Gay Marriage In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet
On June 26, 2015, gay marriage was finally legalized in all 50 states in America. This was a major step in American history because previously, same-sex love and marriage was viewed as a shameful thing that was going against God and society’s rules. However, society has realized that same-sex love is just as valid as traditional love and that they were wrong to have judged gay people and their love. In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet were not supposed to be together because of their families, but they acted on their love and defied society so they could be together. Shakespeare uses literary devices in Romeo and Juliet such as metaphors and personification to portray the theme that society’s rules and expectations
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When Lady Capulet and the nurse are trying to persuade Juliet to marry Paris, Juliet says, “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”(1.3.103-105). This symbolism of Juliet’s eye is used to represent sight as a whole. Juliet’s sight represents her thinking about marriage, as it was quite common for preteens and teenagers to get married in the Shakespearean Era. In addition, Shakespeare uses alliteration to place more focus on the quote. The alliteration develops the theme because it puts focus on how even though society and Juliet’s family wants her to get married, Juliet decides to take her time and explore her feelings. Juliet’s desire for independence can be seen in her conversation with her mother when she only agrees to consider marriage because her parents want her to. Since Juliet decides to take her time, she meets Romeo at the Capulet party and realizes that they are meant to be together, which shows that Juliet’s defiance of society’s expectations leads to her finding her true soulmate. As the play progresses, Shakespeare uses more literary devices to highlight Romeo’s lack of dependence on his family. When Romeo secretly goes to the Capulet house to see Juliet after the party, Juliet says, “Tis but thy name that is my enemy./Thou art thyself, though not a Montague”(2.2.41-42). Shakespeare uses an extended metaphor to highlight the conflict between their families. When Juliet refers to Romeo’s last name as their problem, she is talking about the tension between the Montague and Capulet families that prevents Romeo and Juliet from being openly together. Preventing Romeo from using his last name gives him freedom to be his own person around Juliet without any ties to their families and
When Lady Capulet and the nurse are trying to persuade Juliet to marry Paris, Juliet says, “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”(1.3.103-105). This symbolism of Juliet’s eye is used to represent sight as a whole. Juliet’s sight represents her thinking about marriage, as it was quite common for preteens and teenagers to get married in the Shakespearean Era. In addition, Shakespeare uses alliteration to place more focus on the quote. The alliteration develops the theme because it puts focus on how even though society and Juliet’s family wants her to get married, Juliet decides to take her time and explore her feelings. Juliet’s desire for independence can be seen in her conversation with her mother when she only agrees to consider marriage because her parents want her to. Since Juliet decides to take her time, she meets Romeo at the Capulet party and realizes that they are meant to be together, which shows that Juliet’s defiance of society’s expectations leads to her finding her true soulmate. As the play progresses, Shakespeare uses more literary devices to highlight Romeo’s lack of dependence on his family. When Romeo secretly goes to the Capulet house to see Juliet after the party, Juliet says, “Tis but thy name that is my enemy./Thou art thyself, though not a Montague”(2.2.41-42). Shakespeare uses an extended metaphor to highlight the conflict between their families. When Juliet refers to Romeo’s last name as their problem, she is talking about the tension between the Montague and Capulet families that prevents Romeo and Juliet from being openly together. Preventing Romeo from using his last name gives him freedom to be his own person around Juliet without any ties to their families and