Figurative Language In Romeo And Juliet

Juliet captivates the audience’s attention as she alludes to the Roman deity Phoebus, to bring in the night so that she may finally have her Romeo. Words such as “gallop apace”, “fiery footed”, and “immediately” communicate the hurried nature of her words as she excitedly anticipates her union with Romeo. However, this is juxtaposed with the nature of Juliet’s speech, which is arduously long-winded. She spends a great deal of time conveying her emotions, perhaps in an effort to convince the audience that her love is true. She quickly draws the comparison between Romeo and the night, which on the surface their relationship has predominantly taken place at night. She calls night, “the sober-suited matron”(III.ii.11) and says that night is, “whiter
Despite her excitement, the audience must remember that this play is indeed a tragedy, and in many ways her words presage their tragic end. Her words, “Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, Take him and cut him out into little stars” (III.ii.23-24) echo those famous words in the prologue of two star-crossed lovers who cannot live without one another. Ultimately, this soliloquy serves two major functions in the play. First and foremost, it calls the audience to the star-crossed nature of the lovers’ relationship. In Romeo’s famous soliloquy outside Juliet’s balcony, he refers to Juliet as the rising Sun, coming to abolish his perpetual night. The audience sees that Juliet, represented by the Sun, will always miss Romeo, represented by the night. This contrast is essential to creating dramatic irony in the play. The second way that this soliloquy functions in relation to the rest of the play, is that it provides a pivotal moment for Juliet’s character development. In Juliet’s last soliloquy, where she anxiously anticipates her Nurse’s news of the wedding arrangements, she displays impatience and immaturity. However, here her words are filled with eloquent