Despite the fact Shakespeare having written two plays from two unmistakably distinctive genres; I have been able to investigate the ways in which the plays are homogenous, which indeed suggest that they are both unique inside their own particular rights. Love, apprehension and extreme emotion are all present throughout the story of 'Romeo and Juliet' similarly included in the Merchants of Venice. In the play Romeo &Juliet written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet's fates are interlaced from the moment of their birth. Shakespeare's use of dramatic structure in the play including the switching between comedy and tragedy intensifies tension in scenes and brings the audience closer to the two youthful partners as we witness their relationship …show more content…
Romeo describes Juliet’s physical appearance, comparing her to “the sun” which suggests Juliet is now the centre of Romeo’s universe the same way as the sun is the centre of the solar system and she is now the one that gives him life the same way the sun does to the earth. Shakespeare uses this illustration to show the effect Juliet has had over Romeo almost comparing her with an object of that magnitude and a potent figure to life on earth. Romeo then proceeds to examine another force of nature in which he says, "Kill the envious moon". Using personification Romeo suggests that Juliet is more delightful than the moon and her magnificence surpasses that of the sun. Romeo's first words, portraying Juliet's appearance are full of longing and desire and in using the natural imagery of the sun and the moon suggests that his response to this relationship comes naturally and is very powerful. In comparison to the Merchants of Venice for example in which Different sorts of love is displayed. The love for a father for a young lady and here again there is a contrast in the way The Lord of Belmont presents his love for Portia and later on in the play the way Shylock behaves with Jessica. Jessica's elopement or the loss of his money when he says "My young lady! O my Daughter! O my daughter! My ducats and my daughter!" Although Portia admits that the …show more content…
Throughout the play Shakespeare builds up Portia's character from what appears like a subservient lady, who is constrained into a marriage, to a free lady who is viewed as an equal by her husband. The arranged marriage demonstrates that Portia was given no opportunity by her dominant dead father, which may be the reason Portia appears to make hateful remarks about all the suitors that come to attempt to win her hand in marriage. Toward the start of the play Portia has no control over her financial well-being or an unarranged marriage, she is almost, a prize to be won – here the lady is trapped in a male-dominant society, “I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I
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
In this essay, I will take a gander at the play of Romeo and Juliet. I will examine how Shakespeare has utilized dialect in the play for symbolic impact. I will also see how Shakespeare has displayed love and the path in which Romeo and Juliet converse with each other, I might choose whether their affection was genuine and discuss their parents differentiating perspectives and conclusions. I will likewise remark on the play's pertinence today and perceive how Shakespeare has utilized dramatic devices and structures to improve the discussion between the youthful lovers. All throughout the play, there is a consistent theme of love and destiny, I will be dissecting this subject and show how it influences Romeo and Juliet.
In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, two young lovers take their lives after their family feud reignites . A variety of decisions along with circumstance no one person could account for set the story of Romeo and Juliet up to be a tragedy. Many of the decisions in the play are made quickly and while emotions are running high, so frequently they result in bad outcomes. So, the rash and impulsive decisions made by men in Romeo and Juliet create the problems within the play.
The use of words in the play all have a deeper meaning. Romeo expresses himself to be the moon and Juliet to be the sun. The author states, “Juliet is the sun”. Arise the fair sun, and kill the envious moon”
Most of Shakespeare's plays are conceived around a foundation in either tragedy or comedy, this polarity of themes allowing him to experiment with the full range of human emotions. Typically, an integral part of a Shakespearean tragedy is love, which is frustrated by a breakdown in order, or the character of the hero, due to some human limitation. The play Romeo and Juliet has all these typical characteristics. However, the resultant conclusion of events for the characters in this tragedy is adversely affected by the hands of fate, and not solely the product of human limitations. Fate in fact has a decisive role in the events of the play; it is a series of rapid coincidental events, which lead to the final tragedy.
From 1589 to 1613 William Shakespeare produced some of the most original, thought-provoking and emotionally compelling plays, sonnets, and poetry. Two of his finest pieces of work, Othello and The Merchant of Venice feature dynamic characters, and insights into the chivalry and the xenophobic disposition of the English people at the time. Throughout these two stories, three primary female characters emerge, Desdemona from Othello, and Portia and Jessica from The Merchant of Venice. The female leads in each of these stories share many things in common such as their devotion to their mate and gracefulness, but the fate each woman ends up
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a tragic love story. The story concerns the love between two young people, Romeo and Juliet. This is set against a feud between their two families: the Montagues and the Capulets. This feud develops the themes of conflict, deception and dignity in the play. The play includes a lot of themes, love, family, hate, deception and revenge.
Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice has a rich and lengthy stage history, most notable for its portrayal of the controversial Jewish character, Shylock. While the depiction of Shylock is often memorable and center of attention in analyses, he is not the only character important to the play whose representation has changed throughout the centuries. Portia is an independent, clever, and resourceful heroine who is able to save Antonio from Shylock. Bound by a stipulation in her late father’s will, she is unable to obtain her own freedom and choose her own future. Instead, she has to leave her destiny up to a riddle her father devised involving caskets and her picture. To her dismay, this concept brings several suitors vying for her wealth instead of her heart, including the suitors known only as Morocco and Arragon in Shakespeare’s playtext. Directors have taken liberties with the scenes involving these two suitors, such as cutting these scenes in their entirety and modifying later portions of the play in accordance or reinterpreting how they interact with Portia. Studying the stage history of Portia’s unsuccessful suitors shows how directors over the years have interpreted these scenes and the effect these scenes have on the portrayal of Portia.
Portia is one women in the play who has assumptions made on her which eventually bites back on the assumers. Portia was being controlled by her father's will, who did not give her the right to choose her own husband. Portia disagreed very much with this will, " . . . I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father." (act 1 scene 2, 22-24). In these times women did not have much choice over anything. For example Portia could not choose whom she wanted to marry, not even if she was in love with another man. The father of the woman would have the most say in who she could marry and if he disliked the man she would not end up marrying him. This just shows the woman did not have the freedom to make their own decisions about their very own lives which also shows the stereotyping for women back then especially portia. When Portia had married Bassanio, he was very fortunate to be entitled to Portia's riches. Portia was entitled to grant Bassanio her fortune, "Myself and what is mine, to you and yours is now converted . . . This house, these servants, and this same myself are yours my Lord's, give them with this ring." (act 3 Scene 2, 166-167; 170-171). Married women were expected to do everything and anything for their husbands. If they had any riches or great fortune once they became married those fortunes were
William Shakespeare is widely known for all of his literary works; one of his most famous love tragedies being 'Romeo and Juliet'. A Shakespearean definition of tragedy exemplifies the sense that human beings are inevitably doomed through their own failures or errors, the ironic action of their virtues, or even through the nature of fate and destiny (Sayour, Susan, 2007). Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale based on two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. Throughout the play, Shakespeare intentionally draws on text structures and language features in order to replicate the attitudes, values and beliefs of Elizabethan audiences and intertwine it into his
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet discusses the many challenges the ‘star crossed lovers’ face. It is their own deceptive actions that ultimately lead them to their untimely end. However Romeo and Juliet are forced to be deceptive due to their fate and misfortune, the ongoing feud in Verona, and the misleading guidance they receive from others; which also contribute to their deaths. Romeo and Juliet focuses on the theme of love and hate, this theme is interweaved throughout the play.
Instead of being submissive and having positive thoughts about men, Portia demonstrates feminism and expresses her true opinions on men; the feminist having strong beliefs during her time indicates that she has an enormous amount of independence. Shakespeare introduces Portia as a powerless woman who cannot change her own fate: “How is it “choosing” when I may neither accept whom I will nor refuse whom I dislike? Thus the desires of a living daughter are curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none” (1.2.6). Portia tone in the passage demonstrates aggravation against her father.
Additionally, Romeo and Juliet can be considered a tragedy because a pair of innocent lovers die young due to a miscommunication. However, the play can be considered a romance because the story is based on young love and the emotions that derive from it. Moreover, Romeo and Juliet put their love for each other above all other concerns demonstrating their romantic relationship, and subsequently sealing their fate. Romeo and Juliet’s controversial story about conflicts and life-changing events that derive from love and misfortune, makes apparent the elements of the play that fall into the genre of both romance and tragedy.
Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, is a complex play which forces the reader to really delve into some of the contradictory values revealed. He uses the characterisation of women in the play- Jessica, Portia and Nerissa- to show reveal some contradictory values at the time, such as the idea of independence and freedom in women. When we study Portia’s character, we can see both values in her- in her speech and in her actions. We are also able to see independence in Nerissa, though her role in the play is small- and in Jessica we are consistently shown the value of freedom- in her speech, and in her actions in running away.
The literature genius William Shakespeare concocted two great stories which are very much different stories, but have intertwined themes and personalities. These two stories are the romantic play of Romeo and Juliet and the story about the descent to madness, Macbeth. Both of these fantastic plays have overlying arches about loyalty, love, and power. Furthermore, both of these plays have glaring differences such as the wildly different character dynamics.