Romeo and Juliet - Emotion
Love. An intense, vivid emotion that is powerfully portrayed in William Shakespeare’s exceptionally riveting drama “Romeo and Juliet.” Illustrated throughout the play in many forms, most importantly in the courtly romance of main characters Romeo and Juliet, the heartening emotion is evoked strongly in Act Two Scene Two. Using effective techniques such as dialogue, plot, imagery and contrast, Shakespeare reveals the couples’ love and its effect on the entire play.
Firstly, it is clear the intensity and wealth of the love in this scene through the characters’ dialogue as they proclaim their feelings with heartened enthusiasm:
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep./ The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.” Juliet states her love for Romeo is endless and “infinite”, she compares the vast extent of her emotions to the limitless “sea” – here her desire is clear and strong.
Furthermore it is notable that Shakespeare uses the plot and contrast in his play to highlight the significance of the passion in this scene. In the opening scene, Romeo declares his apparent love for another woman, Rosaline:
“O brawling love/ O loving hate! O anything of nothing first create!” The oxymorons convey his frustration and confusion over this unrequited ‘love’, proving it is superficial. The juxtaposition on this false, one sided love against the later intense, true love with Juliet highlights how concentrated and deep his new love shown in Act Two Scene Two is.
The plot in “Romeo and Juliet” is particularly violent and hostile. Key scenes such as the opening scene and the vicious fight in Act Three Scene One between Romeo and Tybalt depict a savage feud between Romeo and Juliet’s families. This brawling, conflicting situation suggests anything but affection could occur between members of the Capulets and Montagues. The existence of the love conveyed in the balcony scene is emphasised in strength in its ability to withstand the
Firstly, it is clear the intensity and wealth of the love in this scene through the characters’ dialogue as they proclaim their feelings with heartened enthusiasm:
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep./ The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.” Juliet states her love for Romeo is endless and “infinite”, she compares the vast extent of her emotions to the limitless “sea” – here her desire is clear and strong.
Furthermore it is notable that Shakespeare uses the plot and contrast in his play to highlight the significance of the passion in this scene. In the opening scene, Romeo declares his apparent love for another woman, Rosaline:
“O brawling love/ O loving hate! O anything of nothing first create!” The oxymorons convey his frustration and confusion over this unrequited ‘love’, proving it is superficial. The juxtaposition on this false, one sided love against the later intense, true love with Juliet highlights how concentrated and deep his new love shown in Act Two Scene Two is.
The plot in “Romeo and Juliet” is particularly violent and hostile. Key scenes such as the opening scene and the vicious fight in Act Three Scene One between Romeo and Tybalt depict a savage feud between Romeo and Juliet’s families. This brawling, conflicting situation suggests anything but affection could occur between members of the Capulets and Montagues. The existence of the love conveyed in the balcony scene is emphasised in strength in its ability to withstand the