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Summary Explore how Shakespeare presents Romeo as a character who is passionate in Romeo and Juliet (30)
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Grade 9 Essay on Romeo’s Character in Romeo and Juliet
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Explore how Shakespeare presents Romeo as a character who is passionate in Romeo andJuliet (30)
Throughout the entirety of the play, Romeo is presented as an impulsive, fickle vain
character who is too indulged in a state of infatuation to realise the effect that his erratic
decisions have on others.
In Act 2, Scene 2, we see the extent of Romeo’s infatuation with Juliet. The quote “Neither
fair saint, if either thee dislike” uses religious imagery to herald Juliet and exemplify Romeo’s
love for her. The quote tells the audience how Romeo would be willing to give up his family
name for Juliet, which is significant as, during the time of the play, status was only
achievable through your lineage, and the fact that Romeo was willing to forsake it shows the
devotion that he had for her and that it wasn’t a case of “doting” as the Friar thought. Light
imagery is also used to describe his passion for Juliet, “with love’s light wings did I o’er-perch
these walls” which also utilises a metaphor to show how the light of love inspired Romeo to
jump the walls. It could be said that the use of this light imagery, calling “Juliet” the “sun”
could be to align with the trope of Petrarchan love, in an attempt to woo Juliet who believes
that Romeo is “too like the lightning”.Through the u se of religious imagery, light imagery
and language devices, we see how infatuated Romeo is with Juliet.
Earlier on in the play, we initially picture Romeo as a lovesick, depressed individual. The
quote “O brawling love O loving hate “ uses an oxymoron to highlight Romeo’s initial
confusion in love due to his unrequited love for Rosaline. The verb “brawling” connotes
violence and foreshadows the conflict later on in the play. A metaphor is used by Montague
as he describes Romeo to have made “himself an artificial night”. The recurring motif of light
and dark imagery is present here as the “night” symbolises isolation and depression.
Following Benvolio’s advice to “Examine other beauties” Romeo decided to go to the
Capulet ball, however, he had a premonition, fearing a “consequence yet hanging in the
stars” showing how Shakespeare and his audience had mixed views on predestination and
fate, and they believed that your demise was mainly down to your actions. Through the use
of oxymorons and motifs, we see how Romeo is described as lovesick and lonely.
In Act 1, Scene 5, we get a deeper insight into the passionate behaviour of Romeo. A
swathe of religious imagery is used, including “If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this
holy shrine” to show how Romeo wanted to describe Juliet in the most noble and lofty
manner, in a desperate attempt to flatter her and gain her approval. However, it could also
be said that Romeo uses this religious imagery such as “my lips, two blushing pilgrims” to
align with the Petrarchan trope of love in an attempt to woo Juliet. Shakespeare includes this
to make evident to the audience the decisions - mainly fuelled by passion, which push
Romeo to his untimely death.
In Act 3, Scene 1, we are introduced to the more erratic, impulsive Romeo, who is more
violent. He realises that “thy beauty hath made me effeminate” and likens his emasculation
to “valour’s steel” connoting strength and control. Some critics cite this point as when Romeo
learns to control his infatuation however I believe that it only fuels his hubris and his defiance
to societal norms. This is shown he says “I defy you stars” which uses astrological imagery
to present his infatuation fuelled hubris, which is considered by many to be his hamartia, his
fatal flaw which condemns him to his demise. Shakespeare had a great interest in Greek
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