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Romeo and Juliet: Symbols

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1 Romeo and Juliet: Symbols
By Joshua Thrift

2 Nighttime In act II, scene ii, lines 75-78, Romeo says to Juliet, “I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes,/And but thou love me, let them find me here./My life were better ended by their hate/Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love.” In the beginning of Romeo and Juliet, night represents a nice and safe time which is a role that the day would normally play in a story. At night, they meet each other, fall in love, and get married. It is a time where they no longer have to hide from their families and can share their affection as though they are cloaked by the darkness. However, contrasting the night is the day where both Mercutio and Tybalt die, and Romeo is banished from Verona. Towards the end of the novel, the representation of night changes to a more depressing time when both Romeo and Juliet kill themselves.

3 Light and Dark In act II, scene ii, lines 4-5, Romeo says to himself, “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun./Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,” Light and dark are often used to set the mood for the play. In this case, there is a dark atmosphere, but Juliet’s character contrasts the night by being described as the sun. Romeo is also described as the stars shining in the night sky. They each found a light in the darkness which changed the scary night to a time that they both look forward to. The light of their love shines at night but is overpowered by the sun during the day.

4 The Moon In act II, scene I, lines , Juliet says to Romeo, “O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,/That monthly changes in her circle orb,/Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.” As expressed in this passage, the moon is very inconsistent and cannot be relied on because it is always changing. Juliet wishes that Romeo will not act like the moon, so she will know that he will be faithful to her. However, like the moon, Romeo is unstable because he claimed to love a different person just a few hours before this scene. He originally came to the party in a depressed mood after being rejected by Rosaline.

5 A Blooming Flower In act II, scene ii, lines , Juliet says to Romeo, “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,/May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” The flower bud describes the beginning of their love. The blooming flower represents their growing love. In the scene where the symbol is used, Juliet tells Romeo that this is only the start of their relationship, andvshe cannot make any promises until she knows that they actually love each other. At the end of the passage, Juliet wishes that they will become a beautiful flower, or will have a true relationship.

6 A Poisonous Plant In Act II, scene iii, lines 23-30, Friar Lawrence says to himself, “Within the infant rind of this weak flower/Poison hath residence and medicine power:/For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part;/Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart./Two such opposed kings encamp them still/In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will;/And where the worser is predominant,/Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.” Friar Lawrence explains that a poisonous plant can be healing through its aroma but is deadly when consumed. A plant becoming poison through ingestion symbolizes Romeo and Juliet’s love. Their love is wonderful but is poisoned by their parent’s feud which leads to death. However, their love is able to heal something as it resolves the fighting between the families.

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