Romeo and Juliet (1599) (edit title/settings)

Liz edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Friday, April 19, 2013.

• Edited the description of Light and Dark: Through this entire play, both Romeo and Juliet constantly refer back to light and dark. Romeo begins the motif when he says, "But soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon <Rosealine>..." through the entire monologue revolves around Juliet being the sun. Romeo first uses the cover of darkness here to listen in on her own soliloquy and to hide from the Capulet guards. Romeo says when Juliet asks why he's there, he says "I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes..." When JuleitJuliet asks for Romeo to come the night after they're married she says, "Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, Give me my Romeo..." and in the morning speaks, "It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear..." in the same scene she says, "Then, window, let day in and let life out." when Romeo has to go.go. This entire play has Romeo as the dark, and Juliet as the light. Romeo is the night and Juliet the day. Many more examples of this motif are omitted, because if they weren't this would be as long as the play itself.

Liz edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Friday, April 19, 2013.

• Edited a theme: Things Aren't Always As They SeemTime: "It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning..." is what Juliet says in the famed 'balcony scene' of Romeo and Juliet on the topic of their love. This play demonstrates time, and the little of it we have. Romeo and Juliet had known each other for a few days, meeting, marrying and dying within the same week. The suddenness of their passion (see below), the small spark swiftly turning into a huge flame, aided with hundreds of twigs and thousands of newspapers. This passion spurs them on as well, making time either stand still or continue on. Juliet begs for night to come, "Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night... Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, Give me my Romeo..." to see her love. The next morning, she says, "It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear..." when she wishes for him to stay. Constantly, these characters beg for night to stay, and the sun to quicken its pace across the sky. Not only are the main characters having problems with time around them, but with their own time. Recall that within this play, Juliet is only 14. Young people don't see all the time they have laid before them. Juliet has little experience to draw upon, because of her age, because of time. Other characters cause problems with time as well- Friar Laurence and his letter to Romeo,Lord Capulet and his decision to move up the wedding. Even at the end of this play we see problems with time- Juliet's potion just wasn't quick enough to wake her up, and the timing killed Romeo and Juliet in its own special way. Time plays a large part within this whole play.
• Edited the spoiler-free description of Things Aren't Always As They SeemTime: "It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning..." is what Juliet says in the famed 'balcony scene' of Romeo and Juliet on the topic of their love. This play demonstrates time, and the little of it we have. Romeo and Juliet had known each other for a few days, meeting, marrying and dying within the same week. The suddenness of their passion (see below), the small spark swiftly turning into a huge flame, aided with hundreds of twigs and thousands of newspapers. This passion spurs them on as well, making time either stand still or continue on. Juliet begs for night to come, "Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night... Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, Give me my Romeo..." to see her love. The next morning, she says, "It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear..." when she wishes for him to stay. Constantly, these characters beg for night to stay, and the sun to quicken its pace across the sky. Not only are the main characters having problems with time around them, but with their own time. Recall that within this play, Juliet is only 14. Young people don't see all the time they have laid before them. Juliet has little experience to draw upon, because of her age, because of time. Time plays a large part within this whole play.
• marked the description of Things Aren't Always As They SeemTime as a spoiler
• Edited the description of Unawareness: Throughout the play, characters are unaware about others situations leading them to make very impacting decisions (although they are unaware of the damage they are actually going to cause). For example, the capuletsCapulets and monteguesMontegues are unaware that Romeo and Juliet are dating. Had they known, capuletCapulet may not have accepted Paris' request to marry Juliet. As a result, the risky plan made by Friar Lawrence and Juliet wouldn't have been invented and Juliet, Romeo, and Paris wouldn't have died. Furthermore, Juliet and Romeo were unaware that they had fallen in love with their enemy. This illustrates that unawareness is what created this tragedy in the first place.
• Added a theme: Light and Dark: Through this entire play, both Romeo and Juliet constantly refer back to light and dark. Romeo begins the motif when he says, "But soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon <Rosealine>..." through the entire monologue revolves around Juliet being the sun. Romeo first uses the cover of darkness here to listen in on her own soliloquy and to hide from the Capulet guards. Romeo says when Juliet asks why he's there, he says "I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes..." When Juleit asks for Romeo to come the night after they're married she says, "Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, Give me my Romeo..." and in the morning speaks, "It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear..." in the same scene she says, "Then, window, let day in and let life out." when Romeo has to go.
• marked the description of Light and Dark as not a spoiler

Liz edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Thursday, April 18, 2013.

• Edited the description of Power of the Written Word: Three letters are seen in this play that really stick out. First, Tybalt's challenge to Romeo for disgracing him by showing up at the party (also going along with unawareness). If it hadn't been issued, Mercutio would never had stepped up to fight Tyblat, he wouldn't have died, Tybalt wouldn't have died, and Romeo would not have been cast out of Verona because he killed Tybalt. Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo about the plan.plan came next. What would have happened if Romeo had gotten that letter? heHe would have stayed in Mantua with Juliet, and they would have lived happily ever after (well, possibly- we don't know for sure). Also, since Romeo wouldn't have been in Verona that night, Paris wouldn't have died. Finally, Romeo's suicide letter. Without that, the Friar's explanation at the end could have been the talk of some crazy old guy, rather than the truth. The Capulets and the Montagues would probably have blamed the death on the other and fought for their pride and honor rather than make up and agree to peace. Without that letter, their deaths <Romeo' and Juliet's> wouldn't have any meaning to it.

Liz edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Thursday, April 18, 2013.

• Edited the description of Power of the Written Word: Three letters are seen in this play that really stick out1)out. Tybalt's challenge to Romeo for disgracing him by showing up at the party (also going along with unawareness). If it hadn't been issued, Mercutio would never had stepped up to fight Tyblat, he wouldn't have died, Tybalt wouldn't have died, and Romeo would not have been cast out of Verona because he killed Tybalt.2)Tybalt. Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo about the plan. What would have happened if Romeo had gotten that letter? he would have stayed in Mantua with Juliet, and they would have lived happily ever after (well, possibly- we don't know for sure)3)sure). Romeo's suicide letter. Without that, the Friar's explanation at the end could have been the talk of some crazy old guy, rather than the truth. The Capulets and the Montagues would probably have blamed the death on the other and fought for their pride and honor rather than make up and agree to peace. Without that letter, their deaths <Romeo' and Juliet's> wouldn't have any meaning to it.

Liz edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Thursday, April 18, 2013.

• Added a theme: Power of the Written Word: Three letters are seen in this play that really stick out1) Tybalt's challenge to Romeo for disgracing him by showing up at the party (also going along with unawareness). If it hadn't been issued, Mercutio would never had stepped up to fight Tyblat, he wouldn't have died, Tybalt wouldn't have died, and Romeo would not have been cast out of Verona because he killed Tybalt.2) Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo about the plan. What would have happened if Romeo had gotten that letter? he would have stayed in Mantua with Juliet, and they would have lived happily ever after (well, possibly- we don't know for sure)3) Romeo's suicide letter. Without that, the Friar's explanation at the end could have been the talk of some crazy old guy, rather than the truth. The Capulets and the Montagues would probably have blamed the death on the other and fought for their pride and honor rather than make up and agree to peace. Without that letter, their deaths <Romeo' and Juliet's> wouldn't have any meaning to it.
• Added the spoiler-free description of Power of the Written Word: There are three letters written in this place that would have changed the plot line if they had or hadn't been sent.
• marked the description of Power of the Written Word as a spoiler

Amna Anjum edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Monday, May 21, 2012.

• Added a theme: Unawareness: Throughout the play, characters are unaware about others situations leading them to make very impacting decisions (although they are unaware of the damage they are actually going to cause). For example, the capulets and montegues are unaware that Romeo and Juliet are dating. Had they known, capulet may not have accepted Paris' request to marry Juliet. As a result, the risky plan made by Friar Lawrence and Juliet wouldn't have been invented and Juliet, Romeo, and Paris wouldn't have died. Furthermore, Juliet and Romeo were unaware that they had fallen in love with their enemy. This illustrates that unawareness is what created this tragedy in the first place.
• Added the spoiler-free description of Unawareness: Throughout the play, characters are unaware about others situations leading them to make very impacting decisions (although they are unaware of the damage they are actually going to cause). For example, Juliet and Romeo's love came to be because they were unaware of whom they were actually falling In love with. This illustrates that unawareness is what created this tragedy in the first place.
• marked the description of Unawareness as a spoiler

MyNameRhymes edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Saturday, September 3, 2011.

• Added a theme: Passion: Romeo and Juliet is about passion. Passionate hate between the Montagues and the Capulets, passionate friendship between Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio , and passionate love between Romeo and Juliet. Through it all Friar Laurence warns that “these violent delights have violent ends”, but no one listens. The lesson is not, do not love, or do not hate, but to love and hate in moderation. Many people forget that because they are too wrapped up in the love story.
• marked the description of Passion as not a spoiler

ScarTissue edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Sunday, July 17, 2011.

• Edited a theme: Friar Laurance's HerbsFlowers: In Friar Laurence's soliloquy at the beginning of Act II , Scene III, he states the following: "Within the infant rind of this small flower; poison hath residence, and medicine power:; For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.; Two such opposed kings encamp them still; In man as well as herbs,--grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant,; Full soon the canker death eats up that plant" He is speaking of a flower in his cell, which gives off a sweet, and healing odor (thus medicinal power), but when tasted, is deadly. As in his herbs, men also possess medicine and poison, but under the names of grace and rude will. When a plant has too much poison, it will die from canker death (a disease which starts outs small and at the center of the plant, but grows steadily over time, killing the plant's tissues, and eventually killing the whole plant). Similarly, if a man has more rude will than grace, he will begin to die from the inside.

Miri - =D edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Sunday, May 29, 2011.

• Added a theme: The Power of Fate to Determine Events: From the very beginning of the play, Romeo and Juliet are called 'star cross'd lovers'. Romeo calls out, "I am fortune's fool!" and Juliet begs for Fate to send Romeo back to her. It is made clear early on that the events are played out because of fate and not because of the free will of the characters.
• marked the description of The Power of Fate to Determine Events as not a spoiler

ScarTissue edited the themes of Romeo and Juliet Friday, May 13, 2011.

• Edited the description of Friar Laurance's Herbs: In Friar Laurence's soliloquy at the beginning of Act II , Scene III, he states the following: <br />"Within "Within the infant rind of this small flower; poison hath residence, and medicine power:; For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.; Two such opposed kings encamp them still; In man as well as herbs,--grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant,; Full soon the canker death eats up that plant"Heplant" He is speaking of a flower in his cell, which gives off a sweet, and healing odor (thus medicinal power), but when tasted, is deadly. As in his herbs, men also possess medicine and poison, but under the names of grace and rude will. When a plant has too much poison, it will die from canker death (a disease which starts outs small and at the center of the plant, but grows steadily over time, killing the plant's tissues, and eventually killing the whole plant). Similarly, if a man has more rude will than grace, he will begin to die from the inside.