Romeo and Juliet Essay

Romeo’s Language Transformation What comes to mind when one thinks of love? The story of Romeo and Juliet is usually one of the first things, but most people think that this tragedy has a happy ending. No, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet ends by the two star crossed lovers killing themselves out of love. The tragedy was written by William Shakespeare, who was well known for his use of figurative language in his many, many great works of literature. These types of language depict certain characteristics about characters in the play that normal language would not be able to accomplish. One of these characters is Mercutio, who talks in long, drawn out satire that is riddled with puns and metaphors, which create in one’s mind the image of one of the greatest characters of all time. Another one of these characters is Romeo himself, whose language shows him transforming throughout the play. His language, though, is of love. There are two types of love that Romeo experiences first hand: selfish, courtly love, and selfless, true love. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s language changes to reflect his development in the play from a selfish, courtly lover to a selfless, true lover of Juliet. In the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s language in the beginning of the play shows how he is a selfish courtly lover. In the beginning of the play, Romeo’s shows how he is a courtly lover by his lack of friendship. His father remarks on this. He says that Romeo is “His own affections’ counselor/ Is to himself- I will not say how true/ But to himself so secret and so close” (Shakespeare The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet I.i.140-143). Romeo does not want anyone around him because he thinks that they don’t feel like he does. He assumes that they will not be able to help him, and therefore he keeps to himself. Romeo’s father, along with Benvolio and his mother, understand that Romeo is sad, but have no idea what about. His lack of language is the reason for his trouble. If