Motifs In Romeo And Juliet

Playwright William Shakespeare is renowned for his plays in both modern and old times. Most famously, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet follows a feud between families that leads to the death of star-crossed lovers. The advancement of the play is displayed through different motifs and patterns. Specifically, the motif of dreams versus reality is developed by symbolism and word choice to convey that the desires of people are often disrupted by the harsh reality of their situation. To that end, the development of the motif through the characters' choice of words and symbolism also allows the progression of the theme. At the beginning of the play, the motif of dreams versus reality is displayed in the word choice used by the characters' discussion

Scene IV. 79-81). This piece of the text highlights the idea that Mercutio believes that love is something fleeting that should not be taken seriously, responding to Romeo’s depression towards his hopeless feelings. The contrast of “kisses dream” and “angry Mab” while discussing the situation of Romeo’s hopeless romanticization of Rosaline, shows how his desires will not be met due to the harshness of his reality. While Romeo dreams of a future of loving Rosaline, the reality that the love is only momentary destroys these feelings. As the beginning of the play continues, Romeo meets Juliet outside

Reality further highlights how dreams are often destroyed due to a rough truth. As news to Juliet and the Friar’s plan fails to reach Romeo, he is contacted by his servant, Balthasar. When Balthasar arrives to give him news about Juliet’s presumed death, Romeo states, “I dreamt my lady came and found me dead (Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to think!) and breathed such life with kisses in my lips that I revived and was an emperor. Ah me, how sweet is love itself possessed when but love’s shadows are so rich in joy!,” (Shakespeare Act V.Scene I. 6-12). Romeo’s dream foreshadows the following events: Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and shows how his dream did not get followed as he discovered his lady dead. In his dream, Romeo is revived by Juliet as an emperor and can live their lives together happily. Nevertheless, when Romeo finds Juliet’s sleeping body, he enacts his irrational plan to join her which she later follows as she awakes from her slumber. Consequently, Romeo’s inability to wake Juliet, caused him to act emotionally and they failed to thrive together. This development allows the reader to understand that due to the reality of Romeo’s situation, he was not able to react according to his