love

• "o brawling love o brawling hate"- romeo


  -oxymoron represents contrast between Romeo and juliets love with the quarraelling and violence of the feud

  -foreshadows violence that will occur throughout the play between the families

  -Romeo constant use of oxymorons throughout the play highlights romeos confusion on love, and alludes to romeos immature character tendency to make rushed decisions

  -this is reinforced when Juliet says "too rash, too unadvis'd too sudden, too like the lighting", the ayndetic listing builds to the similie which encapsulates romeos character as reckless
• "if love be rough with you, be rough with love"- mercutio


  -offers a cynical, aggressive approach to love contrasting romeos romantic view

  -"rough" suggests hardship and retaliation rather than submission

  -idea further explored through "prick love for pricking" suggests a retaliatory approach to love, "eye for eye" mentality (biblical)

  -misogynistic view, men shouldn't be overly sentimental or vulnerable
• "o swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon"


  -moon associated with changeability

  -Juliet is urging Romeo to make a vow that is permanent and certain. The moon’s inconstancy is a metaphor for something that fluctuates This is because, due to uncertainty surrounding their relationship (the feud between their families, the secrecy of their love), she longs for something stable and lasting.

  -While Romeo is impulsive and idealistic, Juliet is more rational and grounded in this moment.

  -tragic irony :Juliet wishes for something constant, but their love will ultimately prove to be fleeting.
• "But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."-Romeo


  -compares her to the sun, emphasizing her beauty and the light she brings into his life.

  -the sun is essential, powerful, and life-giving, symbolizing how central Juliet has become to Romeo's world. His language is idealistic, showcasing the depth of his infatuation and how he sees her as a radiant, almost divine figure.
• "o I am fortunes fool!"- romeo


  -Romeo is lamenting the consequences of his actions, feeling that he has been manipulated by fate + his love for Juliet

  -pivotal moment

  -Romeo’s outburst reveals the destructive side of passionate love, highlighting the tragic irony of their relationship.

  -the adjective “fool” also suggest the vulnerability of love to the whims of fate.