Romeo and Juliet
Suffering in Romeo and Juliet
When you think of a relationship, you mainly think of a nice, happy couple, strolling down the sidewalk with their hands intertwined with one another. But this love could soon face the tragedy and suffering most couples endure at the end of their relationships. But in most cases, couples do not end their relationship in suicide. That is, except for one couple. In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossed lovers endure suffering throughout the entire play, eventually ending their relationship in tragedy. Suffering is best shown throughout Romeo and Juliet with expression of characterization, the hints and puzzles of foreshadowing, and the interesting complexities of irony. In Romeo and Juliet, characterization defines the characters, their actions, and their emotions. Characterization is the expression of human character and motives in writing. This literary device is directly tied to the form of suffering that is used in Romeo and Juliet. One good example shown by Juliet’s mother is shown here, “Marry my child, early next Thursday Morn…The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church” (III, v, 117-120). This quote shows the shift in Juliet’s character from a nice, innocent girl, to a girl who will do anything to hold on to the marriage Romeo and Juliet have forged for themselves. To get married to another man is nothing short of betrayal in Juliet’s book, and she will not let that happen to her. Characterization is shown in this passage, because from now on, this will define who Juliet is. “Tybalt: Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him hearse shall with him hence. Romeo: This shall determine that” (III, i, 135-37). The quote shows how Romeo is ready to protect his marriage, and his house, from Tybalt. Romeo kills him here, unfortunately, sparking him to endure a new round of suffering in exile. Another good example of suffering in Romeo and Juliet is that the effect of foreshadowing is displayed best with
When you think of a relationship, you mainly think of a nice, happy couple, strolling down the sidewalk with their hands intertwined with one another. But this love could soon face the tragedy and suffering most couples endure at the end of their relationships. But in most cases, couples do not end their relationship in suicide. That is, except for one couple. In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossed lovers endure suffering throughout the entire play, eventually ending their relationship in tragedy. Suffering is best shown throughout Romeo and Juliet with expression of characterization, the hints and puzzles of foreshadowing, and the interesting complexities of irony. In Romeo and Juliet, characterization defines the characters, their actions, and their emotions. Characterization is the expression of human character and motives in writing. This literary device is directly tied to the form of suffering that is used in Romeo and Juliet. One good example shown by Juliet’s mother is shown here, “Marry my child, early next Thursday Morn…The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church” (III, v, 117-120). This quote shows the shift in Juliet’s character from a nice, innocent girl, to a girl who will do anything to hold on to the marriage Romeo and Juliet have forged for themselves. To get married to another man is nothing short of betrayal in Juliet’s book, and she will not let that happen to her. Characterization is shown in this passage, because from now on, this will define who Juliet is. “Tybalt: Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him hearse shall with him hence. Romeo: This shall determine that” (III, i, 135-37). The quote shows how Romeo is ready to protect his marriage, and his house, from Tybalt. Romeo kills him here, unfortunately, sparking him to endure a new round of suffering in exile. Another good example of suffering in Romeo and Juliet is that the effect of foreshadowing is displayed best with