opposition in R&J

Question 1

mercutio and tybalt

Answer 1

• similar characters as their inclination towards violence make them catalysts for the plot.
• Both of these characters contrast with Romeo who does not want to join in the violence. Their masculinity is contrasted with Romeo’s feminine traits.
• Tybalt is a very serious character who introduces the reality of the situation to the audience whereas Mercutio adds comedic relief.

Question 2

opposition

Answer 2

• Shakespeare often uses juxtapositions and oxymoronic language to present these contrasting and contradicting ideas in the play. He also creates characters which have contrasting or similar personalities.

Question 3

Love and Hate

Answer 3

• With love comes hate
  -Romeo continously juxtaposes ideas about love

Question 4

Life

Answer 4

• aren’t any births, instead there are new beginnings which can be seen as symbolic of new life.
• The love between Romeo and Juliet is symbolic of this new life. They cannot remember a life before they had met each other, and they cannot imagine a life without each other.