How Does Shakespeare Present Nighttime In Romeo And Juliet

His family’s feud with the Capulets is Romeo’s labyrinth, his love for his family is the sea, and his love for Juliet the sun. This parallel is emphasised even more when Romeo says “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” (2. 2. 3).  Both men are trapped in the middle ground, hovering between these two great forces, warned not to venture too close to either, lest it cost him his life. Where Icarus’s amazement at the sea’s beauty is what almost pulls him under, for Romeo it is his need to avenge his cousin Mercutio’s death that nearly does him in with his duel with Tybalt, Romeo saying “Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep  him company: either thou, or I, or both, must go with him." (3. 1. 88-91). When Icarus flies higher and higher still to bask in the sun’s warm rays, it is Romeo’s impulsive, wholehearted need to be with Juliet, his longing to be ever nearer to her, that dooms him. For both men, it is the need to be as close as possible to the heavenly warmth and beauty of these loves that spirals both heroes into the cold embrace of Death’s

Romeo’s soliloquy about Juliet says, “Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon”(2.2.4). This metaphor exemplifies the beauty that Romeo sees in Juliet. By saying that she is the “sun” he shows how much she stands out to him; shining brighter and higher than all others. This demonstrates Romeo’s deep connection to Juliet and no one else. At the first sight of Juliet, Romeo is very intrigued and he says, “The brightness in her cheeks would shame all those stars” (2.2.19-20). Romeo uses a metaphor to prove that she is shining, bright, high, and beautiful. He feels that she would “shame those stars” with her profound beauty, the thing that stands out most to him. Even when Romeo and Juliet know that things may become difficult between them Romeo says: “For stony limits cannot hold love out”(2.2.72). This personification shows how Romeo's desire for Juliet will not be stopped by anything. If “stoney limits” will not stop Romeo’s love for Juliet, he believes he will never let anything get between them. Through Shakespeare's use of figurative language, Romeo’s feelings for Juliet are

Other words that are being compared, are the words Earth and Heaven that are basically opposite of a spectrum, where Earth represents mortals and Heaven represents God. Thus, It is clear that the light vs dark is there, and there is a reason why it is in the play. The night of the party, the party that Capulet was describing as a marvellous event with the best people of the city, is the occasion where Romeo and Juliet meet, fall in love and kiss for the first time. It is a really crucial evening for the story because is where everything starts. The light vs dark archetype has been used in this quote to foreshadow the greatness of the party and how it is going to be important for the course of the story. It has been used to enhance the significance of the night and the conflicts that the party is going to bring. The last example, is in Romeo’s line, right after he met, fell in love and kissed Juliet: “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon”(2.2.4). Before explaining the light vs dark element in this quote, is better analyse the quote itself to learn the meaning behind it. Romeo compares Juliet, to the sun and its infinite

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest love stories ever told. This is evident in today’s society, with the story being retold again and again in theatre productions, books, and movie spinoffs. The story is of two lovers, whose love was doomed from the start due to their disputing families, the Capulets and Montagues, who would never see a marriage between the two. Romeo and Juliet eventually take their own lives, ceasing their families’ fighting. William Shakespeare, the playwright who wrote Romeo and Juliet and likely the most famous playwright ever, uses light and dark imagery within the story to highlight the lovers’ affection for one another against the backdrop of their lives. The motif of light and dark is used, with

In the beginning of the play, the motif of light vs. dark is displayed through imagery. “But all so soon as the all-cheering sun should in the farthest east begin to draw… away from light steals home my heavy son... and makes himself an artificial night.” (Montague, 1.2.127-128 130&133). This quote shows that the happy sun does not affect Romeo and the sad night is how he feels because of the darkness of the night. The quote also reveals that his depressed state is represented by darkness. This reveals a central idea that love will overpower all feelings, because he is sad that his love did not work out and caused him to be depressed.

A lantern, slaughtered youth, for here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes this vault a feasting presence full of light.” Light and dark imagery is used to describe Juliet as she acts as a source of light in the darkness of the tomb. The idea of light and dark imagery suggests a spiritual light that may surround the couple beyond death and deepens the dramatic impact. The audience is further positioned to see through the use of a metaphor, how Juliet’s beauty lights up the tomb. Clearly, Shakespeare wants Romeo to feel struck by the way Juliet’s beauty appears to defy death, as she still looks alive.

The previous passage was Romeo describing Juliet as beautiful as the sun, and professing his love for Juliet . At this point, Romeo is in the garden speaking to Juliet on the balcony. He refers to Juliet as the light of his world, and uses colorful imagery to describe her looks. This is one another example of the false love that exists. In addition to this quote, the narrator of the play describes Romeo and Juliet as “star-crossed lovers”. Another quote by Juliet describing Romeo in a sexual, lustful way is as follows;

about the meaning of night and not just look upon it with a one-sided point of

Shakespeare’s use of symbolism assists in conveying this idea of love and purity. However, this pure representation of night is contradicted when Juliet fears of being trapped within the ‘horrible conceit of death and night” (IV, iv, 24). The irony that Shakespeare uses to illustrate Juliet’s state of mind demonstrates her still developing character as she is conflicted between the concept of betraying for family and death itself. At this point in the play, from Juliet’s ponders and contradictory, the audience is able to conclude that she is very much torn and indecisive of her motives.

In this quote, stars are, again, symbolizing destiny. Romeo is acknowledging that he and Juliet cannot be together, as their destiny is to die together. He is essentially upset at his luck, and he is yelling about how his destiny has killed Juliet, and he wishes that is not how it was. This quote links back to the first quote, telling how Romeo and Juliet will both take their own lives. This quote begins to show the reader how the destiny is fulfilled, as Romeo mentions how he will “lie with Juliet” which just means that he will be dead with Juliet, most likely by his own hand.

And he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be

Shakespeare’s use of nature in the balcony scene is most commonly referenced when discussing Romeo’s comparison of Juliet to the sun. By comparing Juliet’s beauty to the sun, the text conveys the idea of Juliet coming into Romeo’s life has changed him for the better. Romeo begins his monologue with, “Juliet is the sun.” (Shakespeare 2.2.3). The sun is the center of the universe, and Romeo uses the sun to state that Juliet is the center of his universe. The use of this metaphor gives a comparison between the consistency of the sun and his love for Juliet. The sun is a symbol of rebirth for Romeo. When the sun rises in the morning, it is

This passage’s aim is to show the beauty of love that both Romeo and Juliet have, but ironically have to keep it a secret since there is a feud between both their families, since their love will not be allowed, and this will cause many problems for both of them in the future. This passage is both informative and descriptive. It describes Juliet’s beauty and the love that Romeo feels towards her, and its informative because it informs the readers Romeo’s feelings, and the way he sees Juliet, “the brightness of her cheek would shame those stars”. It also shows the beauty of love, since they both still love each other even when they know that there will be consequences if they were caught, and they are ready to sacrifice their lives for their love.

the east , and Juliet is the sun’. She is his source of light. Their

The life-death theme of the story can also be shown as a light-dark or love-death relationship. Romeo talks about Juliet as a bright angel shining in the darkness of night, "bright angel, for thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, As is a winged messenger of heaven Unto the white upturned, wond'ring eyes"