Theme Of Duality In Romeo And Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet the topic of duality is often mentioned because many elements of the play as in life has two sides. In the story , Shakespeare often uses contradictions and irony to help explain the topic. One theme to fit this broad topic would be that People and life are unpredictable: there isn’t a lot that is “black and white”.

Friar Lawrence compares plants to humans in his character’s opening monologue. Where he is discussing how plants can be poison or medicine depending on how applied and treated.

For naught so vile that on earth doth lie

But to the earth some special good doth give

Nor aught so good but,strained from that fair use

Revolts from true birth,stumbling on abuse

Virtue turns vice,being misapplied
2:3:17-22

In this quote, Lawrence is saying how nothing on Earth that is so evil that it doesn’t have special features but there isn’t anything so good that it can’t turn vile when put to the wrong use and abused. Something bad can ‘turn” good in the right situation. The monologue had the friar talking about plants and herbs but it also applies to people because people aren’t all evil but nobody is all amazing. We conform to the situation. We may be born good but depending on our nurturing and environmental factors humans can turn corrupt.

Another time we see human nature being very confusing is soon after Romeo and Juliet meet and “fall in love”. Juliet proclaims to herself after Nurse tells Juliet who she danced with at the party.

My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!