How Does Shakespeare Use Juxtaposition In Romeo And Juliet

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Oxymorons and juxtaposition help audiences understand how two individuals with opposite traits can join together to become related and work together perfectly. In William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses oxymorons to emphasize the transformation of different characters. Oxymorons also help readers think about a character's situation and bring attention to the ideas being shared. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare sends across the message that nobody is simple. This creates indirect characterization when he uses complex juxtaposition to describe Romeo and Juliet's complex love. Through terms of contrast, Shakespeare characterizes Romeo as naive in the beginning of the play. Romeo makes mistakes by killing Tybalt and this destroys Juliet. She becomes heart-broken from this because her true love had just killed her cousin. This reveals Romeos dark side. Shakespeare uses oxymorons to help readers understand the betrayal of Romeo and how Juliet reacts. After hearing this news, Juliet compares Romeo to a snake, “serpent heart” (3.2.73), she is saying that Romeo has a heart, and when you think of a heart, you think of a …show more content…

In that romantic scene, Romeo starts confessing his love to Juliet, “O, she does teach the torches to burn bright” (1.5.44). Romeo is simply saying that Juliet is the light of his life, and that she's the only good thing about their broken world. Romeo continues to share his feelings for Juliet, “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows” (1.5.46). This kind of juxtaposition is representing a snowy dove as Juliet and everyone else in the world as a trooping crow. Romeo says this to claim that Juliet is the only good thing about his sad life of war between their families. She represents hope. This juxtaposition helps the audience fully understand the passion Romeo has towards