Themes & Symbolism in Romeo & Juliet PDF

Themes & Symbolism In Romeo & Juliet  Getting Ready ⬗ At this point in “Romeo & Juliet”, we’ve explored Act I and are halfway through Act II. ⬗ You have been keeping track of the play through Scene Notes about important plot details and Themes/Symbols. ⬗ This week will in...

Themes & Symbolism In Romeo & Juliet  Getting Ready ⬗ At this point in “Romeo & Juliet”, we’ve explored Act I and are halfway through Act II. ⬗ You have been keeping track of the play through Scene Notes about important plot details and Themes/Symbols. ⬗ This week will involve two major activities: ⬗ On Thursday [Oct. 10th], there will be a Quiz on Act I & Act II. You will have access to your Scene notes, but they must be submitted afterwards. ⬗ On Friday [Oct. 11th], we are scheduled in the library for a Shakespeare activity. 2  Themes in Romeo & Juliet ⬗ The Power of Love ⬗ Love is an important theme because it’s the reason for everything that happens in the play. ⬗ The love between Romeo and Juliet seems so powerful that it’s more important then their families, their loyalties, and even their lives. ⬗ Passion and Violence ⬗ While Romeo and Juliet experience romantic passion, their rival families experience violent passion. ⬗ From outdated expectations to the death of certain characters, the hatred and anger between these two families is an equally strong force. 3  Themes in Romeo & Juliet’s ⬗ Individual Against Society ⬗ What the star-crossed lovers want as individuals is in conflict with what society expects. ⬗ They may be in love, but they cannot abandon their families or the reputations they’ve inherited. ⬗ The two will always be expected to oppose each other because society is offended by the love they share. ⬗ It is only after a tragedy that anyone really changes for the better. 4  Themes in Romeo & Juliet’s ⬗ Can you Fight Fate? ⬗ At the beginning of the play, we are told that Romeo and Juliet are “star- crossed” lovers; their union will end badly. ⬗ This fate is confirmed when both have bad feelings about their meeting – Romeo before the party and Juliet after the party. ⬗ Shakespeare tells a story where destiny is certain and events cannot be changed. 5  What are Symbols? ⬗ Symbols can be any objects, images, or phrases that represent something important to the story. ⬗ We can discover symbols by looking past surface-level meaning and through deeper investigation. ⬗ For example, “Romeo & Juliet” starts with thumb biting; a gesture that – in the context of the play – represents how meaningless and destructive the Montague/Capulet feud is. 6  Symbolism in Romeo & Juliet ⬗ Queen Mab ⬗ Introduced in Act I Scene 4, Queen Mab is a mythical fairy that brings dreams to men. ⬗ Notably, Queen Mab is a symbol of mischief, manipulation, and indulgence. ⬗ When Mercutio says that Romeo was visited by the figure, he suggests that Romeo is becoming too caught up in daydreams and fantasies. ⬗ His speech also foreshadows the tragic end that Romeo & Juliet are likely to face at the end of the play. 7  Symbolism in Romeo & Juliet ⬗ Light and Darkness ⬗ Traditionally, light symbolizes openness, purity, hope, and good fortune while darkness represents confusion, obscurity, and doom. ⬗ However, these ideas are reversed in “Romeo & Juliet” – Light is intrusive and unwelcome while Darkness allows the lovers to enjoy their forbidden love. ⬗ The Balcony scene takes place at night, emphasizing the clandestine nature of their relationship. 8  ⬗ Poison ⬗ In Act II, Friar Laurence explains that every plant & herb has special properties that are neither good nor bad. ⬗ In this play, poison cannot represent pure evil because it is a natural substance with equally healing properties. ⬗ Instead, it represents the more complex idea that natural things become good/evil by the human hands who use them. ⬗ The symbolism extends into the couples intense and intoxicating relationship as we get closer to their tragic demise. 9