Romeo And Juliet Figurative Language Essay

What makes love and passion a double-edged sword? Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet delves into the complexities of Cupid and his impact on the characters. Through passionate feelings, Shakespeare is able to craft a tragedy where two lovers give up their lives, in a refusal to live without each other. Using Cupid as a symbol of both love and poison, Shakespeare provides an insightful commentary on the venomous nature of passion, displaying the tragic outcomes that can ensue. Using the actions and outcomes of the characters, clever uses of figurative language, and the many Cupid motifs scattered throughout the play, Shakespeare is able to prove the danger of unchecked passion. Romeo, Juliet, and Tybalt, three characters in the play, all of whom

Had she affections and warm youthful blood, she would be as swift in motion as a ball (2.5.7-13). Juliet’s impatience displays Cupid’s overwhelming influence over lovers. Cupid’s swift wings suggest the urgency that ensues for young lovers, portraying love as an uncontrollable force, emphasizing the perilous nature of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. Moreover, characters describe that the burden of love’s arrows is worse than they initially appear. Romeo laments: I am too sore enpierced with his shaft To soar with his light feathers, and so bound I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe: Under love’s heavy burden do I sink. (1.4.19-22) While Cupid is often depicted with light, almost whimsical wings, Romeo’s rant reveals the weight and sorrow that he carries due to his passion for Rosaline. This highlights the venomous nature of Cupid’s influence, where the initial excitement of love can quickly change to desperation and pain. Through the explicit mentions of Cupid, coupled with the representation of love’s blind, swift, and often perilous nature, Shakespeare provides commentary on the dangerous side of