How Does Shakespeare Use Imagery In Romeo And Juliet
The use of imagery in Romeo and Juliet
The themes of forbidden love, tragedy, loss and isolation are closely interlinked in “Romeo and Juliet”. Shakespeare uses imagery throughout the play to highlight their importance. The forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet is described using religious language, imagery of contrasting light and darkness, and nature; tragedy is emphasised by the imagery of death throughout the play; isolation can be seen in the language and actions of both the central characters, and loss is experienced in terms of both lost love, and loss of life, adding to the weight of the tragedy.
The theme of forbidden love is introduced in the Prologue, with celestial imagery which suggests that the lovers are doomed from the start by saying "star-crossed lovers"(Prologue.5). Later, just before he meets Juliet, Romeo has a strange premonition that his "mind misgives”.
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars…
By some vile forfeit of untimely death”
I.iv.105-109
Constant references to the stars throughout the play point to their fates already being sealed and doomed. When they first meet, Shakespeare uses a sonnet which is heavily laden with religious imagery using words like:"profane"; "holy shrine";"pilgrims";"devotion"; "palmers"; "faith". This suggests they have God on their side, which adds a …show more content…
The symbol of a rose, a traditional symbol of love, is used by Juliet to highlight the obstacle to their potential love caused by the "ancient grudge" of their families: "That which we call a rose… By any other name would smell as sweet" (II.i.86-87). Further images of growth in nature are used as symbols of their love in "fruit-tree tops"(II.ii.108).She uses the extended metaphor of a "bud of love ... summer's ripening breath....beauteous flower" to describe her feelings. Romeo matches this with nature imagery of his own to convince her of the power and sincerity of his
The themes of forbidden love, tragedy, loss and isolation are closely interlinked in “Romeo and Juliet”. Shakespeare uses imagery throughout the play to highlight their importance. The forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet is described using religious language, imagery of contrasting light and darkness, and nature; tragedy is emphasised by the imagery of death throughout the play; isolation can be seen in the language and actions of both the central characters, and loss is experienced in terms of both lost love, and loss of life, adding to the weight of the tragedy.
The theme of forbidden love is introduced in the Prologue, with celestial imagery which suggests that the lovers are doomed from the start by saying "star-crossed lovers"(Prologue.5). Later, just before he meets Juliet, Romeo has a strange premonition that his "mind misgives”.
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars…
By some vile forfeit of untimely death”
I.iv.105-109
Constant references to the stars throughout the play point to their fates already being sealed and doomed. When they first meet, Shakespeare uses a sonnet which is heavily laden with religious imagery using words like:"profane"; "holy shrine";"pilgrims";"devotion"; "palmers"; "faith". This suggests they have God on their side, which adds a …show more content…
The symbol of a rose, a traditional symbol of love, is used by Juliet to highlight the obstacle to their potential love caused by the "ancient grudge" of their families: "That which we call a rose… By any other name would smell as sweet" (II.i.86-87). Further images of growth in nature are used as symbols of their love in "fruit-tree tops"(II.ii.108).She uses the extended metaphor of a "bud of love ... summer's ripening breath....beauteous flower" to describe her feelings. Romeo matches this with nature imagery of his own to convince her of the power and sincerity of his