Romeo and Juliet Text Response: The story of Romeo and Juliet is centred around conflict. How does Shakespeare’s use of contrasting imagery and symbolism enhance or compliment the conflicting ideas in the play. In Shakespeare’s perennial, haunting tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, the notion of conflict is a constant throughout the story and is portrayed through the use of conflicting imagery and symbolism. Romeo and Juliet was written and performed in the Elizabethan era, a time where the notion of the great chain of being was strongly believed and adhered to. Through the use of light vs dark imagery, Shakespeare conveys the conflict present in the story, but also highlights how Romeo and Juliet’s love opposes the darkness of the feud. Similarly, the concept of Through the use of darkness, Shakespeare conveys the conflict and hatred present in the story but …show more content…
In the city of Verona, a bitter, violent feud has been going on for many generations, and has ultimately consumed the city. However, through all of this misery and hatred, two lovers, a Capulet and a Montague find happiness and bring light to a city of darkness. Romeo describes Juliet’s beauty in terms of light and compares her to the dark, proclaiming that “Juliet is the sun” and that she should “rise…and kill the envious moon.” This shows how Romeo believes that Juliet’s “rich beauty” is far greater than the feud and directly conflicts with it. Romeo likewise personifies the moon, calling it “sick and pale with grief” at the fact that Juliet, the sun, is far brighter and more beautiful. In these instances, the moon signifies darkness which represents all things