Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is famous for a lot of things. The passionate love story it tells, the poetic eloquence it evokes, and the utter tragic elements it possesses are just a few of the reasons. However, perhaps one of the most dramatic elements of the play is Shakespeare’s use of opposites to enhance the story.
The Reasons for Opposites
Opposites make the speech clear to the audience by giving it a structure and something to compare an idea with. This can also be called antithesis, which is when two conflicting ideas are put against one another. For example, day and light often are seen together as being good, while dark and night are often depicted as representing evil.
Not so with Shakespeare. Instead, they are contrasted almost as a way to show a blurring of these elements.
The Dichotomy of Night and Day
This is first exemplified in the night and day contrast. In one of the famous speeches made by Romeo, he claims “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon” (II.ii.4). Here the sun, or the day, is contrasted against the moon, or the night.
Furthermore, in one of the most important scenes in the play, after Romeo and Juliet spend the night together, there is a blurring of night and day as Romeo is getting ready to leave and Juliet says, "Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day: / It was the nightingale, and not the lark, / That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear" (III.v.1-3).
It is almost as if Romeo and Juliet’s love defies the laws of night and day and exists in both. Although they must remain hidden (in the night), their love creeps out during the day, thus demonstrating, once again, how passionate and consuming their love affair is.
The Light and Dark Contrast
The light and dark contrast, although often blurring the lines, is also used to signify and enhance the passion and emotion of the situations. In this case, light is often used to describe both Romeo and Juliet.
However, it is always contrasted against the darkness of the night, as this is when their love takes place. As Romeo come to Juliet in the night, Juliet calls out, “come Romeo, come though day in night/ For though wilt lie upon the wings of night/Whiter than new snow on a raven's back" (3.2.17-19).”
For Juliet, Romeo is the bright light in the darkness. For Romeo, Juliet is much the same. Juliet lights up the night for Romeo.
However, the light and dark contrast is also used to describe the looming fate that day will bring. Because their love must remain hidden, much of their courting is in the dark, with the light of each other to guide them as “lover can see to do their amorous rite/ By their own beauties” (III.ii.8-9).
However, the rising sun the next day brings death and “more light and light: more dark and dark our woes” (III.v.36). Shakespeare crosses an odd contrasting line with his light and dark and day and night dichotomies. It is almost as if day is the darkness in the play.
These contrasting and poetic images serve to enhance the passion involved in the love affair and create drama in the tragedy that will follow. In a sense, their double suicide could demonstrate their attempt to find the ultimate privacy in the ultimate night. In death, they can be alone, and be together with each other as the only light they need.
Further Reading:
Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare.
Conflicting Imagery in Romeo and Juliet
 |
