Romeo and Juliet: Imagery of Love :: Romeo and Juliet Essays

William Shakespe bes play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, is the story of two star crossed lovers who both meet a tragic end. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy however, the poetic and glorious manner in which Shakespeare engages the viewer or reader make this a beautiful play. The story of Romeo and Juliet is timeless, and it has provided a model for many other stories. The story line or plot in Romeo and Juliet is well loved by many around the world, but that is not what gives the play its special quality. Just as in most of Shakespeares plays, words and phrases with double meanings, imagery and poetry are all used to create a play that is not only a pleasure for the eyes, but atomic number 53 for the ears and mind as well. The following statement by Romeo in act one scene one provides a good example of this Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs, Being purgd, a fire sparkling in lovers eyes, Being vexd, a sea nourishd with loving tears. What is it else? A madness most discree t, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet (Riverside, 1.1.190-193). Shakespeares use of these components is exquisite and allows for much deeper interest group by the reader or viewer. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses imagery in the forms of lightness and darkness, animals, and plants or herbs to provide the reader or viewer with a more vivid and enjoyable experience. Lightness and Darkness Imagery of lightness and darkness is used extensively throughout Romeo and Juliet to symbolize and/or describe events that take place. Capulet describes the party he is planning with lightness and darkness, Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light(1.2.25). Stars continue to have a role in the play as Juliet mentions her own expiry she claims, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he provide make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with the night, And pay no worship to the garish sun(3.2.22-25). It seems that Juliet, unknowingly, is describing the future in a symbolic sense. Later in the play, after Romeo is banished from Verona for the bump off of Tybalt, he and Juliet exchange lines that are full of light imagery. As the dawn is approaching, Romeo describes the view, Look, love, what envious streaks / Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east / Nights candles are burnt out .