Shakespeare used a lot of figurative language in his popular tragedy Romeo and Juliet to amplify his writing and make it more interesting, captivating, and persuasive. In this particular example, he used two figures of speech—metaphor and hyperbole.
In act 3, scene 3, Romeo is banished from Verona as a punishment for the murder of Juliet’s first cousin and his rival—Tybalt. However, instead of being pleased that he wasn’t punished with death, Romeo feels sad and miserable, because being banished means that he won’t be able to see Juliet ever again. He’s very emotional and even threatens to commit suicide some moments later. Thus, Shakespeare uses a metaphor to explain to the readers and the audience just how sad Romeo feels.
In his monologue, Romeo compares the city of Verona to heaven, because his pure, beautiful, and virtuous Juliet lives there; he says that every creature will be able to see her but him. This is devastating to him, and he says that whatever place he decides to go will be the equivalent of hell, because his Juliet won't be beside him. These comparisons are an example of hyperbole as well.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Using the lines below, discuss how Shakespeare used figurative language to convey emotion: "'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here, / Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog / And little mouse, every unworthy thing, / Live here in heaven and may look on her; / But Romeo may not: more validity, / More honorable state, more courtship lives / In carrion-flies than Romeo: they may seize / On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand / And steal immortal blessing from her lips, / Who even in pure and vestal modesty, / Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin; / But Romeo may not; he is banished: / Flies may do this, but I from this must fly: / They are free men, but I am banished."
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