Preview

Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare's Metaphor of Comparing Man to Plants Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
749 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare's Metaphor of Comparing Man to Plants Essay Example
Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare's Metaphor Of Comparing Man To Plants

To express his view of good and evil in every man, William Shakespeare writes lines that Friar Laurence reveals in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet which compare man to plants, focusing on the common trait they hold of having two contrasting components in their being. Throughout history, there has always been a conflict with the view of goodness and evilness in man. The philosopher
Plato believed that man was born with a natural depravity and was basically an untrained animal who needed society's help to structure, educate, and fulfill his needs. On the other hand, Plato's pupil Aristotle believed that man is initially born with goodness and virtue. The issue of man's two sides can be thoroughly discussed over the gothic novel of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Some critics believe that the "creature" was prone to evil from the onset, that it was innately in his being, while others argue that the treatment the " creature" received from humans pitted him against mankind into an evil and revengeful state. Shakespeare, however, in his extended metaphor comparing man to plants, holds the opinion that there is both decency and infamy in man. His opinion can be compared to the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis
Stevenson, where Dr. Jekyll is innately pure and kind but because he tries to hide the malicious side of his being, it eventually overcomes him completely.
Shakespeare wishes to address the idea that evil can destroy a person and overtake them if it is let in and uses his lines of Friar Laurence as an aphorism and a warning to mankind. The following lines from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet fully portray the author's view of a split of innocence and corruption in man, and the thought that evil is likely and able to destroy man from the inside out.

Within the infant rind of this small flower Poison hath residence and medicine power. In man as well as herbs, grace and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In 1595, an old play of 2 star-crossed lovers takes their life (Prologue, pg.7). In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence is shown as honest and trustworthy. William Shakespeare has written many plays in olden day language. During some time people thought that plays and poems were not worth anything and thought it was rubbish. People now study the writing of Shakespeare because of the rich language, the literature and the writing style and context.…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    occur. Friar Lawrence plays an important part in shaping the play and maintaining the interest of…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson is a late-Victorian novel. It tells a story about a London lawyer Mr. Utterson investigates the unusual relation between his old friend Dr. Jekyll and the wicked murderer Edward Hyde. The message that author tries to convey throughout the novel is controversial and revealing. In fact, in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson makes effective use of imagery, characterization and several points of view to emphasize his contention that a dual nature exists in every human being and that both good and evil sides should be recognized and kept in balance.…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Robert Louis Stevenson has been coined the title of a literary genius for his work, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Put shortly Jekyll and Hyde, is a story about a man investigating the secrets of a second man, who is in fact two different men living two different personas. Though the story is indeed short enough to read within a few passing hours, it is long enough to force the reader to question their own duality. Is man truly one? Or is each man composed of two separate halves, the good, and the evil? It is undeniable that the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is strange indeed. However, it is also a work of art filled with impossible sciences.…

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By using metaphors, Romeo’s feelings and moodiness can be described thoroughly. His love for Juliet, and grief for Rosaline are shown in many imagery and personification terms. During the first scene of the play, he and Benvolio are discussing Rosaline, and her rejection of Romeo. Certain that his life is now meaningless, he rants to his friend:…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man.”…

    • 562 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson leaves the reader to ponder whether not Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are the same person or two different people. The book describes several commonalities and differences between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The differences and commonalities are not just found in the physical description of the characters but also in their personalities and their actions. It is my opinion that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are in fact one person with two separate personalities.…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A love as great as thine can not be grasped even by Deaths icy hand!…

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his play, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare uses various examples of figurative language. He does this through the use of allusions, metaphors and foreshadowing in order to develop character and plot.…

    • 724 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Ear and Conscious Activity

    • 1567 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Man’s nature is evil; goodness is a result of a conscious activity. The nature of man is such that he is born with a fondness for profit. If he indulges this fondness, it will lead him to wrangling and strife, and all sense of courtesy and humility will disappear. He is born with feelings of envy and hate, and if he indulges these, they will lead him to violence and crime, and all sense of loyalty and good faith will disappear. Man is born with the desires of eyes and ears, with a fondness for beautiful sights and sounds. If he indulges these, they will lead him to license and wantonness, and all ritual principles and correct forms will be lost. Hence, any man who follows his nature and indulges his emotions will inevitably become involved in wrangling and strife, will violate the forms and rules of society and will end as a criminal. Therefore, man must first be transformed by the instructions of the teacher and guided by ritual principles, and only then he will be able to observe the dictates of courtesy and humility, obey the forms and rules of society, and achieve order. It is obvious from this then, that man’s nature is evil, and that his goodness is the result of conscious activity.…

    • 1567 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The overall premise of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one that is familiar to many. In this novella, Robert Louis Stevenson explores the contrasting qualities of good and evil and also shows that there is indeed some gray area between the two. The main subject of the text is Dr. Jekyll, a well-to-do doctor in London attempts to purge himself of what he considers is his evil half. He does this by developing a special formula that transforms himself into an unrecognizable creature. Both his mind and body are foreign to himself and the rest of society. Eventually, since he derives so much pleasure out of being someone else, Jekyll begins abusing this medicine. Stevenson portrays Jekyll as a drug abuser and addict in this novella. He does this to further illuminate that there really is no true line between good and evil, but more of a blur.…

    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Crucible quotes

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “Study of the debilitating power of guilt, the seduction of power, the flawed nature of the individual and of the society to which the individual owes allegiance” xxiv…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet Essay

    • 1595 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Friar Laurence, through his lack of good judgment, is largely responsible for the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet. Rather than being supportive of them and helping them disclose their loving situation, Friar Laurence took the “easy” way out. He succumbed to their desire to elope. He secretly married Romeo and Juliet instead of standing behind them and encouraging them to confront their families with the facts about their commitment to and love for each other. As a result, an even stronger bond between them was created through marriage: "For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till holy church incorporate two in one" (2.6.36-37). Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet, hoping that their union would bring an end to the constant feuding between their two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Though the friar’s intentions were good and above reproach, they were certainly missteps along a pathway to tragedy. None of the tragedies would have occurred if Romeo and Juliet were not married…

    • 1595 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet are two normal people, from two different families that are enemies, who aren’t allowed to date each other. This big conflict between two families get into a street fight, and all of a sudden the two star crossed lovers fall deeply in love. These two characters have different personalities and relationships with friends and families, but by the end, they end up both relating each other.…

    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    How does Shakespeare present two or three of the older generation and their roles in the play’s tragic conclusion?…

    • 1598 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays