Differences In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

In Williams Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers share their differences, but love brings forth their similarities. Romeo is portrayed as irrational when he is affected by love. Following their first meeting, Romeo instantly falls for Juliet despite the feud between the two houses. He climbs over the orchard walls, and protest for them to “find me here// My life were better ended by their hate, //Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love” (2.2.80-83). In other words, Romeo does not care if he were to get caught, as he'd rather die having been with Juliet than long for her at a distance. Romeo ignores the feud and neglects to care for his own safety, hence his love for Juliet causes him to act irrationally. Shakespeare

After discovering Romeo’s true identity, Juliet contemplates about how if Romeo were to be married, her “grave” will also be her “wedding bed” (1.5.148-149). ”Grave” literally refers to where a deceased person lies, while “wedding bed” is where a married couple lays. Juliet foreshadows how if her and Romeo were to get married, death will be inevitable. Shortly after their encounter, the two profess their love for each other. Romeo proposes to exchange vows and Juliet responds: “I gave thee mine before thou request it” (2.2.135). Juliet does not hesitate to accept the proposal, and disregards what she previously have claimed. Therefore her actions of accepting the proposal are seen as rash because she ignores the fate that has been already written for the two lovers. In contrast with Romeo, Shakespeare uses light imagery to represent Juliet. When Romeo stood underneath the balcony, he calls for Juliet and makes references to the sun which is a powerful source of light and the brightest star in our sky. Although he calls for Juliet, Romeo refers to her as a “fair sun” (2.2.4). By suggesting that Juliet is a sun, Romeo is transferring the light a sun possesses into something Juliet now obtains. Thereby figuratively meaning Juliet is bright. While Romeo appeals to beauty, Juliet seeks for personality. Lady Capulet tries to persuade Juliet into marrying Paris due to his wealth and power that they can inherit. Hoping to intrigue Juliet, Lady Capulet compares Paris to a “precious book” (1.3.93) with “gold clasps"(1.4.98). “ Gold clasps” literally is a gold device that fastens two things together and appears on a cover of a book. Because Paris is affluent, he is associated with a color like gold. Thus, when Lady Capulet references the “gold clasps” on the “precious book,” it figuratively means she is describing Paris appearance. Juliet, who is not interested, answered: “I’ll look to like, if looking