Elodie Orkin

English Class
Ms. Jarvis
02-20-17

Painting Pictures through Words:

Analyzing the Use of Language in Romeo and Juliet

In a world where people are divided by language, feelings can surpass the barrier of

words. William Shakespeare’s plays are examples of how feelings have the capacity to reach

audiences even when they cannot understand English. The impact of this universal playwright

reveals how the expression of feelings impacts every continent. In The Guardian, the article

entitled “Ten Ways in which Shakespeare changed the World,” Robert McCrum points out “Four

hundred years on, his unique gift to our culture, language and imagination has been to

universalise the experience of living.” Romeo and Juliet is one such play that shows how the use

of language ironically helps translate feelings that the world can understand. Throughout the

play, Romeo’s use of language shows the strength of his feelings. Striking words and phrases,

imagery, and forms of verse helps the audience identify with Romeo’s feelings beyond the

confinement of early modern English.

One of Romeo’s most powerful ways of expressing his strong feelings is through the use

of metaphors. In one instance, for example, Romeo compares love to smoke, which shows his

dark feeling toward love. “Love is smoke made with fume of sighs”(Act I, sc.1, l.184). In this

scene, Romeo is depressed because he loves Rosaline, a girl who doesn’t love him. He is saying

that love comes from a dark place by comparing it to smoke, which is something, dark,

dangerous, and unhealthy. By firmly establishing a comparison between two unlike things,

smoke and love, Romeo magnifies the intensity of his sadness.

 Another way Romeo demonstrates the strength of his sadness in the first extract is

through paradoxes. In response to Benvolio, Romeo says that he feels dead when Rosaline

refuses to love him. He sadly remarks, “She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow/ Do I live

dead, that live to tell it now”(Act I, sc1, ll. 217-218). Although technically alive, Romeo feels

dead without Rosaline’s love. The image of seeming dead while alive affirms his confusion and

conflicted feelings of love. Overall, this striking phrase helps Romeo display the magnitude of

his sadness. The use of poetic expression in the first extract shows the strength of his

melancholic feelings for Rosaline.

In contrast, in the second extract, Romeo presents his enthusiasm toward love through

imagery. In the balcony scene, Romeo compares Juliet to the sun and gives the sun human

characteristics. “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, / Who is already sick and pale with

grief/ That thou her maid art far more fair than she,” exclaims Romeo (Act II, sc.2, ll.4-6). By

transferring Juliet’s attributes to the bright sun, its beauty kills all sickness and grief associated

with his love for Rosaline. Through personification, the sun becomes a warrior of lightness and

positivity. The use of language in this extract shows the strength of his shining love for Juliet.

The most compelling instance that demonstrates Romeo’s strong feelings of elation is

through poetic verse. For instance, when Juliet declares her love for Romeo, he poetically vows

that he believes her. With certainty Juliet announces, “Take all myself “ and Romeo immediately

responds,” I take thee at thy word” (Act II, sc2, ll. 48-49). Not only are their words romantic, but

they also share a single verse of iambic pentameter. In his eagerness, Romeo seems to cut Juliet

off in her soliloquy finishing her thought with his own. The way they share rhythm and meter

shows their close connection and intimacy as well as Romeo’s exuberant feelings in the second

extract.
 Throughout the play, metaphors, iambic pentameter, paradoxes, and personification help

Romeo reveal his dark and joyful feelings. Shakespeare’s use of language demonstrates Romeo’s

progression from depressed feelings for Rosaline to his ecstatic emotions for Juliet. By using

poetic language, Shakespeare paints vivid pictures which surpass simple ideas allowing the

audience to relate to Romeo’s strong feelings. The careful language pulls the audience in and

allows them to experience love with Romeo.