In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare masterfully employs the key elements of tragedy, such as language, form and features, to explore the themes of extreme obsession and fate versus love. Depicted throughout the play, Shakespeare conveys Romeo’s extreme obsession, which ultimately leads to his downfall. Another theme discussed also includes fate versus love, incorporating the idea of how Romeo and Juliet were predestined to die. In Romeo and Juliet, one of the major themes portrayed is extreme obsession. This theme is portrayed in the sense of Romeo’s sudden love for Juliet, upon his first glance of her. In Act Two Scene Two, Romeo declares his love for Juliet. In the lines “Juliet is the sun” , there is a clear metaphor. This metaphor basically …show more content…
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. Specifically in, “O Sweet Juliet/ Thy beauty hath made me effeminate/And in my temper softened valour’s steel.” This quote is Shakespeare’s symbolism to the fact that even though he and Tybalt are sworn enemies as Montagues and Capulets, Juliet’s love has made Romeo soft. His wedding with Juliet just hours before, fresh in his mind, the audience sees Romeo back down from a duel, for the sake of his ‘wife’ and her cousin. Moreover, the phrase “softened valour’s steel” is also a direct