Figurative Language In Romeo And Juliet

Finley Butler
Mrs.Christopher
High School English 2
25 May 2023
The Power of Love
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare portrays the theme that love is both a passionate and destructive force. It is depicted as an intense and overwhelming emotion that can lead to joy and fulfillment, but also to tragedy and loss. The play explores the passionate and tragic love between the two main characters, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who come from feuding families in Verona, Italy. While their love is genuine and intense, their relationship is ultimately doomed from the beginning. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays love as a violent, overpowering force that overwhelms all other values. He suggests that love is able to obscure one's vision

The use of figurative language allows the audience to easily compare and understand the dominant theme that love is an overwhelming emotion that can cause people to make irrational decisions. While Romeo and Benvolio are talking about how Rosaline doesn't love Romeo, Romeo expresses his attitude toward love. “Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; /Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes”(1.1.217-218): This metaphor compares love to a smoky haze, implying that it clouds one's vision and judgment, obstructing clear thinking. In these lines, Romeo expresses his view of love. He compares love to smoke that is created by the fumes of sighs. By characterizing love as a smoke and a fire, he draws attention to its ability to obscure reason and logical thinking. Emphasizing the potent and intense nature of love. This statement provides evidence that love is capable of distorting one's vision causing them to make irrational decisions. Another example of how the power of love is able to overwhelm other values is in Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 2-3 when Romeo is talking to himself about how much he loves Juliet.

In Act 2, Scene 2, Line 35 Juliet questions why Romeo has to be a Montague, the son of her family's enemy, and she wishes that he could be a part of a different family so that their love could be free and unrestricted."O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" (2.2.35) Juliet speaks this line on her balcony, questioning why Romeo had to be a Montague, the rival family to her own. In this line, Juliet is talking to herself questioning why Romeo had to be a Montague. This showcases the impulsive nature of their love, as they are willing to risk things for each other without fully understanding the consequences that may result from their dating. The immaturity of Romeo and Juliet is shown once again in Act 2, Scene 6 as Friar Laurance warns Romeo about getting married to Juliet so hastily. While Friar Laurance is talking to Romeo, he explains to Romeo that getting married to Juliet could cause violent problems. "These violent delights have violent ends/ And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss, consume." (Act 2, Scene 6, Lines 9-11),In this Scene Friar Laurence warns Romeo about the extreme and impulsive nature of his love for Juliet. Before marrying Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurance talks to Romeo about how marrying Juliet could cause serious problems. In Line 9 he emphasizes the