Summary
Highlights
The play features stark contrasts, such as Romeo describing Juliet as "a snowy dove trooping with crows," highlighting her beauty against the ordinary and representing the extreme, absolute nature of the characters' perceptions and emotions.
Romeo uses religious imagery to express his devotion to Juliet, referring to her as a 'holy shrine' and his lips as 'blushing pilgrims.' This portrays his initial reverence and desire for a tender kiss.
Tybalt's recognition of Romeo via his accent, "This by his voice should be a Montague," reveals subtle forms of discrimination. The reference to the biblical story of 'Shibboleth' further emphasizes how accents can lead to identification and conflict.
Romeo's observation, "he has much to do with hate but more with love," emphasizes that the intense love for one's own family (Montague or Capulet) directly fuels the hatred for the opposing family, illustrating the intertwined nature of these strong emotions.
The video begins by introducing the concept of predetermined fate, as highlighted in the prologue's line: "from forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." The alliteration of 'fatal loins' draws attention to the role of fate, a key theme from the play's outset.
Shakespeare uses mythical references to foreshadow tragedy. Juliet's wish for Phoebus, the sun god, to hasten night, and the mention of Phaeton, Phoebus's son who lost control of the sun chariot, hints at the fated, tragic end of Romeo and Juliet's love.
The declining power of Capulet is subtly conveyed when he demands his 'longsword' during a fight, and his wife suggests he needs a 'crutch' instead. This signifies his aging and loss of control, contributing to the escalating feuds in Verona.
Later, Romeo's lips are used in a dramatically different context: to seal a death pact. In the burial chamber, he kisses Juliet, saying, "seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death," ratifying his decision to follow her in death.
Romeo's famous metaphor, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!" compares Juliet to the sun, endowing her with qualities of brightness, warmth, and sustenance. However, his subsequent desire for her to "kill the envious moon" suggests the violent and exclusive nature of their love.
The play uses oxymorons like "serpent heart hid with a flowering face" and "fiend angelical" to express Juliet's internal conflict. These contradictory terms reveal that she is torn between opposing perceptions of Romeo, seeing him as both good and evil.