Through careful analysis of Shakespeare's language, characterisation and dramatic technique,discuss the nature and development of Romeo and Juliet's relationship. Romeo and Juliet's relationship begins and only lasts for only three days however through that short period of time the two “star crossed lovers” fall in love and subsequently get married. There families are at war and this forces Romeo and Juliet to keep there relationship and marriage secret, the pair are extremely young with Romeo being 16 and Juliet being just 14. It all ends tragically when they both commit suicide.
There relationship was a rather unfortunate match under the circumstances of their families. Throughout the story Romeo appears to mature however towards the end romeo appears more violent and angry. The first meeting between Romeo and Juliet is set up well by Shakespeare because we know about there families being at war as well as knowing Juliet has just agreed to marry Paris. Paris had approached Lord Capulet earlier that night, Lady Capulet told Juliet and Juliet replied “I'll look to like, if looking liking move: But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly. As for Romeo when we first meet him he depressed because he believes he is in love with a lady named Roseline. Because of this when Romeo and Juliet finally meet it makes Romeo appear fickle. The two protagonists finally meet at the Capulet ball, the audience can gather the impression that things wont run smoothly. When Romeo sees Juliet he consistently uses light imagery to describe her beauty in comparison to the people around her “A snowy dove trooping with crows”. He says “Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear” this is ironic because in the end it is her beauty which brings about her untimely demise.
Romeo starts off with a metaphor “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright” this again uses light imagery but the actual metaphor means her beauty is so bright that fire could learn from her. Romeo also says “For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night” this indicates that he is fickle because he thought he was in love with Roseline earlier that evening. He makes references to Juliet being some kind of goddess “make blessed my rude hand. ” Romeo and Juliet's first conversation is sparked by Romeo who proclaims his desire to kiss Juliet “To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. this is a bold move by Romeo and this shows how his character is upfront and bold. Juliet is constantly referred to as a holy saint or goddess by Romeo “Oh then, dear saint” and this really sets the tone of the relationship with Romeo treating her as better than him. Juliet seems to carry on the flirtatious banter but on the other hand remains cool headed compared to Romeo who is mesmerized by Juliet's beauty “Good pilgrim you do wrong your hand too much what mannerly devotion shows in this”.
Because of the audiences knowledge of their families and Paris the audience can see this is headed for disaster. When Romeo climbs into the Capulet's garden he uses a soliloquy to describe how he feels about Juliet. His first mention of Juliet is in a metaphor where he describes Juliet as the sun and he wants the moon to go down so Juliet will arrive “Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon”. Romeo is in a sort of trance because he has fallen in love with Juliet “It is my lady O, it is my love! Romeo's soliloquy makes the audience really understand his love for Juliet and this really shows how he is feeling, he feels she is the most beautiful women he has ever seen. Juliet has fallen in love for Romeo as he has for her however Juliet appears more mature and sensible about the problem of there families. Juliet knows that there families would never accept there relationship but at the same time she knows it is only there names that make them enemy's “Tis but thy name that is my enemy”.
She appears frustrated by there circumstances but she has realized the problem and try's to think it through were as Romeo is taking an immature approach to there scenario. When Juliet realises that it is Romeo outside her window she is obviously surprised to see him but she appears to ask many questions regarding his name and how he got there “Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? ” “How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? ” Romeo acts rather immaturely considering the circumstances. When asked how he got into the garden he replies “With loves light wings” this remark shows how he is not taking any thing seriously.
Juliet again acts maturely and is more concerned for Romeo's safety “And the place death, considering who though art” Throughout the evening Romeo has shown an immature side to him where as Juliet appears to be taking a sensible and mature approach. Juliet speaks from here on and in this speech she expresses her love for Romeo but questions his love for her “Dost thou love me” She tells him that if he truly loved her they should get married”If thou dost love pronounce it faithfully” At this point she is beginning to sound a little naive about there relationship, this is because she expects him to propose to her on the same night they meet.
Although appearing sensible to begin with Juliet appears to of got carried away. From this point on Romeo appears to of taken a step back and lets Juliet be the dominant one we know this because of her interruptions “If my hearts dear love-” “well do not swear” Romeo in an attempt to convince Juliet of his love for her attempts to swear by things but Juliet does not like this. Juliet begins to use metaphors such as “This bud of love by summers ripening breath” Juliet appears to forgot about there predicaments with there families and now is enthralled with the relationship.
When it is time for them to depart Romeo reverts back to his immature tone when he doesn't want her to leave he says “O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? ” Juliet gives in to his plea and agrees to return after she has been to see the nurse “Stay but a little, i will come again” Juliet then makes a decision and that is “If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow” She does this to see if Romeo's intentions are honorable. As an audience we react with surprise because of the time they have known each other and the age of the protagonists.
With this decision Juliet takes a real control over the relationship. Before Juliet arrives at the church Friar Lawrence has an important conversation with Romeo and warns about consequences of them too getting married “These violent delights have violent ends” These warnings have no effect on Romeo who if anything invites the trouble “Then love devouring death do what he dare” Friar Lawrence preforms the service against his better judgment and appears to be trying to persuade Romeo against the wedding.
When Juliet enters the church the couple have a rather over the top reaction to seeing each other. “Unfold the imagined happiness that both receive in either by this dear encounter” Juliet also carries on the over the top conversation “But my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth” This is over the top because they saw each other the night before and they act as though they have been apart for ages.
The marriage scene turns out to be quite ironic because Romeo had invited trouble and that is what in the end happens to the two young protagonists and some of the superstitious members of the audience may believe Romeo tempted fate. When it is time for Romeo to leave Juliet and leave Verona he talks of wanting to die than do that “Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death” Juliet talks him into leaving and not getting killed “O now be gone”. Shakespeare makes this scene appear depressing and dark because this is the last time the couple see each other alive.
Romeo has matured over the days and is now a more sensible person led my his head now more than his heart. This scene is ironic because Juliet says “O, think'st thou we shall ever meet again” and Romeo replies “I doubt it not” when ironically they will never see each other again alive. When Romeo goes to the Capulet tomb he is a changed man, we see this immediately when he tells Balthazar he will “Tear thee joint by joint” this shows a violent side to Romeo we have only seen once before and that was when he killed Tybalt.
Although he threatens Balthazar he is still the same man he was in the way he is loyal to his friends. “Live, and be prosperous; and farewell, good fellow. Romeo meets Paris and eventually kills him however Romeo did plea with him to just let him pass “Fly hence and leave. Think upon these gone” Grief has turned Romeo into a man possessed on seeing Juliet for the last that if violence is what is required he will.
When Romeo finally sees Juliet for the last time he reacts by starting off with the same light imagery he used the first time he met her “Her beauty makes this vault a feasting presence full of light” Romeo then begins to use a soliloquy to describe how he is feeling. He uses imagery to do with her beauty “Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty” Romeo begins apologizing for murdering Tybalt “Forgive me cousin” When Juliet finds out Romeo is dead she seems remarkably calm and seems to know exactly what she intends to do “Poison I see” “and left no friendly drop” Juliet is obviously very upset but does not show a great deal of it on the outside.
When she commits suicide we see the tragic end to “a pair of star crossed lovers” this makes me as the audience sad but also annoyed by the ending. Throughout the whole play William Shakespeare sends us on a roller coaster of emotions, from being happy to sad, surprised to superstitious. There can be no blame on a singular person, it was a series of events which ended tragically for the innocent members of the play.
Author: Angel Bell