Techniques Used in Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare both includes themes of drama, tragedy, and sacrifice in their love story in English literary tradition. The English poet William seeks tragedy in the end of his stories. The American novelist uses the word “love” as a real-life scenario. 

William Shakespeare’s Romero and Juliet’s tragic love story ends horrifically, where two young teenagers fall in love but are forbidden to be with each other. Shakespeare’s Juliet and Romeo is a tragedy so there must be a tragic hero.

Therefore, Romeo is the tragic hero. In the city of Verona, The Montagues is a rich family as well as the Capulets. Romeo is already in love a women name Rosaline, in which Romeo does not mention anything about her as a person, but rather her appearance. He then goes to the Capulet’s party in disguise and sees Juliet and to Romeo, it was love at first sight.

Romeo:

Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night.

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows

As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.

The measure done. I’ll watch her place of stand,

And touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.

Did my heart love till bow? Forswear it sight!

For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night. ( Shakespeare Act 1, Scene 5)

Shakespeare uses imagery to show Juliet is like a dove walking amongst crows. It symbolizes Juliet of being innocent and peace and how Juliet lights up the room. When confronting each other Romeo uses metaphors to convince Juliet to kiss him. Their relationship faces conflict from the family feud ( Tybalt and Mercutio) , but now also a conflict with religion. Masculinity, during Shakespeare’s time, had two different and opposing sides. Men could either choose to be violent on behalf of their father and family name or choose self-control and probably a woman to love. For example, Mercutio was killed by Tybalt and dies defending Romeo’s honor, and when Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt and defend his family name because of his love for Juliet. Tybalt also dies defending the family name. Juliet fakes her own death by taking drugs temporarily to be only with Romeo and in this case Romeo assumes her passing is real.

Romeo is stuck by her beauty and the way death looks on Juliet. “Why art thou, yet so fair? Shall I believe/ that unsubstantial death is so amorous?”(Shakespeare Act 5, Scene 3). He continues to ask himself questions and is confused. Shakespeare expresses dramatic irony and advises the audience to be aware that Juliet is slowly recovering and awaking from the drugs. He believes in true love and even in death forces him to press onward with his own suicide by drinking poison from a vial just as about to be awakened. When Juliet awakens she’s realizes he had committed suicide for her and therefore she stabs herself with his dagger. Shakespeare’s themes include love vs. lust and hate vs. love causing two cross lovers in a tragic death.

The Renaissance period (English), William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet’s love story is similar to The Notebook of families disapproving love. Shakespeare’s beliefs about love end in betrayals, sacrificing and tragedy. Juliet’s family had marriage arrangements for her and Romeo was never intended to be in her life due to being enemies with his family. The play is filled with contrast like these: Tragedy mixes with comedy, love with hate and death with life. Both authors have quite the same similarities, but different attitudes and aspects of love. The love stories both sacrifice to be together, but different endings. William Shakespeare’s love story is influenced with tragedy and Spark’s end with a happily ever after story.

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