Opposition

• How does Shakespeare present oppositions in Romeo and Juliet?


  To make the audience question conflict and opposition in their own lives and society:

  • Shakespeare is able to bring polarising concepts together which allow the audience to analyse how they interact.
  • Shakespeare often uses juxtapositions and oxymoronic language to present these contrasting and contradicting ideas in the play.
  • He also creates characters which have contrasting or similar personalities.
• How is the rivalry between the Capulet's and the Montague's presented?

  It is important to note that the Montagues and Capulets have an “ancient grudge” against each other, which suggests that they are very different people.

  However, the reality is that the families are more similar than they

  are different, as they’re both noble families, 'both alike in dignity'
• 'Two households, both alike in dignity'

  • The first line in the play shows the likeness of the families which makes their feud more ironic. To be “both alike in dignity” means that they had the same social standing.
  • In the Elizabethan times, a person's social status was very important; it dictated the way they lived their life.
• “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” The audience is told that the feud is “ancient”:

  • This adjective has connotations with something old, sacred and almost untouched; as though it had been like this since the beginning of time, it is a force nothing can break.

  It is then juxtaposed by the “new mutiny” which means that there is new violence which foreshadows the intensity that is brought about through the young lovers.
• How is the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montague's contrasted by the end of the play?

  While Romeo and Juliet is a love story and a tragedy it also is a moral story as it fulfils a didactic purpose. At the end of the play the two families realise the error of their ways and make peace with each other.

  Lord Capulet says “O brother Montague, give me thy hand”:

  Through the tragic ending in the play, Shakespeare illustrates the dangers of opposition and conflict in life.
• 'thou art a villain' ~ Tybalt, Act 3 Scene 1

  Tybalt confesses his hatred for Romeo:

  • The noun “villain” suggests that Romeo is the enemy because he is

  from another family. This is ironic because through Romeo’s marriage to Juliet they have joined families.

  • While Tybalt believes that he is defending his family's honour from Romeo, the reality is that Romeo and Tybalt are actually from the same family and so their loyalties now lie with each other.
• “O calm dishonourable, vile submission!... Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” ~ Mercutio, Act 3 Scene 1

  ○ Mercutio serves as the voice for society, relaying the audience’s belief. He believes that Romeo’s peace-making attitude is “vile” as it goes against their nature.

  ○ “Mercutio’s phrase suggests that Romeo not wanting to fight is not just “dishonourable” but actually a disease in which the only cure is to be a real man and fight.
• How are Tybalt and Mercutio presented as similar?

  In Act 3 Scene 1 we can see both men starting fights which ultimately lead to their deaths:

  • Tybalt is looking to fight Romeo; Romeo refuses.
  • Mercutio does not understand this; in the Elizabethan era it would have been typical to challenge someone to a duel if they disrespect you.
  • Mercutio steps in and puts forward the challenge; this decision ultimately results in his death.

  Both of these characters contrast with Romeo who does not want to join in the violence. Their masculinity is contrasted with Romeo’s feminine traits.
• 'Tickling a parson’s nose as he lies asleep”~ Mercutio, Act 1 Scene 4

  Mercutio starts to describe the character of Queen Mab. She’s a fairy who was created by Shakespeare. Queen Mab’s purpose is to give people what they want through their dreams:

  • Mercutio is essentially trying to prove to Romeo that dreams mean nothing.
• How do Tybalt and Mercutio contrast each other?

  Tybalt is a very serious character who introduces the reality of the situation to the audience whereas Mercutio adds comedic relief:

  • An example of Mercutio’s comedy is found in his Queen Mab speech, which includes moments of comedy as he talks about Queen Mab “Tickling a parson’s nose as he lies asleep”~ Act 1 Scene 4
  • This juxtaposes Tybalt who never has a moment of humour. At the party in Act 1 Scene 5 Tybalt is angry that Romeo has gatecrashed the feast saying that Romeo is a “villain”.
• How are love and hate presented?

  Shakespeare juxtaposes love and hate throughout the play. He even subverts incredibly romantic scenes with moments filled with hate and conflict. The opposition of love and hate within the play creates tension.
• “Content thee, gentle coz...Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and

  well-governed youth.”~ Lord Capulet, Act 1 Scene 5

  • Capulet argues that his nephew should leave Romeo alone as he is acting a cordial way and not creating any trouble.
  • This also reveals a lot about Lord Capulet as while his family feuds with the Montagues he still has an open mind and can see the good of Romeo.
  • This suggests that Capulet can be level headed which juxtaposes with Tybalt who is a very rash character.
• How is R & J's first encounter contrasted with hate (Act 1 Scene 5)?

  The lovers speak in a sonnet form and their language is filled with religious imagery.This exchange is fuelled by romance which leads to a climax: their kiss.

  However, there's conflict between Tybalt and Lord Capulet just before:

  • Tybalt is enraged by Romeo gate-crashing the party; he believes that Romeo is a “villain”.
  • However, Lord Capulet doesn’t want to spoil the celebrations and demands that Romeo “shall be endured”.
  • While Tybalt tries to persist in the end he withdraws, emphasising Lord Capulet’s authority.
• The exchange between Romeo and Juliet- Act 1 Scene 5:

  ● This is in sonnet form which is the traditional structure for a love poem. The way in which their lines complete each other to become a full sonnet shows how their love is true and complete.

  ● This juxtaposes Romeo’s love for Rosaline, as the audience never really gets to hear from Rosaline, as his love is one-sided.
• How is Romeo and Juliet's wedding contrasted with conflict?

  The scene they get married in is immediately juxtaposed by the climax of the play Act 3 scene 1 where Mercutio and Tybalt die:

  • Shakespeare manages to put together the epitome of love (marriage) and the epitome of hate (murder) to illustrate to the audience the simplicity as well as the complexity of life in presenting the two most powerful emotions alongside each other.
• How are Life and Death juxtaposed?

  Shakespeare shows the duality between life and death within the play. A key theme within any tragedy is death, it is used by Shakespeare to release tension and purge emotions.
• How is death presented?

  In Romeo's final speech before he commits suicide, he contrasts the sadness of death with a feeling of elation saying “How oft when men are at the point of death/ Have they been merry, which their keepers call A

  lightning before death!”:

  • Here Romeo is saying here that some men describe happiness before they die, he shows the audience that he is experiencing a similar kind of high which he compares to “lightning”.
• How is life presented?

  The theme of life is shown in a subtle way within the play. There aren’t any births, instead there are new beginnings which can be seen as symbolic of new life.

  ➔ The love between Romeo and Juliet is symbolic of this new life. They cannot remember a life before they had met each other, and they cannot imagine a life without each other.

  ➔ Equally, they forge a new life together as a married couple.