Conformity In Romeo And Juliet

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Form and formality in Romeo and Juliet- Form- the way in which particular literary works can present a particular genre of writing Formality- to analyse how a given text abides by the conventions of a particular genre/form. Levin discusses how language is used as a vehicle to bring form and meaning together. Romance Genre- When lovers first meet their meeting is formalised into a sonnet providing the audience with light and sensual imagery of Romeo’s pilgrim lips that desire of “tender kiss”. Juliet answers as a lady must to argue such forth right desires to suggest that pilgrims’ lips bets be used in prayer. The form of romance is culminated in a kiss. Levin suggest that the romantic form of this meeting is further framed by the…show more content…
The seriousness of their love results from the lovers’ disrepudance (?) of artificial language of ‘love’ and superficial code they had tired by at the beginning of the play. This is seen through the development of language form beginning with rhyme (Levin- “Comedy set the pattern of courtship embodied in dance (rhyme)) heavily used in the first act to its replacement of Blank verse which representative of a for more logical and realistic tone. This also reflects a common Shakespearean comment on Appearance versus Reality which is often a deeper theme discussed in tragedy. Tragedy is said to be further represented in Shakespeare’s use of opposites or antithesis. Suggested in Romeo’s oxymoronic prophetic- “Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why then, O brawling Love! O loving hate” (I i.162-164) Along with omnipresent motifs of light and darkness, youth and age. Overall this scene of opposites is set within context of the lovers that are opposites in family caught in a feud that ultimately leads to tragedy. Throughout the entire play notion of opposing sides is represented by constant physical battles as Levin describes “the brawl of Act I renewed again by the contretemps of Act III and completed by the sword play of Act V.” The notion of chaos often reflected in Shakespearean tragedy highlighted in Romeo and Juliet by the explosion of the feud between Montague and…show more content…
“Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague! See what a surge(?) is laid upon your hate That heaven finds means to kills yours joys with love” (V, iii, 291-293) “For there never was a story of more woe, then this of Juliet and her Romeo” (V, iii, 309-310) Tragedy- Reinforced by the death of Mercutio as it is seen by Levin as quite an ironic end, as he has been the satirist- “represents the play moving from Romantic comedy to Romantic tragedy.” Comparing Comedy & Tragedy- Tragedy tends to isolate where comedy bring together, to reveal the uniqueness of individuals rather than what they have in common with others. Examples have been shown with the progression of Juliet whom begun in tragic settings as an only child mother “But one, poor one, one poor, and loving child” (IV, v. 46) whilst Romeo friar reflects on then as “two in one” (II.iv.37) yet again when taking the potion “my dismal scene I needs must act alone.” (IV.iii. 19) reflected in the setting of each of them dying

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