With close Reference to the Language of Specific Characters Essay Example

With close Reference to the Language of Specific Characters Essay Written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy based around the concepts of love and conflict. Within the play, each different character brings with themselves their own unique attitudes towards love, sex and marriage, ranging from the aggressive views of Sampson and Gregory to the passionate and sensitive views of Romeo and Juliet. It is the intention of this essay to explore and analyse the opinions of the main characters in the play, along with how they are presented by Shakespeare. The first characters to be introduced in the play are Sampson and Gregory, an uneducated and violent double-act with an obsession with sex and no thoughts of love or marriage. Being lowly servants of the Capulet family, they speak in prose tainted with rude and aggressive language: Women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montagues men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall (Act One, Scene One, Lines 14-17) We will write a custom essay sample on With close Reference to the Language of Specific Characters specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on With close Reference to the Language of Specific Characters specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on With close Reference to the Language of Specific Characters specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This quote clearly shows that they regard women as being nothing more than sexual objects to be used at ones leisure and then disposed of. The word vessels here implies that women are only suitable to carrying children, again demonstrating to the audience that Sampson and Gregory regard women as being inferior. When the actor delivers his lines, he would emphasise the word thrust in order to convey Sampson and Gregorys vulgar and misogynistic attitude to the uneducated peasantry, who would appreciate the crudeness. In addition, their bawdy and rude sense of humour, which is shown by their phrases Tis known that I am a pretty piece of flesh and my naked weapon is out would have appealed to most of the audience. In direct contrast to Sampson and Gregory is one of the heroes of the play, Romeo, who is of noble status within the Montague family. We observe Romeos attitudes to love changing rather drastically as the play progresses; he goes from being the classic Petrarchan, negative lover to a passionate and soulful one. Before he meets Juliet, the person who inspires this change within him, he talks about his unrequited love for Rosaline (who, incidentally, the audience dont actually see in the play). He describes his love elaborately and excessively, using phrases such as She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair. The audience think that Romeo is being over-the-top and insincere, a notion thats heightened by his apparently confused views of love, demonstrated by his use of oxymorons: O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first create! (Act One, Scene One, Lines 170-171) Not only do these contradictory terms show Romeos inability to think straight, they also show him blinded by his apparent love for Rosaline. However, when Romeo meets Juliet for the first time, he changes from having a negative view of love and being in a state of emotional turmoil to being positive, light and soulful. His language suddenly transforms from a dark and depressing mood into a more lifted one. This becomes apparent to the audience when they hear Romeo say: This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss (Act One, Scene Five, Lines 93-95) His language, though no longer overly elaborate, still has some Petrarchan qualities, though Romeo expresses his love positively rather than through depression, which informs the audience that his love is passionate and pure. His description of Juliet as holy shrine suggests that she is his world, his religion, his life, and tender kiss emphasises his caring love for her. Through language such as this, Shakespeare makes clear that Romeo is no longer in love with the idea of being in love (as he was before), but is well and truly in love with Juliet. Although Juliet returns Romeos affections, their views on love and marriage were rather different before they met. Juliet was the classic example of a dutiful daughter, pleased to obey her parents in almost every aspect of life, including love. When Lady Capulet proposes Paris offer to her, Juliet says Ill 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 (Act One, Scene Three, Lines 98-100) At this point in the play, Juliet is being obedient and is allowing her parents to guide her in the matter of love as they see fit. However, when Juliet meets Romeo, her views change so drastically that she goes against all social norms and proposes marriage herself (an idea that was simply unheard of in Elizabethan culture the man was supposed to propose). Juliet even goes so far as to offer to abandon her family for Romeo (and hence, risk abandonment), making the audience realise that her love for Romeo is greater even than her love for her parents and her life, which serves as a great contrast to the previously shy and dutiful Juliet: Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love And Ill no longer be a Capulet. (Act Two, Scene Two, Lines 35-36) Both Romeo and Juliet share a passionate, true love for each other, harbouring no obsessions with sex (unlike Sampson and Gregory). When they meet, they begin to realise just how powerful love can be, and devote themselves to the other. The fourth character to be discussed is the Nurse, of the House of Capulet. She is of low social status, which is reflected in her bawdy (though unaggressive) sense of humour. However, Nurse treats Juliet as her own daughter (something Lady Capulet never did), a fact which is made apparent to the audience when Lady Capulet says Thou knowest my daughter of a pretty age. Also, although Nurse displays a strong parental for Juliet, her views of love are rather superficial, and based upon appearances. A man, young lady! Lady, such a man As all the world Why hes a man of wax (Act One, Scene Three, Lines 76-77) The above quotation (describing Paris) shows that Nurse considers appearances to be of utmost importance; the phrase man of wax implies perfection in looks. She also refers to Paris as a flower and doesnt mention anything about his character when persuading Juliet to marry him. Nurses views on marriage are influenced by fond memories of her late husband God be with his soul and she also says to Juliet: And I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish (Act One, Scene Three, Lines 63-64) This tells the audience that she has positive views on marriage and has a motherly wish to see Juliet married. Furthermore, Nurse uses a lot of sexual innuendo, talking about wormwood on my dung and Juliet falling backward when thou hast more wit. Making such casual remarks in the presence of a person such as Lady Capulet was considered improper in those times, but the Nurses disregard for this also reflects her low social standing. Another pair of characters from Juliets family is Lord and Lady Capulet, who, surprisingly, have contrasting views of love and marriage. Lord Capulet believes that Juliet should be older before she is married, and wants her to choose her husband. Let two more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. (Act One, Scene Two, Lines 10-11) The above quote shows that Lord Capulet is quite prepared to wait another few years for Juliet to get married, which is the complete opposite of what Lady Capulet thinks: Well, think of marriage now; younger than you, Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are made already mothers. (Act One, Scene Three, Lines 70-72) Lady Capulet clearly has no patience, and wants Juliet to marry Paris straight away. This implies that Juliets father is more loving and protective, while her mother is superficial and uncaring. Furthermore, the views of the two contrast on the point of love too: But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart My will to her consent is but a part. (Act One, Scene Two, Lines 16-17) This suggestion from Lord Capulet tells us that he wants Juliet to love her husband, and shows that he doesnt really want to impose his own will upon her. Lady Capulet, on the other hand, wants Juliet to marry immediately, so that she can share all that he doth possess and add to the family fortune. The next character to be explored is Mercutio, Romeos best friend. He is of noble status but uses crude and vulgar language in spite of his standing. He has a negative attitude towards love and regards it as a foe that must be beaten down: If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. (Act One, Scene Four, Lines 76-77) However, he displays a strong filial love for Romeo, and his view on love could be influenced by Rosalines harsh treatment of his best friend. Another explanation could be that Mercutio has never experienced love before; therefore he doesnt know how to deal with it properly. His cynical attitude makes Mercutio dismiss Romeos fantasies, because he is supposedly succumbing to the evil powers of love. Another character with a negative view of love is Benvolio, Romeos other friend. When attempting to comfort Romeo, he suggests that he should simply find someone else to replace Rosaline in his affections. Compare her face with some that I shall show, And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. (Act One, Scene Two, Lines 88-89) Within the above quotation, Shakespeare informs us of the superficial attitudes to love and women within Benvolio. The use of the word compare suggests that women are merely objects, and the casual suggestion to replace Rosaline shows Benvolios shallow opinions. However, he does display a strong filial love for Romeo, which is shown when he tries to comfort him over the unrequited love. Even though the advice is not very good (Benvolio has probably never been in love himself), the gesture is still there. He also believes that love seems to be a good thing on the outside but on the inside it is an evil enemy: Alas that Love, so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof (Act One, Scene One, Lines 163-164) Contrasting with Benvolio is Tybalt, of the House of Capulet, who displays absolutely no filial love. He despises everyone of the House of Montague and displays a rather fiery personality. It fits when such a villain in a guest: Ill not endure him (Act One, Scene Five, Lines 74-75) This quote referring to Romeo shows that Tybalt cannot stand any Montagues, and his previous order, Fetch me my rapier, boy along with other such statements littered throughout his dialogue suggest that he is very violent and aggressive. Later on in the play, he challenges Romeo to a fight to the death, demonstrating his obsession with his familys honour. The final character to be explored is Friar Lawrence, who, despite having two sons, treats Romeo like one of his children, giving advice and encouragement. He refers to Romeo as good son, which tells the audience of his fatherly feelings. Friar Lawrence doesnt differentiate between the two houses of Capulet and Montague, unlike most of the other characters, and agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in the hope that it will unite the conflicting families. To conclude, William Shakespeare delivers to us an array of moral values and attitudes to love, sex and marriage in Romeo and Juliet. One of his greatest works, the play expresses the views of all social classes, using marvellous linguistic tools that are unparalleled to this day. The audience are greeted with the violent and aggressive attitudes of Sampson and Gregory, juxtaposed by the passionate and sensitive views of love of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play, Shakespeare masterfully weaves humour and sadness, peace and conflict, love and hate, together into an intricate and entertaining plot that will be performed and studies for generations to come.