Images of Light and Dark in Romeo and Juliet
IMAGES OF LIGHT AND DARK IN WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET There have always been lovers, and we have always loved hearing stories about them. Although it is about 400 years old, “Romeo and Juliet” is one of the most popular stories ever told. ... Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” tells us a lot about human nature. ... “Romeo and Juliet” is a story about love and tragic fate, a story about people. “Romeo and Juliet” begins in a lively, rapturous mood, and it is rather a play that darkens to tragedy, than a tragedy of unrelieved gloom. ... Young Romeo, a Montague, and his good friend Mercutio venture into the enemy’s house, the Capulets’ ballroom. It is here, during a feast, that Romeo sees Juliet, Capulet’s young daughter, for the first time. Romeo speaks to Juliet and she is very impressed with his obvious affection for her. ... The same night, too much in love to go home, Romeo remains in the garden, under Juliet’s balcony. To his surprise, he sees Juliet who, thinking herself alone, begins talking about Romeo, wishing he were not a Montague. ... Romeo goes to the monastery to ask Friar Lawrence to perform the wedding ceremony. The old friar, impressed with Romeo’s affection and hoping that a marriage between the two young people will dissolve the enmity between the two houses, promises to help. The next day, in Friar Lawrence’s cell, Romeo and Juliet are married. That same day, Tybalt insults Romeo’s friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, in the street. Romeo tries to settle the quarrel, now that Tybalt is his wife’s relative. ... Romeo cannot ignore the conflict anymore and kills Tybalt in duel. For this, Romeo is banished from Verona. At Friar Lawrence’s advice, he will leave for Mantua the next day and stay there until the friar can find the right moment to make his marriage to Juliet public. Meanwhile, Juliet’s father decides it is time his daughter should marry. When he demands her to accept young and handsome Paris, she dares not tell him about Romeo.