Summary Gcse, Romeo and Juliet grade 9 analysis of Abraham, Sampson and Benvolio
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I have handwritten these original and unique notes that helped me to get 156/160 in gcse English literature. This is a grade 9 English literature analysis of Abraham, Sampson and Benvolio
In Greek mythology, Leda and the Swan is a story and subject in art from Greek mythology in
which the god Zeus, in the form of a swan, seduces and has sex with Leda by raping her. This as
a result implies that if Rosaline will not stay mute like the Greeks believed swans to be and also if
she doesn’t accept Romeos desires in which he tries to force upon her, like Zeus, by also
deceiving her through his Petrarchan love then Rosaline will be denounced to that of a witch
familiar, ‘a crow’ an evil spirit, in animal form, who was used by the witch to perform evil
deeds and cast malevolent spells) and therefore implying that Rosaline is a vessel for
trouble (responsible for Romeos elaborate love sickness and disheartened attitude).
(FROM A WEBSITE)
Crows also are watchful creatures that have a powerful and sharp foresight implying that
Rosaline is over analysing the situation and being far too cautious.
Shakespeare directly contrasts this to Romeo language of ‘snowy dove'
‘Take thou some new to infection to thy eye, And the rank poison of the old will die’
Benvolio can be seen as having a prophetic quality as well as catalysis tragedy as he is the
one convincing Romeo to go to the Capulet party that leads him to meet Juliet.
The abstract noun ‘infection’ foreshadows the idea that once Romeo meets his ‘infection
who is Juliet and he gets over Rosaline as a result, tragedy will begin to spread rapidly as
their acquaintance leads to Mercutio and Tybalt’s death then their own and their family's
sadness and so like and infection over the mere couple of days the tragedy is unstoppable.
Furthermore an ‘infection symbolises invasion to reveal how it die to Romeo almost invading
that Capulets party that leads to this tragedy. In Elizabethan society, due to lack of medicine
and unsanitary conditions diseases and infections were common, thus Shakespeare may be
criticising Elizabethan society as though the conditions and hence expectations furthered
catalyse this tragedy- e.g., if the Capulets and Montagues hadn’t had excessive pride and
resolved the conflict then this tragedy wouldn’t have occurred in the first place.
, Furthermore, the common noun ‘eye’ is significant as it is believed to be the window of our
souls which is the spark of life that gives purpose and meaning to our lives. Therefore, this
implies that this ‘infection' which is Juliet will give Romeo a sense of clarity and purpose so
much so that he is willing to commit suicide, a grave sin worthy of hell, for her. Thus,
Benvolio may be criticising Romeos Petrarchan and obsessive love yet still wants Romeo to
be happy. Also, the soul is believing in Christianity the bit surviving after death therfore
foreshadowing Romeo's death that this ‘infection' will lead to.
Lastly, Shakespeare presents an undertone with Benvolio's dialogue that Romeo is lucky to
have escaped sex with Rosaline as he could have ended with an STD and he is also saying
that through ‘infections Benvolio knows that as soon as Romeo sees Juliet he will be
obsessed and enamoured with her.
We'll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf ‘ ‘blind is his love, and best befits the dark'
(says this to Mercutio)
Benvolio here is saying that dressing up in this ball and wearing masks is ‘out of such
prolixity’ and thus immature. At this ball Benvolio begins to take charge and conveys a wiser
character so much so that even Mercutio listens to him.
The verb ‘hoodwinked is critical as it links with falconry whereby you put a hood over a
falcon so that it doesn’t set out and hunt before you are ready- revealing Romeo’s
anticipation he critics, Romeo is hunting and chasing out an impossible kind of love to much
so that he is prepared to fuel calamity in the process (risk his life and others) suggesting it
will be his downfall.
Alternatively, this tragic imagery links with that of the play, that is the love itself hunting -
exploiting and infecting them - and killing Romeo and Juliet as falcons are bride of prey
(predatory). Furthermore this predatorial aspect implies as though love is invading their lives
to reveal this love as almost forced- Benvolio critics how ‘hoodwinked’ Romeo and Juliet
come to be so much that they are deceived and ‘bind' into believing it is real love and so are
also blind to reality which would not have happened if he didn’t fall in love: Romeo forces
himself to view this Petrarchan loves as a poetical and fantastical one rather than just highly
sexual and Benvolio is stating that if you don’t fall in love you are not blinded from reality and
so everything will be okay. This is furthered through how Romeo talks of Juliet as his ‘nyas'
embodying this falcon imagery that Benvolio critics.
The reason that falcons are initially ‘hoodwinked’ is due to their sensitive eyes that are
believed 8 times more powerful that humans. The eye symbolises wisdom and
consciousness as a result implying that Romeo is almost covering up and ignoring any
strong sense of reason by indulging in such fantasies of love as can be seen through his
sonnet- he romanticized and attempts a poetical love and has lost rational sense.
‘We talk here in the public haunt of men’
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