitting place for the meeting of Romeo and Juliet.
Lord Capulet really loves Juliet and this is the reason behind the pushy way in which he treats her. Capulet wishes her to marry Paris as he is wealthy and popular and he wishes his daughter to be the same. Juliet agrees reluctantly to this fate until she meets and marries Romeo in secret. Juliet does love Paris but only out of a sense of duty and honour to her father.
Juliet strongly loves all of her family yet despises them for the feud which ruins her one chance of marrying the man she truly loves, Romeo. Despite this love Juliet is willing to ‘no longer be a Capulet’ out of her determination to be with Romeo. Thus confirming she is willing to give up everything she knows and loves for this whirlwind romance and her soon to be husband Romeo. Juliet knows and understands how unsuitable this romance is but decides to continue with the relationship despite it being, ‘Much to do with love, but more with hate.’ Both Romeo and Juliet are in love with the one person in the world they would never be allowed to have.
Another contrast to be examined is that of how language can be used to magnify something compared to the language it is describing. The first example of this is how the power of language is used is when Romeo is talking about Juliet. Romeo talks in a very complimentary way about Juliet although hardly being able to see her, as we are lead to believe that it is night. Shakespeare also uses language to show how words can create prejudice. In this play to call a Capulet or anybody associated with them a Montague is the worst insult possible.
Shakespeare also changes the form of language used by a character depending on whom they are talking to. When Romeo is talking about either Rosaline or Juliet he uses the language of classical poetry but when he talks to his friends he talks in a lot less appropriate way.
Romeo and Juliet was written in fifteen ninety-five and therefore is written in old English. When this old English versions compared to the modern translation it sounds much more poetic and in places romantic. The old English language magnifies all the emotions such as love and hate. Some of the most memorable and romantic quotes in Romeo and Juliet are famous due to the magnification of Old English. When Juliet says, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’, she is symbolically saying that even if she was a Capulet or not she is the same person beneath. This showing how the language used has an effect on the emotions felt by the characters and readers alike.
Another contrast in the play is that of fortune and free will. We discover in the first few lines of the prologue that fate has an important role in the play especially in the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. In the prologue they are described as ‘star-crossed lovers,’ this implying that fate will not be kind.
Many events occur during the play that are unfortunate and could have been prevented. The audience or readers are lead to believe these are down to fate. Fate played a large part in Romeo and Juliets first meeting at Capulets ball. Romeo is only attending this because of his unrequited love for Rosaline. On his way to the ball Romeo whilst looking at the stars says, ‘Some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin this fearful date’, this date being the beginning of his and Juliets whirlwind romance. This implies that the relationship will end in tragedy in some way.
When Romeo is present at the murder of his best friend Mercutio it is another example of fate working against them. If Romeo had not of been there he may not have seen fit to seek revenge as he did. This revenge was to murder Tybalt Juliet and his cousin. This is another example of fate working against them in a negative way but Romeo is lucky that his punishment is that he is only banished from Verona and not murdered. This is both an example of both positive and negative fate. It is positive because Romeo remains alive yet negative as he is parted from Juliet and both are desperate to see one another. Juliet is so desperate to see Romeo she begins to create a plan with Frier John. This plan was for her to take a special potion to make her appear dead but this was just to buy her enough time for John to deliver the letter to Romeo telling him of this plan. However, once again fate stopped John from delivering this letter, as he is isolated in quarantine whilst passing through another town on the way. Whilst John was locked in quarantine Romeo was informed of Juliets ‘death’ by Benvolio who he later murders.
Romeo takes his life in Juliet’s tomb by taking the remainder of her poison but he takes a lethal dose. Just as Romeo takes the poison Juliet awakes but cannot move enough or talk to stop him. If Juliet had awoken only a minute earlier the lovers would have been reunited. Due to witnessing Romeos death Juliet uses his dagger to take her own life.
This play shows the typical Elizabethan view on fate and this is that your future is written in the stars and you are unable to change this. This is why Romeo often looked and made reference to the stars whilst talking of his fate. They believed that their lives were on one giant wheel that turned you from being on the top to the bottom. However when in times of desperation Romeo and the other characters showed a desire for free will.
When Romeo discovers Juliet’s ‘death’ he screamed, ‘Then I defy you stars,’ this showing he passion for free will in this situation. This leads me to another of my contrasts that is life and death. Both Romeo and Juliet are only children to their respective parents Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet. This makes their deaths seem more tragic. Although their lives are short they are full of hatred.
The death of Mercutio, Romeos best friend was a very tragic one because of his age and loyalty. During this play Shakespeare plays on the characters ages and how in young they are to make deaths more tragic. Once Romeo discovers Mercutios death he seeks revenge by murdering his killer, Tybalt. This death is not tragic because Tybalt himself is a murderer.
Romeo also murders Benvolio, his cousin and friend who throughout the play was very good to him. This death is tragic because he is young, a loyal friend and risked his life and safety to get Romeo to the tomb.
The final deaths of Romeo and Juliet are very tragic because they are both young and deeply in love. This scene is very harrowing because of how close they come to being reunited. However from their deaths peace was created between their parents. This bringing peace to many in Verona.
The final contrast to be examined is that of public and private. All of the scenes between Romeo and Juliet especially their wedding night are very private. Most of their scenes are in Juliets room, the orchard or in the church where they were married.
In contrast to this all the fighting scenes are conducted very publicly. Romeo was a part of the fighting until his marriage to Juliet, this making him a part of both sides of the feud.
This Shakespeare play has taught myself and many of the time in which he lived. It is cleverly written with a good structure throughout. I would recommend this play.
I also enjoyed the film Romeo and Juliet by Baz Lurhman as it combines the Old English language combined with a modern set, Verona Beach. I think this film will open the works of Shakespeare to a new audience who may not have access to his plays and other works.