Romeo And Juliet And The Imagery And Symbolism In The Play

“Mercutio: Now will he sit under a medlar tree, And wish his mistress were kind of fruit.”

Symbolism: 

Romeo is so in love with Juliet, that he does not want to leave her. As a result of this Romeo decides to leave his friends, to climb the wall of the Capulet’s house to see Juliet one more time. When Romeo takes off to see Juliet, his friends believe he has run away to see Rosaline, however, Romeo has already forgotten about her. In act two, scene one, Shakespeare uses symbolism to portray the medlar tree as a woman’s body to trade physical contact with. This is important for the audience to understand that Mercutio is a joker, that he does not take love as seriously as Romeo does. Mercutio presumes that the real reason Romeo is in love is for the physical contact and not for the real reason, that Romeo truly does admire Juliet and her beauty.

“Julet: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-tonight: It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lighting, which doth cease to be Ere one can say ‘it lightens.’ Sweet, good night! This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath”

Metaphor: 

In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses metaphors to compare Romeo's love to lightning, as well as his love representing a plant bud that would later ripen and display its true beauty. Meaning, that later Romeo would show his real personality, which Juliet may or may not like. Shakespeare uses these metaphors to express Juliet's skepticism towards Romeo’s promise in love. Juliet is unsure whether he is truly in love with her or if he is like all the other immature boys, that thinks of love is a joke. With this in mind Juliet is hesitant to really loving Romeo like he loves her and tells him poetically to slow down, because they had just met at the party hours ago. However this is ironic because they end up moving really fast and marry each other, which eventually leads them to their demise.

“Friar Laurence: The earth that’s nature's mother is the tomb; What is her burying grave that is her womb, And from her womb children of divers kind We sucking on her natural bosom find, many for many virtues excellent, None but for some and yet all different.”

Imagery: 

In act two, scene three, it is just after dawn and Friar Laurence has just finished picking his crop of flowers and herbs. He then goes on to speak to himself about the beauty of Earth and how wonderful it is. Shakespeare uses this monologue to let our minds create an image of the Earth representing womb of a woman. This comparing that they both are the source of new life, but in different ways. Furthermore, a mother will always be there for their child or children no matter what. For protection, for love, and for care. That mothers will do anything to provide for the children to live happy lives. As well as the Earth. The Earth will be there to provide for the people that live on it. That it will let us grow crops, to build houses and factories and live the lives we choose because the earth is our mother.

“Benvolio: Tybalt, the kinsmen of old Capulet, Hath sent a letter to his father’s house.

Mercutio: A challenge, on my life.

Benvolio: Romeo will answer it.

Mercutio: Any man that can write may answer a letter.

Benvolio: Nay, he will answer the letter’s master, how he dares. Being dared.”

Plot Point: 

It is the day after Romeo made his rendezvous with Juliet, and friend Mercutio and cousin Benvolio have been wondering where Romeo is now. For all they know, he has been with Rosaline for quite a while, but that is not the case, Romeo is getting married to Juliet. On the other hand, Benvolio and Mercutio are talking amongst themselves about the whereabouts Romeo, then change the subject to Tybalt and his dueling letter, and how Mercutio would gladly take Tybalt on himself because that's the type of person Mercutio is. This is a major plot point that Shakespeare created because it all goes downhill from here. Romeo is unaware of this letter, and he going to find his friends, yet he’s not the same sad dispirited Romeo he just a day ago. His happiness will miscommunicate with everyone especially when Tybalt shows up.

“Nurse: You love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous,-- Where is your mother?”

“Friar Laurence: So smile the heavens upon this holy act, That after hour with sorrow chide us not!”

Foreshadowing: 

In act two, scene six, Friar Laurence is just about to marry Romeo and Juliet in secret. Right before he goes to collect the children so he can marry them, he says: “So smile the heavens upon this holy act, That after hour with sorrow chide us not!” Shakespeare uses this foreshadowing to create an impression on the audience that in the later future, something bad may or may not happen because he marries two rival kids, without their elders knowing. This creates an environment of curiosity, of what could possibly happen next? However, we all know how their story ends. After they get married there is a lot of fighting and deaths including the two star-crossed lovers who were meant to be. Yet the audience during the 1600s does not know the story, so this foreshadowing is perfect in grasping the audience’s wonder to know whether Romeo and Juliet will get the happy ending, or will the love for each other kill everyone around them including themselves?