Paul Corty CP9 4

Romeo and Juliet Contrast Paper

In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare uses the contrasting symbols of light and dark, day and night, to symbolize Romeos love for Juliet and Juliets love for Romeo. He also uses celestial symbolism, like stars and angels, to accent the duos love for each other. William Shakespeare uses light to talk of Romeos love for Juliet in Act II, and he talks about how Juliet is bright as the sun, and how she is the only source of light in his (Romeos) night. He talks about themselves, as Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes/ Twinkle in their spheres till they return (Romeo Act II, scene ii). He is talking about how they are star-crossed and how they are fated to die, referring to heaven, and how they will return. He also says how Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon (Romeo Act II, scene ii). Romeo is waiting outside her window for her to appear and to make his night brighter. He says that The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars/ As daylight doth a lamp (Romeo Act II, scene ii). Again, he speaks of how it is dark and how she shines brighter than the stars, a very romantic line talking of the celestial beings. They can only meet at night, and he wants her, a bright being, to come and met him. In opposition, William Shakespeare uses darkness to express Juliets love for Romeo in Act II, scene ii. She is waiting for Romeo to come to her chamber and for them to consummate their marriage. She also talks about dark because they can only meet at night. In contrast to Romeo, she WANTS night (darkness) to come so

Paul Corty CP9 4 that Romeo can visit her, by sighing, saying that if love be blind,/ It best agrees with night. Come, civil night (Juliet Act II, scene ii). She also hints at how when he (Romeo) shall die/ Take him and cut him out in little stars (Juliet Act II, scene ii). This implies the impending doom that hangs over these lovers. She says that if he were to be cut into the stars, it would be so lovely, that all the world would he in love with night/ And pay no worship to the garish sun (Juliet Act II, scene ii). She is mentioning the celestial symbols and how she wants the world, like her, to love night/Romeo. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses light and dark to contrast the lovers thoughts. But as dark and light form a whole day, he uses the contrast to bring them and to make the point that they complete each other. Throughout the play, the audience sees the progress of the couples love that is fated to end violently.