💘R+J 💘 Flashcards
Love as a powerful emotion
“O she doth teaches the torches to burn bright”
Metaphor is a spontaneous outburst of passion. Plosive ‘b’ sounds capture enthusiasm –overwhelmed by her beauty. Light is a symbol of hope- love is a force for good amongst the violence in Verona. Force of love is so powerful that it leads to their suicide as they would die for each other/ rather die than life without each other.
True, genuine love=>religious images- love’s purity- R worships J- devoted to her “good pilgrim” “dear saint” “blessed”–> catholic country (Italy)- only God can create life and destroy it. Referencing J to being holy foreshadows the life they were doomed to take from each other
Physical Love
Shakespeare uses the nurse as a contrast from the purity of the young lovers’ feelings for each other. Act 2- the Nurse uses wordplay and puns making crude sexual references to Juliet’s wedding night “You shall bear the burden soon at night”- consummate marriage
Love as a force for change
Juliet changes. Act 3- Juliet waiting for Romeo- use of the imperative verb “spread” shoes Juliet is passionate and desires for her new husband- development from the beginning as she is seeking her own pleasure (beginning: “Madam, what is your will”) command verbs- control she has taken over her own life
Love has changed her from dutiful to disobedient/ shy to passionate/ quiet to assertive
Dangerous love
Love and violence seen as two sides of the same coin. Even on their wedding day there is reference to death as Friar says “These violent delights have violent ends”-> repetition of ‘violent’ warning to characters and audience=love=painful end.
Love is only reconciled in the end as the lovers death lead to peace in Verona
Parent-child love
Juliet+ Nurse “O honey Nurse”- epithet shows Juliet sees her Nurse as sweet and warm- reflects deep love. Different to relationship with mother- formal- addresses her mother as ‘Madam’. At this time, children in noble houses would be raised by servants- distance relationship between mother and daughter wouldn’t have been unusual.
Close to Nurse= wet-nursing(breast feeding)-close bond.
