Word Count: 456In William Shakespeare’s _Romeo and Juliet_, Shakespeare introduces manythemes that he continues throughout all of his tragedies, including the languageof love vs. the language of death. The balcony scene is the most valuablescene illustrating the language of love, whereas in the final scene of theplay the language of death is used to set the stage for their suicides, pullingtogether the tragic ending of the play.
Throughout the second scene ofAct II, Romeo uses beautiful metaphors and similes to express his affectionfor Juliet:O, speak again bright angel, for thou artAs gloriousto this night, being o’er my headAs is a winged messenger of heaven. (Rom. II. II, 28-30. )This passage is used to compare Juliet to an angel, somethignthat is universally held as sacred and lovely.
Elsewhere in the scene thereare lines that describe their love for one another, and add to the romantictheme of the scene:And but thou love me, let them find me here. My life better ended by their hateThe death prorogued, wantingof thy love. (Rom. II.
II, 76-78. ) In the final scene of the play, thereis much talk of death by Romeo, Friar Laurence, and Juliet. Romeo announceshis own demise in his soliloquy:Depart again. Here, here I will remainWith worms and chambermaids. O, hereWill I set my everlastingrestAnd shake the yoke of inauspicious starsFrom this world-weariedflesh. Eyes, look your last!Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips,O youThe doors of breath to engrossing death!(Rom.
V. III, 108-114. )TheFriar’s Frantic wrods and actions in conflict to his previous calm statureillustrate the grim mood of the scene:Stay not to question, for thewatch is coming. Come, go good Juliet.
I dare no longer stay. (Rom. V. III, 158-9. ) Both the language of love and the language og death playimportant roles in the tragedy.
They cooperate with light and dark imageryto make the play the masterpiece it is, a play of paradoxes and oxymorons,good and evil, neither one whole without the other. For without love therewould be nothing to lose, and without death there would be no way to lose it.
