How Is Romeo and Juliet Relationship Presented

One of the play’s most consistent visual motifs is the contrast between light and dark, often in terms of night/day imagery. Need Evidence! This contrast is not given a particular metaphoric meaning—light is not always good, and dark is not always evil. On the contrary, light and dark are generally used to provide a sensory contrast and to hint at opposed alternatives. One of the more important instances of this motif is Romeo’s lengthy meditation on the sun and the moon during the balcony scene, in which Juliet, metaphorically described as the sun, is seen as banishing the “envious moon” and transforming the night into day (2. . 46). A similar blurring of night and day occurs in the early morning hours after the lovers’ only night together.

Romeo, forced to leave for exile in the morning, and Juliet, not wanting him to leave her room, both try to pretend that it is still night, and that the light is actually darkness: “More light and light, more dark and dark our woes” (3. 5. 36) The Inevitability of Fate In its first address to the audience, the Chorus states that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed”—that is to say that fate (a power often vested in the movements of the stars) controls them (Prologue. ). This sense of fate permeates the play, and not just for the audience. The characters also are quite aware of it: Romeo and Juliet constantly see omens. When Romeo believes that Juliet is dead, he cries out, “Then I defy you, stars,” completing the idea that the love between Romeo and Juliet is in opposition to the decrees of destiny (5. 1. 24). Of course, Romeo’s defiance itself plays into the hands of fate, and his determination to spend eternity with Juliet results in their deaths.

The mechanism of fate works in all of the events surrounding the lovers: the feud between their families (it is worth noting that this hatred is never explained; rather, the reader must accept it as an undeniable aspect of the world of the play); the horrible series of accidents that ruin Friar Lawrence’s seemingly well-intentioned plans at the end of the play; and the tragic timing of Romeo’s suicide and Juliet’s awakening. These events are not mere coincidences, but rather manifestations of fate that help bring about the unavoidable outcome of the young lovers’ deaths.

The concept of fate described above is the most commonly accepted interpretation. There are other possible readings of fate in the play: as a force determined by the powerful social institutions that influence Romeo and Juliet’s choices, as well as fate as a force that emerges from Romeo and Juliet’s very personalities. Link this to ! STRUCTURE -briefly answer the question awhat the relationship is like, what sort of impression you get of the relationship. Second paragraph)-Context- write about how men/women were supposed to behave when the plays were written a how is this reflected in the text? (this bit is essential for Band 4/5). How do you think an audience might have responded to the relationship when the play was first performed? How might a modern audienceas response be different? (Third paragraph)- How language reveals the relationship- select 3 or 4 key examples of words that reveal to you the relationship a might be a simile /metaphor that has been used or a striking phrase/word.

Try to select them from the different scenes you are focusing on. For each make sure you analyse how the word/phrase suggests ideas about the relationship, not just what it suggests. (Fourth paragraph)- How structure reveals the relationship- think in particular about the relationship changes as the play progresses- analyze how Shakespeare shows the relationship changing as the play goes on. (Fifth paragraph)- How dramatic techniques reveal the relationship- this might include: the setting; actions; stage directions.

Try to find one or two examples Shakespeare presents Romeo & Juliet’s early relationship as a love-hate affair. By this I mean that although they love each other immensely, they are surrounded by the hate of their two families Arranged marriages were very common at the time depending on your social status and love had no meaning. At the time marrying at the age of 12 appeared to be normal, however now is frowned at.