Themes Of Romeo And Juliet Essay Example
Themes Of Romeo And Juliet Essay Example

Themes Of Romeo And Juliet Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1308 words)
  • Published: October 30, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
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Romeo and Juliet, often hailed as William Shakespeare's greatest work, is a renowned tragedy that revolves around a tale of both love and hatred. The play explores the blossoming romance between its main protagonists, Romeo and Juliet, while showcasing the animosity between their two feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues.

The reason Romeo and Juliet has become a classic is because it is profoundly impactful on a dramatic level. Act 1 Scene 5, in particular, exemplifies this effectiveness. As the scene unfolds, there are certain expectations: Juliet will be judged by Paris, and Romeo will attempt to lift his spirits and find Rosaline. To delve deeper into the intricacies of this scene, a more thorough analysis is required.

At the beginning of Act 1 Scene 5, Capulet warmly welcomes all those who have gathered for his party. H

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e expresses his enthusiasm by saying, "Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have untired feet shall dance with you. Ah, my dear guests. Which one of you will refuse to dance? Anyone who considers themselves refined surely possesses weary feet. Have I approached you all? Welcome, gentlemen! There was a time when I wore a mask and could whisper enchanting tales in a lady's ear. But that time has passed. It's gone completely. You are all welcomed here, gentlemen. Now, let the music play!"The repetition of Capulet's welcoming of the gentlemen three times in the play highlights Shakespeare's use of repetition to emphasize a feeling of warmth and happiness. This is particularly effective in contrast to the initial conflict at the start of the play. Shakespeare uses this dialogue to create a different mood and employs powerful literary techniques to creat

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a dramatic scene. Following Capulet's enthusiastic welcome, Romeo delivers a speech expressing his love for Juliet using grand romantic language. The tone of Romeo's words differs significantly from that of other characters, such as Capulet. Shakespeare effectively conveys different moods through the contrasting speeches. This contributes to the creation of an atmosphere, which is essential in making a scene dramatically impactful. Additionally, this scene parallels the following lines, creating tension and further enhancing its dramatic impact. Moving on from Romeo's romantic speech is Tybalt's angry words about Romeo and Capulet's reaction to Tybalt's anger. This tense situation adds to the dramatic effectiveness of the scene.The dramatic scene is sharply contrasting with the old lines from Capulet and Romeo, which emphasizes the importance of these lines due to their distinct qualities compared to the rest. Tybalt intends to forcefully apprehend Romeo, without regard for the consequences, when he states "This... should be a Montague. Bring me my tuck, boy..." Moreover, his cruel tendencies persist as he states "What dares the slave come hither, covered with a fantastic face, to fear and contempt our composure? Now by the stock and honor of my family, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin." This creates a dramatic effect as it reveals Tybalt's lack of respect for Romeo's life, dampening the mood and contrasting with the other parts of the scene. Additionally, Shakespeare's use of rough language for commoners contrasts with his elevated form of speech in the dialogue between Romeo and Juliet. This effective contrast conveys the scene's mood and subtly builds the atmosphere. When Capulet sternly rebukes Tybalt with the words "I would not let

him insult anyone in my house for all the wealth of this town; thus be patient and ignore him...," the audience witnesses the beginning of a strongly worded conversation, adding an edge to what had been a jovial scene until that point. This edge contributes to the dramatic nature of the scene.The meeting between Romeo and Juliet is the pinnacle of Romeo's speech and actions in the scene, creating a sense of drama. Shakespeare uses a sonnet, specifically iambic pentameter, to contrast with the prose used in the previous scene involving Tybalt. This subtly hints at a difference in the nature of the scene, fueling audience expectations and effectively setting the mood. A powerful example of the romantic language used is seen in Romeo's statement, "If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." This statement not only showcases Romeo's love but also denotes Juliet's elevated position, using religious references to compare her to divine beauty and suggesting she is above the mortal world in Romeo's eyes. Furthermore, Romeo's depiction of his own unworthiness serves to highlight his insecurity. This tension heightens the anticipation for Juliet's response by elevating Juliet's status and diminishing Romeo's position, creating a divide between them. With suspense built for Juliet's answer, the audience awaits eagerly.Shakespeare satisfies the audience's desire for resolution when Juliet states, "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which well-mannered devotion shows in this. For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss." This reveals

her affection for Romeo, assuring him that he is not as unworthy as he may think. Juliet then continues to praise Romeo, complimenting his polite devotion. This climactic moment showcases their love for each other, as demonstrated in the dialogue between them: "Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged," declares Romeo before they kiss. "Then have my lips the sin that they have taken," responds Juliet. "Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again!" exclaims Romeo before they kiss once more. This conversation conveys the message to the audience that Romeo and Juliet are truly in love, contributing to the suspenseful ending of the scene. Additionally, this dialogue subtly hints that Romeo's previous love for Rosaline was not as genuine as his love for Juliet, further enhancing the play. Following this significant declaration of love between Romeo and Juliet.The reason why this scene is dramatic is because of the couple's reactions and the gradual build-up of tension. Romeo expresses his sorrow over the families' hatred of each other, saying "Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe's debt." This shows the audience his sadness and also ties into the theme of love mentioned earlier. Juliet also expresses her conflicted feelings, saying "My only love sprung from my only hatred! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! A huge birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy." Her use of strong language contrasts her love for Romeo with her disdain for Paris. The way she says "My only love" shows the audience that she has no interest

in Paris and is unhappy that her lover is a Montague. Lastly, this ending serves as a cliff-hanger, drawing the audience into the following scenes and adding to the dramatic effect. Act 1 scene 5 is highly dramatic because of the fluctuation in mood, from Capulet's jovial nature to Tybalt's intense anger to Romeo's overwhelming presence.The use of powerful language with hidden meanings in the physicality and dialogue between Romeo and Juliet contributes to the overall impact of the play. Shakespeare resolves the tension while leaving a cliff-hanger, creating a dramatic and captivating ending to the scene. This scene explores themes of love and hatred and discusses deep issues that remain relevant in society today, creating a sense of grandeur. Crucially, this scene connects to the rest of the play, as it sets up the confrontation between Romeo and Tybalt and plays a pivotal role in the development of their love story and other key events. Act 1 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet is a highly effective scene in terms of its dramatic impact.

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