preview

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Decent Essays

Anguish is conceived in love and death. William Shakespeare creates turmoil through his language in Romeo and Juliet. His tragedy shows how hate and love coincide with one another. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet’s passion for each other keeps them together, but eventually kills them both. Shakespeare creates the conflict through his language. His use of similes, metaphors, and verbal irony set the mood for his play. The way these components flow together create the atmosphere that made this misfortune legendary. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses similes often. For example, he uses a simile to show Lord Montague’s worry for Romeo. Montague goes on to say that Romeo is “So far from sounding and discovery/As is the bud bit with an envious worm/ Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air” (I.i.158-160). The simile in this scene is used to express how Romeo guards his emotions tightly, just as the bud of a flower holds itself tightly until it is comfortable enough to spread its leaves to the air. Furthermore, a simile is found when Romeo is describing love before the Capulet’s party. Due to his heartache from Rosaline, Romeo says, “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn” (I.iv.25-26). Romeo is comparing love to a thorn because it is painful. Love teases you and can hurt your heart, just as the thorn of a rose hurts if you touch it. Lastly, when Romeo is sneaking around the Capulets’ party and spots Juliet,

Get Access