“Shakespeare´s tragischem Liebespaar Romeo und Juliet gelingt es […] in einer durch Instabilität und Gewalt geprägten Gesellschaft, sich eine von hingebungsvoller Leidenschaft erfüllte private Welt zu schaffen” (Baumann 1998: 94). Uwe Baumann here distinguishes between two worlds in Shakespeare´s tragedy "Romeo and Juliet": on the one hand the lovers´ world, characterised by passion and intimacy; on the other hand the real world, full of violence, chaos and hatred. However, these two opposing worlds cannot be regarded separately. The preposition “in” already implies that Romeo and Juliet are dependent from their surrounding society and during the short period of their love affair it is inevitable for them to act within its rules and regulations.
This academic assignment deals with the question how the lovers create their own world and how this private world relates to the real world of Verona. Scholars have often pointed out that Romeo and Juliet differ from their environment concerning their special
use of language. It can be described as “magical, passionate, transformative language” (Greenblatt e.a. 1997: 868) enriched with similes, symbols and metaphors. One dominating image, frequently used by the lovers to describe each other and the phenomenon of their passionate love, is light. The first chapter therefore mainly deals with the linguistic presentation of light images in Romeo and Juliet. In addition, the special function of night and darkness for the lovers shall be examined. The light theme is heavily connected to the aspect of time. Thus, chapter two will examine how the lovers deal with the problem of (limited) time during their secret meetings. An interesting key scene for the examination of both, light/darkness and time, provides the final farewell of the lovers (3.5), which therefore will be discussed in detail. Finally, the lovers´ world shall be examined in terms of its connections to the real world of Verona. The problem of Romeo´s and Juliet´s increasing isolation and loss of their counsellors will be of special interest here.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Light and Dark
- Time
- Connections to the outside world
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This academic assignment explores the creation of a private world by the lovers Romeo and Juliet amidst the violence and instability of Verona. It examines how their world is shaped by their unique use of language, particularly the frequent use of light imagery. The study aims to understand the connection between the lovers' private world and the real world of Verona, analyzing the role of time, darkness, and their growing isolation.
- The role of language in constructing the lovers' private world
- The significance of light and dark imagery in representing love and its limitations
- The relationship between the lovers' world and the real world of Verona
- The impact of time and its limits on their love
- The consequences of Romeo and Juliet's increasing isolation
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: Introduces the duality of worlds in Romeo and Juliet - the lovers' world of passion and the real world of violence. The chapter focuses on the lovers' distinctive use of language and specifically, the prominent imagery of light.
- Light and Dark: This chapter delves into the recurring theme of light in Shakespeare's play, analyzing how love is described through metaphors of light and darkness. It examines the lovers' comparisons to light sources and the implications of their love being likened to lightning and fire.
- Time: This chapter explores the lovers' relationship with time and its limitations in their secret meetings. The final farewell scene (3.5) is examined in detail, demonstrating the interplay of light/darkness and time in the lovers' world.
- Connections to the outside world: This chapter examines the relationship between the lovers' private world and the real world of Verona. It analyzes the growing isolation of Romeo and Juliet, and their loss of guidance from friends and family.
Keywords
This text explores themes of love, language, and light imagery in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It examines the creation of a private world by the lovers, contrasting it with the external world of violence and instability. Key concepts include light and dark metaphors, the role of time, and the lovers' growing isolation.
- Quote paper
- Ines Hermeling (Author), 2008, The opposing worlds of "Romeo and Juliet", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/148853
