A World Without Verona
Jack Nurin
Ms. Labi
Honors English 9
9 May 2014
A World Without Verona
Passage: Page 858-859 (III.iii.17-23)
Thesis: Shakespeare’s utilization of metaphors and diction gives us insight to how Verona is very important to Romeo. Romeo describes a world without Verona walls as “no world” as he continues to mope about his exile (III.iii.17). Romeo then proceeds to add on to this, saying that it is “purgatory, torture, hell itself” (III.iii.18). As Romeo continues to weep, he says “Hence banishèd is banished from the world” which alludes to him comparing Verona and the world (III.iii.19). The Montague’s next words state “And world’s exile is death” meaning that being exiled from the world is death, enhancing the metaphor (III.iii.20). Romeo then manages to say “’banishèd’/ is death mistermed” showing us a comparison of an idea and an action (III.iii.20-21). The following lines give insight to how Verona is important to Romeo by using metaphors, comparing Verona walls to the world and everything outside of Verona to Hell and Purgatory. As Romeo delves deeper into his teenage depression, he states that banishing him is like cutting his head off with a “golden axe”, referring to banishment’s misnomer (III.iii.22). He then adds to this by saying “And smilest upon the stroke that murders me” (III.iii.23). The diction in these lines establishes a sense of how much of a misnomer the word banished is and that it in fact means death. Shakespeare’s use of diction lets us gain insight to how much Verona means to Romeo, resulting in him using misnomers to describe what being exiled is like.
Ms. Labi
Honors English 9
9 May 2014
A World Without Verona
Passage: Page 858-859 (III.iii.17-23)
Thesis: Shakespeare’s utilization of metaphors and diction gives us insight to how Verona is very important to Romeo. Romeo describes a world without Verona walls as “no world” as he continues to mope about his exile (III.iii.17). Romeo then proceeds to add on to this, saying that it is “purgatory, torture, hell itself” (III.iii.18). As Romeo continues to weep, he says “Hence banishèd is banished from the world” which alludes to him comparing Verona and the world (III.iii.19). The Montague’s next words state “And world’s exile is death” meaning that being exiled from the world is death, enhancing the metaphor (III.iii.20). Romeo then manages to say “’banishèd’/ is death mistermed” showing us a comparison of an idea and an action (III.iii.20-21). The following lines give insight to how Verona is important to Romeo by using metaphors, comparing Verona walls to the world and everything outside of Verona to Hell and Purgatory. As Romeo delves deeper into his teenage depression, he states that banishing him is like cutting his head off with a “golden axe”, referring to banishment’s misnomer (III.iii.22). He then adds to this by saying “And smilest upon the stroke that murders me” (III.iii.23). The diction in these lines establishes a sense of how much of a misnomer the word banished is and that it in fact means death. Shakespeare’s use of diction lets us gain insight to how much Verona means to Romeo, resulting in him using misnomers to describe what being exiled is like.