Romeo and Juliet Analyze a technique used to show changes in a character, and why these changes were important to the text as a whole. Comparable to little, Shakespeare’s work has stood the test of time, and not due to luck. It is the technical aspects applied to plot and character that drives the unique form of narrative which holds the interest of the audience. An interesting aspect of Shakespeare’s work is the depth given to characters, and the significant changes that are made to these characters under certain circumstances. Shakespeare was able to use techniques to highlight these changes, and thus make them more effective and apparent to the audience, whilst letting the continually drive the plot forward. This is particularly relevant to the changes the character Romeo undergoes in Romeo and Juliet. In modern day films, mood and atmosphere is created through various techniques, one that is more predominant is lighting. Now instead of using lighting in its physical form, Shakespeare used written techniques to create light and dark imagery to highlight change in characters. It is important to look at the significance of this technique, and the symbolism associated with it. Light and darkness usually have very definitive meanings in human psychology. Traditionally, light is considered ” good” because it allows us to perceive the world around us and to work within it. Conversely, dark is usually viewed as ” evil” due to our inability to see and the fear that such a state brings. Thus day and night, which are distinguished by the amount of light available, have similar connotations. At the beginning of the play Romeo is creating himself an artificial night, in which to hide from the world, and drown in his sorrow ” Many a morning hath he there been seen / With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew, / Adding to clouds and more clouds with his deep sighs; / But all so soon as the all- cheering sun / Should in the farthest east began to draw / The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed, / Away from light steals home my heavy son / And private in his chamber pens himself, / Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, / And makes himself an artificial night” The technique is used to convey the child like manner in which Romeo chooses to deal with his sadness, that he is shutting love (light) out of his life, and dwelling on a romance that never was. The use of ” artificial night” can also be linked to his emotions; they are artificial, not real. He is in a state of mind of wanting to be love sick, ergo he believes he is. This is in contrast to the light imagery seen when he meets Juliet. The first instances of Romeo changing are at the Montague party, where he is able to experience true love for the first time. There is already the ability to link events in the texts and see small contrasts in the character in this scene alone. For instance when he arrives he is in a dark ” heavy” mood, and will not lighten up by dancing, so he will only carry the light as the ” torch bearer”, sitting and watching ” Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; / Being but heavy, I will bear the light”. But then later in the evening when Romeo comes across Juliet the first stages of change and to the growing up of the character becomes apparent. As said before, the symbolic light he is carrying (as the torch bearer) is not bright enough to light up his dark mood, until he meets Juliet ” O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” Now in order for one to truly understand the evolution of Romeos character throughout the story, direct comparisons must be drawn between the beginning and the end in order to achieve a viable contrast. We are able to see the use of light as apposed to dark imagery at Romeo’s tragic ending. When Romeo falls out with Rosaline, darkness is used to represent his emotions, and the character feelings towards the relationship. But Juliet causes Romeo to grow, to become complete. She allows him to become his own person, and not be swayed by the opinions of others. It is a change that only true, requited love can bring, and after his death this is made apparent to his mourning family. They realize he is a changed man and thus look upon the relation ship with respect. Using light imagery to describe in comparison to the son, which is a referral to an earlier event in the play in which Romeo describes Juliet as brighter than the sun. ” A glooming peace this morning with it brings; The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; Some shall be pardon’d, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” The play ends on a light rather than a dark image, in order to show the change both the characters and the setting has taken. The change of character of Romeo is vital from a plot sense, and a cathartic point of view. There would be no story if these changes did not happen to Romeo, there would be no motivation for plot. It is the changes in Romeo that create the conflict, and in the end, the resolution. It was vital to ending the conflict between the Montague’s and the Capulets. Shakespeare’s use of the technique of light and dark imagery to illustrate the changes to the character Romeo is fundamental to the text as a whole. From, loving to fighting, life to death, conflict to resolution, none could be so effective without Shakespeare’s mastery of this technique. By Damien Rabaud
Related Essay Samples
Death of a salesman explicatory essay
However, one of the major concerns of the play is the American system and capitalism, or rather the back side of it. Thus, the plot of the play helps the author to convey his idea of the American dream.
Andrew lang
The tone is didactic, " Money moves the merchants all" and " Money maketh Evil show" saying money is the start is a parallel construction. This line is saying that money will convince merchants to explore the sea because there ...
Beach and storm descriptive writing
The smell of the sea overpowers the old, lingering smell of chips and candyfloss, now only a stench of salt and seaweed are left. The smoke from the explosion is quickly carried off by the wind and the remains of ...
Managing the dream book review
From the book, it is evident that effective leadership comprises of change embracement, mastering the art of leading and embodying the dream in order to mould the character of leadership in a person or within the group context. Negotiating the ...
Catch me if you can film review
In the beginning of the film, the viewer becomes aware that his father, Frank Sr, is a huge role model for him and becomes the source of Frank's longing for acceptance and appreciation. In the first, Frank is still a ...
Babylon revisited & the great gatsby: motifs & themes term paper
The main protagonist of " Babylon Revisited," Charlie, and Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby continually strive to win back the females they loved and lost. When he pleads his case to the guardians of Honoria, his sister-in-law Marion, and ...
Desire of ages book report essay sample
In the very first paragraph of the book, she called into question the prevalent opinion of early Adventists concerning the relationship of Christ to the Father. Thus in ramark on Christ's resurrection, Ellen White again affirmed his full divinity and ...
Good essay about hr 3 forums questions
ILO Declaration " On Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work" indicates that all ILO member States, even if they have not ratified the Convention, are recognized as fundamental both within the organization and outside it.a) freedom of association and the ...
Atticus finch character sketch essay
Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, the representative of Alabama in the State Legislator and the father of Scout and Jeremy Finch. For instance, he does not hesitate to answer Scout's question about the meaning of " rape", and he ...
The authors explore the question of bankruptcy in public companies
The authors explore the question of bankruptcy in public companies, trying to come up with ways of predicting the looming bankruptcy. Pointing to the growing scale of this harmful phenomenon with a greater number of larger companies going bankrupt, Chuvakhin ...
Satire of modest proposal
The writing is used to construct a misunderstood proposal that comments on the social hardship of Ireland while blaming the government's incompetence as well as the morals of the country. From the beginning, it is not clear to the readers ...
Answer/discuss
Shattering of the old order, therefore, advocates for running of the running of the economic affairs without consulting with the citizens. Shattering of the old order, therefore, may work to the definite advantage or the negative benefit of the nation ...
City of ember book reveiw
This is a story of when a young girl named Lina Mayfleet finds a way out of the unknown, hidden world that she lives and her journey out of the dreadful dying city, Ember. The secrets of Ember and the ...
Essay 4
Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and " Kenneth Oppel, Sunwing handle the convention of both the internal and external situations they depict upon their characters Harry and Shade.J.K. The internal quest and external adventure of a young Bat ...
The gender roles and their portrayal
Interestingly, despite the constructions of masculinity retaining the narrative limelight, females appear to act as the architects of the plot of the poem, using their femininity, both through love and scorn, to dictate the actions of the masculine characters surrounding ...
Male dominated society
The scene in the reading that truly appeared to grab my eye as the reader is where the storyteller appears to reveal her own meaning of the wallpaper and truly come to envision the concealed image. The scene in the ...
What is your response to the way macbeth is presented in the play? what is there to admire and what are his weaknesses?
One of these changes occurs when the plot twist and Macbeth sees his chance to claim the royal throne by killing Duncan because of the witches' predictions, and when they address him as, " Cawdor and king of the Scots. ...
Personality- illness connection
In the interactional model, a certain event may happen to a person, but it is the personality of that person which determines the impact of events by influencing a person's ability to cope. The coping mechanism and response of an ...
The wanderer” poem essay sample
The poem goes into grave detail as to the feelings, hardships, and memories of the various speakers, leaving the reader feeling as if they were actually there. Of course, grave detail is just one of the ways the author puts ...
Ode to a nightingale
In his Ode to a Nightingale, John Keats portrays understanding of the numerous literary techniques used in the poetry as he uses an assortment of styles and techniques thus creating the masterpiece celebrated to this day. In ensuring the dignified, ...
Fahrenheit 451 and brave new world
Unlike Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World includes a group of people unaffected by the alterations in society, a group that holds religious beliefs and marriage, to compare and contrast today's lifestyle to the proposed lifestyle of the future. The son ...
Overall banking of bank asia limited
If the purpose of acceptance of deposits is not to lend or invest, the business will not be called banking business. The account for origin of the word " Bankrupt" which means bankfailurebut whatever be the origin of the bank, ...
Those winter sundays by robert hayden
These lines unveil complicated personal relations and emotional tension between the speaker and the world: the speaker is dissatisfied with the coldness and indifference of the world around him. Also, Hayden uses such symbols as 'cracked hands' " the cold ...
George killed lennie for merciful reasons
George begins to see a pattern of aggression coming from Lennie and wants to put it to an end because Lennie is hurting too many others unintentionally and he sees Lennie is quick to frustrate and panic and is lacking ...
Theodore roethke biography(1908-1963)
Roethke'schildhoodmemoriesof the greenhouses and of his father are frequent subjects of hispoetry, alongside the related theme of descending into the self to discover an elementary life force at one with the growing plants of the green house and the life ...