In-depth quote analysis Flashcards
R+J
‘O happy dagger, this is thy sheath’
1) Oxymoron - symbolic of R+J relationship.
Happy to die - uses something that belongs to Romeo and is certain of her intent - ‘this is thy’.
2) Sexual imagery. Consummation, joining, unity, belonging, connected, pair - together in eternal life, hell as suicide is sin? Creating own heaven - breaks rule of Catholism views - Romeo more important than being with God.
3) Sword belongs in sheath. Perfect fit as a dagger must fit perfectly in a sheath.. not apart/ w/other lovers. Physical + metaphorical idea = without each other, sheath is empty and purposeless - together in death - true purpose as a couple. Dagger = dangerous without sheath -> danger if R+J can’t be together.
4) Couple at odds w/ society throughout play - ultimate example of love + death (closely linked throughout play) Juliet acting independently, confronting gender expectations.
Literally burying their parents’ strife.. a culmination of what the prologue said.
Buries sheath = buries conflict
R+J
‘the fish lives in the sea’
Fish = women
Small prey, insignificant, not distinctive, travel together, difficult to distinguish one from another, must hide to survive, vulnerable, abundance, disposable, easy to replace, look the same, they’re a resource - caught then used.
Sea = society
patriarchal society, women live in a man’s world, fish lives in the sea, world created by men for men, living conditions and existence dependent upon men. Fish can’t survive without seawater/ men or the rules dictated to them by patriarchy. Expectation for women to conform to men ideas of how they should live their lives. Symbolic of the inescapable, cyclical nature of a women’s fate. Can’t and shouldn’t be questioned; survival depends on it. Pre-destined fate of women to exist/ trapped in this cycle of nature.
Lady Capulet enforces + encourages this view. Doesn’t see how this perspective should be challenged - unnatural - questioning this would place the individual at odds with society. Sea can live without fish but fish can’t live without sea.
Young women show family allegiance and love of their family by conforming to this life or face the death and dissaproval.
Clear, self-explanatory statement - Lady Capulet’s view is quintessential Elizabethan woman. No need to question the viewpoint. Women living in a man’s world - right way to live.
Lives = exists, flourishes, thrives
R+J
‘Baggage’
1) Weighs you down, holds you back. Lord Capulet wants to be relieved of the responsibility of Juliet - resents her like baggage.
2) However, it also contains what you need in transit -> to improve/ benefit your life. It is useful. Juliet has what Lord Capulet needs to transition his family to a more powerful status.
3) Juliet dehumanised to an object. Owned by Lord Capulet and can use her or dispose of her at his own discretion.
4) Expectation of Juliet to conform to father’s decision. Girl’s role to marry the man she is told to, otherwise she is useless! Not serving the family. Disloyal. Marrying into the right family can benefit the whole family, improving their status and making life easier. Demonstrates reality of vulnerable position daughters were in if they didn’t follow their father’s instructions.
5) Lord Capulet is angry. Both Tybalt and Juliet challenged him.
Masculinity/ status in jeopardy.
Feels old + out of control so he imposes order on chaos of younger gen. choices.
6) Irony - he seems himself as increasingly at odds/ conflict with the society he has been an embodiment of up to now.
Frightened to change so he must act and regain order. Not prepared to accept his fate - getting older and with that relinquish power and repeat.
