Fire Imagery In Romeo And Juliet Analysis

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William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet revolves around the passion and the whirlwind impulsive romance of two teens, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, and the deadly consequences. Each teen’s family members pit themselves against one another in bloodbath (feud), which drives Romeo and Juliet’s love into hiding. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, fire imagery develops the idea that emotion clouds reason. Shakespeare uses the images of candles and torches to show how blind infatuation and desperation lead to deadly consequences. When Romeo says, “Night’s candles are burnt out” (3.5.9) his time in Juliet’s bedroom runs out. But his blind infatuation with Juliet keeps him there, and he puts himself in danger of being yet another victim of their families’ feud. Later in the play, Friar Lawrence says, “Where the torch doth burn/ the ground is bloody” (5.3.176-177), referring to the tomb where Romeo and Juliet both commit suicide. These teens’…show more content…
Fire imagery embodies Romeo’s rash anger after the death of his friend Mercutio, “And fiery-eyed fury by my conduct now! Now Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again ” (3.1.124-125). Romeo’s fury and thirst for revenge clouds his reason, he breaks the peace set by the Prince by killing Tybalt. The consequence for his blind rage will be banishment, and to Romeo this fate is worse than death. Later in the play, Friar Lawrence says to Romeo, “Like powder in a skilless soldier's flask, Is set afire by thine own ignorance, And thou dismembered with thine own defence” (3.3.132). Friar Lawrence compares Romeo’s unpredictable emotions and passion to the fiery spark of a gun. Romeo’s impulsive actions throughout the play prove this true. The reckless decisions of Romeo and Juliet, derived from passion, causes the death of the two young teens. Fire imagery shows how passion and anger lead to death and other impulsive
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