Romeo and Juliet
Romeo
‘You have dancing shoes with nimble soles :i have a soul of lead’
Juxtaposition of lightness against heaviness- contrast reflects his sense of emotional turmoil yet
we are aware it is overly dramatic through the plethora of oxymoronic language
‘A rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear’
The contrast between the countable noun ‘’jewel’ and the (proper) noun Ethiop’s conveys how
Juliet stands out among all others, including among the conflict which make her so appealing.
Therefore, implying as if she herself is the light to Romeo's life – and instrument of guidance
and reassurance but also addressing her angelic and celestial properties.
Also, Africa is known for being rich in minerals- Juliet is naturally unique and beneficial implying
that Juilet is as though a necessity to Romeo which foreshadows their marriage which itself is
viewed as a necessity.
Furthermore, it has connotations of exotic displaying how Juliet transports him into an unfamiliar
setting- Romeo is feeling foreign feelings of true love unlike felt before with Rosaline. Therefore,
placing Romeo in both an overwhelming and incomprehensible situation. Furthermore, this idea
that Juliet transports him conveys how Juliet literally and metaphorically transports him into a
life of happiness which is furthered by this constant light imagery. Also, the exotic connotation
shows how she is unique and will break the stereotype but also sexual exploration- voyeuristic
connotations brought on by fascination and intrigue of her uniqueness.
The countable noun ‘jewel’ in the Elizabethan era was closely linked to folklore, medicine and
religion- this implies that Juliet is reliable withholding all of this information. Juliet is capable of
, healing Romeos previous heartbreak. Jewels associated with miracles and superstitions; Juliet
is so unique that it is unnatural but also she herself has an incomprehensible beauty. She- as
though a legend (superstition) is famous yet something about her is uncertain- usually inspired
by true events yet is not necessarily true entirely as it is often altered. Juliet has accumulated
these unconventional changes in her life leading to his attraction.
A ‘jewel’ conveys misogyny and objectification and would only be worn by the nobility and the
upper-class e.g. Queen Elizabeth- Juliet is worthy of Romeos love and is something Romeo is
prideful in as they wore it convey status.
‘Saint seducing gold’ ‘she dies with beauty dies her store’
The common noun ‘gold’ is objectifying- it is deep underground implying that Rosaline is almost
as though a reckless and playful quest but also how he wants to have sex with her (literally
uncovering all that surrounds her ) and it is this distance that motivates Romeo to win her love
further. Furthermore, the sibilance conveys her lustful, proactive qualities implying that she is
driven by fantasies of her sexual beauty. Also in the process of reaching this ‘gold’, it is costly
and uses a lot of energy in the landscape- conveying how Petrarchan love is damaging due to
how it is misleading but also how exhausting it is for Romeo.
Also ‘gold’ is of high value and very attractive depicting how Romeo glorifies her and idolises
her because of this beauty and she is highly precious to him. In Elizabethan era, jewellery was
a symbol of extravagance and status suggesting that she brings him ease into a luxurious life –
in Elizabethan society, marriage was viewed as a necessity to both men and women.
However ‘gold’ also in its raw form is quite soft- Romeo wishes to imprint on her and utilize her
vulnerability as an inferior woman despite her objections. Furthermore, was worn by people to
show status, implying that women were tangible objects used as assets by others rather than
actually being worthy of being seen as their own person. Gold is also shaped into its most
appealing form that suits the buyer- women are shaped in the most desirable way . Its as if
Romeo believes Rosaline was specifically shaped for her yet as it symbolises stauts and
therefore pride her rejection brings him great humiliation.
Gold is inert- reflecting the lack of a spark, a chemistry between the two of them and how boring
the journey is that there is no sensual aspect let alone a mutual feeling of love shared between
the two of them.
Romeo
‘You have dancing shoes with nimble soles :i have a soul of lead’
Juxtaposition of lightness against heaviness- contrast reflects his sense of emotional turmoil yet
we are aware it is overly dramatic through the plethora of oxymoronic language
‘A rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear’
The contrast between the countable noun ‘’jewel’ and the (proper) noun Ethiop’s conveys how
Juliet stands out among all others, including among the conflict which make her so appealing.
Therefore, implying as if she herself is the light to Romeo's life – and instrument of guidance
and reassurance but also addressing her angelic and celestial properties.
Also, Africa is known for being rich in minerals- Juliet is naturally unique and beneficial implying
that Juilet is as though a necessity to Romeo which foreshadows their marriage which itself is
viewed as a necessity.
Furthermore, it has connotations of exotic displaying how Juliet transports him into an unfamiliar
setting- Romeo is feeling foreign feelings of true love unlike felt before with Rosaline. Therefore,
placing Romeo in both an overwhelming and incomprehensible situation. Furthermore, this idea
that Juliet transports him conveys how Juliet literally and metaphorically transports him into a
life of happiness which is furthered by this constant light imagery. Also, the exotic connotation
shows how she is unique and will break the stereotype but also sexual exploration- voyeuristic
connotations brought on by fascination and intrigue of her uniqueness.
The countable noun ‘jewel’ in the Elizabethan era was closely linked to folklore, medicine and
religion- this implies that Juliet is reliable withholding all of this information. Juliet is capable of
, healing Romeos previous heartbreak. Jewels associated with miracles and superstitions; Juliet
is so unique that it is unnatural but also she herself has an incomprehensible beauty. She- as
though a legend (superstition) is famous yet something about her is uncertain- usually inspired
by true events yet is not necessarily true entirely as it is often altered. Juliet has accumulated
these unconventional changes in her life leading to his attraction.
A ‘jewel’ conveys misogyny and objectification and would only be worn by the nobility and the
upper-class e.g. Queen Elizabeth- Juliet is worthy of Romeos love and is something Romeo is
prideful in as they wore it convey status.
‘Saint seducing gold’ ‘she dies with beauty dies her store’
The common noun ‘gold’ is objectifying- it is deep underground implying that Rosaline is almost
as though a reckless and playful quest but also how he wants to have sex with her (literally
uncovering all that surrounds her ) and it is this distance that motivates Romeo to win her love
further. Furthermore, the sibilance conveys her lustful, proactive qualities implying that she is
driven by fantasies of her sexual beauty. Also in the process of reaching this ‘gold’, it is costly
and uses a lot of energy in the landscape- conveying how Petrarchan love is damaging due to
how it is misleading but also how exhausting it is for Romeo.
Also ‘gold’ is of high value and very attractive depicting how Romeo glorifies her and idolises
her because of this beauty and she is highly precious to him. In Elizabethan era, jewellery was
a symbol of extravagance and status suggesting that she brings him ease into a luxurious life –
in Elizabethan society, marriage was viewed as a necessity to both men and women.
However ‘gold’ also in its raw form is quite soft- Romeo wishes to imprint on her and utilize her
vulnerability as an inferior woman despite her objections. Furthermore, was worn by people to
show status, implying that women were tangible objects used as assets by others rather than
actually being worthy of being seen as their own person. Gold is also shaped into its most
appealing form that suits the buyer- women are shaped in the most desirable way . Its as if
Romeo believes Rosaline was specifically shaped for her yet as it symbolises stauts and
therefore pride her rejection brings him great humiliation.
Gold is inert- reflecting the lack of a spark, a chemistry between the two of them and how boring
the journey is that there is no sensual aspect let alone a mutual feeling of love shared between
the two of them.
