Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Essay The Globe Theatre is a big circular theatre based on the South bank of the Thames in London. Shakespeare held his newest plays there before he publicly showed them anywhere else. The positions of where people sat varied from, the richer people sitting high up in the stands, and the poorer people who had to stand in the middle. The Globe Theatre was very basic, costumes and properties were kept backstage in the tiring house. The actors were well dressed and there were 3 roofed galleries. All performances took place in the afternoon. The stage itself had a trap door to get on and off, it was also a very high stage. In this essay I will be exploring how Shakespeare uses devices for dramatic affect. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare refers to where people and other objects are positioned on the stage. An example of this is; Romeo: but soft what light from yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun. This phrase implies that Shakespeare is asking the audience to imagine its dark and its night time and all they can see is a bright light appearing from above. This bright light suggests that she is life giving and beautiful, all eyes are drawn up to her in the theatre. Shakespeare uses positional language, such as, Romeo: Thou art as glorious to this night being over his head. This suggests that Juliet is on a balcony high above the stage and Romeo is below her. Also reinforces dark night-time reference with Juliet as shining sun. Shakespeare uses many metaphors in the play as it lets the characters show how they feel about each other. For example, Romeo: Juliet is the sun. He says this as the sun brings happiness and joy to everyone. He is also acknowledging that Juliet and her family are wealthier and have higher social standing than Romeos. He continues to use them later in Act 2 Scene 2. An example of this is, Romeo: O, speak again bright angel. This is because Romeo loves listening to the sound of her voice, he does not want her to stop speaking as he is totally focused on her. In Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses words with powerful connotations, as Romeo says, Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou will not, be but sworn my love, and Ill no longer be a Capulet. This suggests that their families may not agree that theyre in love and that even if their families may not get on with each other, they are truly in love. Romeo realises the consequences of his love for Juliet as he chooses forceful words such as deny and refuse. Shakespeare also uses visual imagery, such as, Romeo: two of the fairest stars in all of heaven do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. This quotation shows that Romeo is comparing Juliets eyes to the stars and is saying how her eyes are beautiful. Having the Globe theatre as the stage would draw the attention of the audience towards the twinkling sky. He continues to use visual imagery, for example, Romeo: As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea. This creates the impression that their love is huge, further than the eye can see. Shakespeare uses personification to show the love that Romeo and Juliet have, an example of this is, By love that first led me to enquire lent him eyes. This shows that love is personified, as Cupid the Roman God of Love. Romeo admits his love to Juliet from the first moment their eyes met. Also, Romeo says With loves light wings did I oerpearch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do, that dares love attempt. He uses soft words and alliteration loves light. This phrase implies love gave him strength and that he is willing to do anything for her. In addition he says love enabled him to get to her not only by physical strength but with emotional strength. Finally, Shakespeare uses tragic irony, for instance, Romeo says, Hence forth I never will be Romeo. The audience know he is going to die but he doesnt. He is giving out clues to the audience that he will soon die. He is saying he will not be the ladies man anymore and feels Juliet is the only one for him. He continues to use this as Romeo says, Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon who is already sick and pale with grief. He is saying that the sun is Juliet and the envious moon is her family. This shows a positive with a negative, and shows love then shows what will happen later, death. To conclude, Shakespeare used many different ways to show how Romeo and Juliet felt about each other; he not only used the written word but also used the Globe Theatre as a dimension, especially with the balcony scene. I believe that it would have been very entertaining to have watched one of Shakespeares plays in The Globe Theatre as the actors would have performed right in front of you and around you, you would have felt totally included.