Death Flashcards
Death quote 1
“Once more, on pain of death, all men depart,”
Prince Escalus’ threat “on pain of death” highlights how death is used as a tool of control in a society already consumed by violence. Shakespeare presents death not as a resolution, but as a recurring force that fuels the cycle of conflict and exposes the fragility of power.
Death quote 2
Act 3 (tybalt’s death) Lady Capulet: ‘For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague’ p65
Her call for vengeance shows how death in Romeo and Juliet is used as a tool to satisfy honour and grief, rather than being mourned, suggesting that violence is not only normalised in Verona but also perpetuated by toxic loyalty to family. Shakespeare uses this to highlight how the cycle of revenge dehumanises death and contributes to the tragic downfall of the younger generation.
Death quote 3
“A grave? O no, a lantern, slaughter’d youth”- This is a recognition of the amount of deaths withing the younger generation suggesting that the hasty pursuit of love or hasty pursuit of violence and restoring honour leads to detrimental consequences
Death quote 4
“the sight of death is a bell” – Lady Capulet Act 5
Lady Capulet likens her daughter’s death to a warning bell highlighting the immense guilt she experiences and is now consumed by the consequences of her actions and the role she played in Juliet’s demise by just sitting back and observing her husband mistreat Juliet.
The idea of ‘bell’ conjures imagery of time, serving as a reminder of life’s fleeting nature and the importance of cherishing love over oppressive societal norma and bitter feuds
Death quote 5
Act 5 Friar “Here lies the County Paris, slain and Romeo dead, and Juliet, dead before, Warm and new kill’d”
asyntedic listing emphasises the rapid, senseless piling of deaths. The lack of conjunctions mirrors the chaos and tragedy, showing how quickly love and hope have been replaced by unnecessary loss
