RoMeO & JuLiEt
‘O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear. Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.’
The dramatic contrast of light and dark draws attention to the way Romeo is dazzled by Juliet. Similar imagery is used in the Balcony Scene, where in soliloquy Romeo marvels at Juliet’s beauty, again comparing her to a brilliant source of light: ‘Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars As daylight doth a lamp.’
Romeo’s love for Juliet lifts his whole mood. Mercutio notes this transformation back to his old self: ‘Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo!’ So happy has Juliet made Romeo, that he is encouraged to try to make peace with his enemies. Romeo tries to avoid fighting Tybalt, endures his insults and tries to avoid confrontation: ‘I do protest, I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. And so, good Capulet – which name I tender As dearly as my own – be satisfied.’
However, Romeo is not wholly changed by the experience of true love. It has certainly lifted his spirits and made him more outgoing, but at heart Romeo is just as impetuous and rash as always.
PaSsIoNaTe AnD ImPeTuOuS (AcTs RaShLy) Romeo is characterised by his impetuous nature. He tends to rush headlong into things without taking the time to pause and reflect on the consequences of his actions. His rashness is apparent soon after he meets Juliet: Romeo doesn’t hesitate to risk his life by climbing into Capulet’s orchard and declaring his love for his enemy’s daughter. Romeo hastily arranges his marriage to Juliet. Although Friar Laurence agrees to perform
the marriage ceremony hurriedly, he notes Romeo’s youthful tendency to rush headlong into love. He warns Romeo that his violent passion may lead to disaster: ‘These violent delights have violent ends, / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, / Which as they kiss consume’. Romeo shows his passionate nature when he fights Tybalt. Furious that Tybalt has killed Mercutio, Romeo rushes to fight him. He embraces his anger: ‘Away to heaven, respective lenity, / And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!’ and in a rage, murders Tybalt. This indicates how Romeo’s passion overrides his reason and drives him to disaster. The consequences of Romeo’s rash behaviour is revealed in the play’s final scene. While in
exile, Romeo learns incorrectly that Juliet is dead. Without pause or time for reflection, Romeo rushes out to buy poison. His servant Balthasar notes how Romeo’s ‘looks are pale and wild’. Romeo hurries to Juliet’s tomb and there he takes his own life. However, some critics are reluctant to blame Romeo for the tragic ending. They point to the role of fate in bringing about disaster (see below).
A TrAgIc FiGuRe? A tragic figure is a character who is brought to disaster by his/her own flaws or inability to cope with his/her circumstances. In Romeo’s case, it could be argued that he is a tragic figure as he brings about his own death by his impetuous nature and rash actions.
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