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Examples Of Figurative Language In Romeo And Juliet

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Danielle Matamba Matamba 1 Marryat NC English 1 8 February 2023 Analysis of Shakespeare’s Iconic Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene The classic author, William Shakespeare, is well known for his usage of figurative language in his most famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Many scholars consider Shakespeare the master of figurative language. In Romeo and Juliet, he uses different forms of figurative language to help create tension and add to the tragedy. In Romeo and Juliet’s balcony scene, Shakespeare relays Romeo and Juliet’s passionate, almost obsessive young love through the …show more content…

At the Capulet party, Romeo and Juliet call each other “saints” and “pilgrims”. Juliet tells him to cast his family name, and Romeo calls out, “Call me but, love and I’ll be newly baptized” (2.2.50). If Juliet calls him her love, he will no longer be a Montague which is like how when someone has a baptism done to dispose of their sin. Romeo responds to Juliet and calls Juliet “dear saint,” (2.2.66) asserting that Juliet is holy and is in or will go to heaven. Romeo surrenders his entire being to Juliet, closely encroaching to an obsessive level as if he is a martyr or someone with …show more content…

Juei uses archetypal imagery to ensure the stability of their relationship. Romeo describes Juliet’s eyes as “Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven”(2.2.15). He compares her to the stars and those stars would ask her “to twinkle in their spheres till they return” (2.2.16). Romeo compares her earnest eyes to the stars, commenting that the stars could be replaced by her eyes and they will still shine the same. Romeo also describes Juliet as a “bright angel”(2.2.26) and she is the winged messenger or heaven/ Unto the white, upturned, wondering eyes/ Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him”(2.2.28-30). He compares Juliet to God’s messengers, that turn mortals head when they come down on earth, as men turn their heads when Juliet walks by. Juliet tells Romeo not to swear by “the moon, th’ inconstant moon/... Lest thy love prove likewise variable,” (2.2.109,110) Juliet’s way to ask that he prove his love will never change, unlike the constantly changing

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The skilled use of imagery is showcased in Romeo's soliloquy, where he compares Juliet to the sun, exclaiming, "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief." This metaphorical language intensifies Romeo's inner turmoil as he attempts to reconcile his deep affection for Juliet with the bitter feud between their families.

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Romeo and Juliet has been a great story and there is so much figurative language in this play and we have to understand it sometimes. The text states, “As is a winged messenger in heaven…” This quote shows how he thinks of Juliet as an angel. Romeo compares him looking up at Juliet to mortals looking up at an angel.

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Throughout the play, different things like the ongoing feud between the Montagues and the Capulets continuously challenge the love Romeo and Juliet have for each other. Shakespeare uses dramatic conventions in some scenes that show Juliet’s internal conflicts. Highlighting the popular balcony scene where they express their love Juliet tells Romeo that she wants him to go, in which Shakespeare reflects that with an oxymoron “So loving-jealous of his liberty.” (Shakespeare Act 2, Scene 2) If she were to let Romeo go, she could have avoided her tragic fate.

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William Shakespeare's renowned tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet," delves into the depths of overwhelming passion and its consequences. Through the masterful use of the binaries of love and hate, Shakespeare illustrates how intense emotions can drive individuals to engage in impulsive and irrational behavior, ultimately leading to tragic outcomes. In this play, the characters' actions are fueled by an all-consuming passion that blinds them to reason and propels them towards fatal decisions. By analyzing Shakespeare's craft moves, particularly his word choices and use of imagery, we can gain insight into the destructive power of unbridled passion and its influence on the characters' choices. In this essay, we will explore how Shakespeare crafts the language and imagery in "Romeo and Juliet" to highlight the characters'

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After the initial revelation that Juliet is of the rivalling Capulet family, Romeo is overcome with fear and angst. This is evident when Romeo says “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” (I, v, 118-119) Despite Romeo’s initial hesitations, that same night he sneaks back to see Juliet on her balcony where he declares, “I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, and but thou love me, let them find me here.

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He is not just drawn to her physical beauty, but also to her inner qualities that radiate outward. Additionally, the word "match" creates an image of competition and implies that the subject's beauty surpasses all others. Similarly, Romeo displays a sense of awe in the face of his lover's beauty, which is reflected in the use of light imagery. After laying eyes on Juliet for the first time, Romeo states, " O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!...

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Romeo is so in love with Juliet, that he willingly makes her his biggest source of life. The second part of the quote,”kill the envious moon”, is the personification that ties up the metaphor. By writing Romeo so infatuated that he believes Juliet could bring to life, make jealousy, and literally kill an inanimate object Shakespeare adequately showcases Romeo’s “strong” feelings. With the metaphor of Juliet being Romeo’s sun, and the personification of the moon being a jealous maiden, Shakespeare has unveiled to the audience Romeo’s hamartia, that he rushes into everything without any previous thought. Another occurrence wherein Romeo’s endless infatuation is brought to light again, is in Act Three, Scene One.

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Shakespeare uses Juliet’s character development of learning to love Romeo even if he is from the enemy to strengthen the theme that Love can be found in the most unexpected of

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At last but not least, the author employs negative diction, such as: “vexed” (1.1.199), “madness” (1.1.200), and “gall” (1.1.201). “Vexed” denotes annoyed, and “madness” denotes insanity. Since Romeo is referring to love in such a negative way, this shows that Romeo is pessimistic about love. In this passage, the metaphors demonstrate that love is short-lasting, depressing, and conflicting. Due to the metaphor and negative diction in this passage, the author characterizes Romeo as a person who is conflicted and frustrated by love.

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William Shakespeare consistently uses language that displays celestial imagery in order to explore enduring themes such as love, loss, destiny and vengeance throughout his classic play Romeo and Juliet. The uses of imagery that Romeo uses bequeath not only the idea of fate, but meaningful symbols and metaphors to successfully convey the despair that the lover’s face in a way that we ourselves can feel their lust as well as their anguish. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses imagery to portray the adoration and love Romeo has for Juliet using language to compare her to all that illuminates. Here Romeo professes, Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,

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