"My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand"(Act 1, scene 5, line 101). Romeo compares his lips to "two blushing pilgrims" upon first meeting Juliet. The metaphor references the popular pilgrimages of the age. Pilgrims worshiped sacred objects, so in this case Juliet is portrayed as an image of a saint. Romeo then offers to kiss her to release his sin, so his metaphor for his lips is a form of flirting. I thought the use of pilgrims as the vehicle for lips was a unique metaphor. It shows Romeo's charm and romanticism. Juliet reciprocates his advance by referring to herself as a saint and Romeo as the pilgrim. The religious nature of the metaphor creates undertones of divine purity surrounding their love.
While talking with Lady Capulet and Juliet, the nurse says of Paris, "he's a man of wax" (Act 1, scene 3, line 82). Paris is the tenor and wax is the vehicle. This description implies Paris, like a wax sculpture, is unrealistically perfect. He outwardly displays no flaws - a reality that is probably good to be true. By comparing him to wax, the nurse is able to sum all of this up in merely a few words, and so do without sounding too critical. The nurse also sets up what could potentially be a case of dramatic irony; the reader knows there is more to Paris than meets the eye, but the Capulets do not.
Before the Capulet banquet Rome questions the nature of his own love, inquiring of Mercutio and Benvolio, "Is love a tender thing?" and describing the kind of love he knows adding, "It is too rough,/ Too rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn" (I.iv.25-6). Romeo has previously described the complexity of his "brawling love" (I.i.181), but here Shakespeare uses a simile as well as personification to describe Romeo's love as an internal pest. Shakespeare forces us to question the airy connotation of love with adjectives like "rough", "rude", "boist'rous", and prickly. In the same way he calls to mind a rose, also associated with love. In doing so Shakespeare effectively translates Romeo's burdensome love to the reader.
In the dialogue between the Nurse, Juliet, and Lady Capulet, marriage is portrayed as something of an honor. However, Juliet says it is not an honor that she dreams of. Lady Capulet states, "That book in many's eyes doth share the glory/That in gold clasps locks in the golden story./ So shall you share all that he doth possess/ By having him, making yourself no less" (I.iv.96-100). Shakespeare uses figurative language when he quotes "that book in many's eyes." Though there is not a physical book in the eyes of others, each person's eyes tell their own story. Lady Capulet speaks to the fact that the stories behind the eyes of many are those of the glory of marriage.
Prior to the big event hosted by the Capulets, Romeo and Mercutio are talking about love and dreams. Romeo does not really want to attend this affair fearing that its not going to turn out as he would like. Romeo says," I fear,too early; for my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/With this night's revels and expire the term/Of a despised life, closed in my breast,/By some vile forfeit of untimely death..."(I.iv). If you notice, the pronoun "his" is mentioned, and this his is the upcoming event. The event is personified as someone who sort of purposefully lends expectation to catch someone in a trap, so ultimately a victim is created and something is loss. In a since, this event is toying with Romeo's mind, and tricking him into thinking that the event is not going to meet his expectations and he will forfeit something dear to him, like love.
As Romeo and Mercutio are going back and forth discussing the nature of love, Mercutio says, "And to sink it it should you burden love--Too great oppression for a tender thing" (I. iv. 23-24). Mercutio is telling Romeo that by being this emotional, he is burdening love, and that is not the nature of love. Love is supposed to be tender. When Romeo answers, Shakespeare uses a simile to convey to the reader that Romeo's view of love is not quite the same; "Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boist-rous, and it pricks like thorn" (I.iv.25-26). Mercutio states that Romeo is burdening love, but Shakespeare turns it around when Romeo argues the toll that love has taken on him. As Laura mentioned yesterday, he seems like a whiny teenager. Romeo's lover, Rosaline, is going to become a nun, making her off limits. At the party, he is supposed to meet Juliet, his "star-crossed" lover. If this love for Rosaline is described this burdensome now, how will he describe his love for Juliet?
"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn" (I.iv.25-26.)
In the above quote, Romeo compares love to a thorn, which made me think of a rose. Shakespeare has already shown the reader that he thinks love is frustrating and troublesome, yet also wonderful. In the quote Rachel read yesterday in class, "Love is a smoke... An madness most discreet" (I.i.197-200), Shakespeare uses both positive and negative words to describe love. When he compares love to a thorn, it reminded me of a rose. So I thought Shakespeare was comparing love to someone that is beautiful on the outside, but still has sharp thorns when you touch it. I think by using this metaphor, and earlier quotes in the play, Shakespeare thinks that love is both good and bad, it has both wonderful and hurtful aspects. I think Shakespeare wants to point out that love is not happy all the time, and he presents his case in his character Romeo.
As Romeo and Mercutio discuss the upcoming Capulet dinner party, Mercutio tells Romeo that he must find someone to dance with when he arrives. In other words, Romeo must try to find a new woman to get himself out of the depressing ditch he has dug himself into. Romeo's response to this is, "I have a soul of lead, so stakes me to the ground I cannot move"(I.iv. 15-16). Shakespeare uses this metaphor, soul being the tenor and lead being the vehicle, to describe the crippled nature of Romeo's "soul." Just like lead, Romeo's soul is soft, easily penetrable, and even poisonous to the point of causing psychological complications. Love has had a devastating effect on Romeo. Another interesting literary device that comes from this quote is the pun of Romeo saying his "soul" is made of lead in comparison to the "soles" of dancing shoes." Although not effective towards furthering the story, this would have provided some comedic relief for those watching the play. More importantly though, this quote shows us the inconsistency of Romeo's mental state. Where as here he is love struck over a women to the point of depression, by the end of scene v. he has fallen in love with another woman, Juliet. Romeo's tendency to over exaggerate his feelings may have dreadful consequences for him later on in the story.
"I fear too early, for my mind misgives/ Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/ Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/ With this night's revels. And expire the term/ of a despised life closed in my breast/ By some vile forfeit of untimely death" (I.iv.113-18). Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to foreshadow the looming death of Romeo. Most know the basic story of Romeo and Juliet and therefore understand the significance of Romeo's prophecy. By entering the party, he dooms himself to death.
This metaphor has the tenor of "he" and the vehicle of "man of wax." It's very appropriate in this setting because Paris and a wax figurine have much in common. They both are physically attractive, and they also both represent the vision of the ideal man. Paris's social status gives him that identity. Another facet of the vehicle that is significant is the artificiality of a wax sculpture. This artificiality agrees with the arranged nature of Paris and Juliet's supposed marriage. Their relationship will not supposedly come from a natural source.
When Romeo first sees Juliet at the feast, he claims "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear" (1.v.52-53). He is intrigued by her looks and compares her to images of beauty. Juliet is the tenor and the vehicles would be the "cheek of night" and the "rich jewel." The "cheek of night" would be the moon, a symbol of light and charm. The Ethiopians wear extravagant jewelry, another symbol of her appeal. Both vehicles depict the immediate love Romeo has for Juliet and her attractiveness. Romeo says, "For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (1.v.60).
Before the party, Romeo and Mercutio are talking about dreams. Romeo states “Peace, peace Mercutio, peace! Thou talks of nothing” (101-102). Mercutio responds, “True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot if nothing but vain fantasy, Which is as thin of substance as the air and more inconstant than the wind” (103-107). In this simile dreams are the tenor, and the vehicle is air and wind. The use of this simile is to point out that dreams are unimportant. In order to display the insignificance of dreams he compares them to air and wind both of which are invisible and frequently changing. Mercutio is trying to get Romeo to not make actions in his life based on a dreams that he has. This points out that Mercutio is a more rational character than Romeo. Romeo tends to become very emotional and irrational, and it seems that Mercutio is trying to help Romeo control his emotions.
"True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain" (I.iv.103-104)
I really liked this quote because it personifies the mysterious thing called dreams. Children are known for being wild, unpredictable, uncontrollable, and potentially dangerous. You could also say that believing dreams makes one childish. He is also saying that an idle brain is dangerous. This relates directly to Romeo whose mind is idling on this impossible love of Rosaline. When Mercutio is describing the dream fairy, he is going nuts. He talks about how they can ruin a man and drive him to do crazy things. This could be a forewarning to a bad ending for him or something like that.
When Romeo first sees Juliet at the dinner party, he exclaims to himself, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear" (I.v. 51-53). The first figurative language in this quote would be the metaphorical action of Juliet "[teaching] the torches to burn bright." This metaphor is used to highlight this intense "flame" that Juliet sparked in Romeo. Shakespeare follows this metaphor with two similes comparing Juliet to both a rich jewel and "[hanging] upon the cheek of night." Later in Romeo's romantic rant, he says, "Did my heart love till now?" (I. v. 59). Together, these similes and the metaphor explain the passion Romeo instantly feels as he completely forgets Rosaline.
Right after Romeo grabs Juliet's hand at the party, the personification of both characters begins in this certain part of the text. Romeo is described as a Pilgrim, whilst he refers to Juliet as a saint. He says to her "O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair" (I. v. 57). This seems to personify how Romeo now feels about Juliet. At first, he had his eyes set for Rosaline. Now he proclaims that he has never felt love like this before for a woman.
"If love be rough with you, be rough with love; prick love for pricking, and you beat love down." 1.4.27
Romeo is having troubles with the pining feelings of love in his heart, but his friend Mercutio wants him to treat love just like treats him. If love is treating him harshly, making him have feelings of remorse and sorrow, Romeo needs to treat love harshly in order to get over it and live his life and have fun at this party.
While Juliet's Nurse and mother are talking about Paris, they try to convince Juliet to accept his offer of marriage. Lady Capulet says, "Verona's summer hath not such a flower" and the nurse replies, "Nay, he's a flower in a faith, a very flower" (I. iv. 83-84). The tenor of the metaphor is Paris, and the vehicle is a flower. Lady Capulet says that he is the most beautiful flower in all of Verona, but Lady Capulet takes it a step further saying that he is the most beautiful flower ever. Of course Paris is not literally a flower, but a man. Juliet's mother and nurse are not very successful, because Juliet falls in love with Romeo very quickly. Very soon after they meet Juliet says, "My only love sprung from my only hate!" (I. v. 152). The only person she has ever loved is someone she is supposed to hate, yet that does not stop her. Lady Capulet and the Nurse's convincing metaphor proves to be unsuccessful when it comes to Romeo and Juliet.
When Romeo is describing his dreams to Mercutio, he uses the metaphor "Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut" (I,4,58). The line comes in the middle of Romeo detailing how a fairy comes to him in his dreams at night. All of the descriptions of her chariot are of nature terms. The tenor is her chariot and the hazel-nut is the vehicle. In this case, it is the 'vehicle' almost literally as well as figuratively. Shakespeare uses the nature comparison in order to illustrate that the fairy is doing what is natural (in other words, what it should be doing). All is right in the world, until his dreams become worse later on in the passage.
"My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand"(Act 1, scene 5, line 101).
ReplyDeleteRomeo compares his lips to "two blushing pilgrims" upon first meeting Juliet. The metaphor references the popular pilgrimages of the age. Pilgrims worshiped sacred objects, so in this case Juliet is portrayed as an image of a saint. Romeo then offers to kiss her to release his sin, so his metaphor for his lips is a form of flirting.
I thought the use of pilgrims as the vehicle for lips was a unique metaphor. It shows Romeo's charm and romanticism. Juliet reciprocates his advance by referring to herself as a saint and Romeo as the pilgrim. The religious nature of the metaphor creates undertones of divine purity surrounding their love.
While talking with Lady Capulet and Juliet, the nurse says of Paris, "he's a man of wax" (Act 1, scene 3, line 82). Paris is the tenor and wax is the vehicle. This description implies Paris, like a wax sculpture, is unrealistically perfect. He outwardly displays no flaws - a reality that is probably good to be true. By comparing him to wax, the nurse is able to sum all of this up in merely a few words, and so do without sounding too critical. The nurse also sets up what could potentially be a case of dramatic irony; the reader knows there is more to Paris than meets the eye, but the Capulets do not.
ReplyDeleteBefore the Capulet banquet Rome questions the nature of his own love, inquiring of Mercutio and Benvolio, "Is love a tender thing?" and describing the kind of love he knows adding, "It is too rough,/ Too rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn" (I.iv.25-6). Romeo has previously described the complexity of his "brawling love" (I.i.181), but here Shakespeare uses a simile as well as personification to describe Romeo's love as an internal pest. Shakespeare forces us to question the airy connotation of love with adjectives like "rough", "rude", "boist'rous", and prickly. In the same way he calls to mind a rose, also associated with love. In doing so Shakespeare effectively translates Romeo's burdensome love to the reader.
ReplyDeleteIn the dialogue between the Nurse, Juliet, and Lady Capulet, marriage is portrayed as something of an honor. However, Juliet says it is not an honor that she dreams of. Lady Capulet states, "That book in many's eyes doth share the glory/That in gold clasps locks in the golden story./ So shall you share all that he doth possess/ By having him, making yourself no less" (I.iv.96-100). Shakespeare uses figurative language when he quotes "that book in many's eyes." Though there is not a physical book in the eyes of others, each person's eyes tell their own story. Lady Capulet speaks to the fact that the stories behind the eyes of many are those of the glory of marriage.
ReplyDeletePrior to the big event hosted by the Capulets, Romeo and Mercutio are talking about love and dreams. Romeo does not really want to attend this affair fearing that its not going to turn out as he would like. Romeo says," I fear,too early; for my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/With this night's revels and expire the term/Of a despised life, closed in my breast,/By some vile forfeit of untimely death..."(I.iv). If you notice, the pronoun "his" is mentioned, and this his is the upcoming event. The event is personified as someone who sort of purposefully lends expectation to catch someone in a trap, so ultimately a victim is created and something is loss. In a since, this event is toying with Romeo's mind, and tricking him into thinking that the event is not going to meet his expectations and he will forfeit something dear to him, like love.
ReplyDeleteAs Romeo and Mercutio are going back and forth discussing the nature of love, Mercutio says, "And to sink it it should you burden love--Too great oppression for a tender thing" (I. iv. 23-24). Mercutio is telling Romeo that by being this emotional, he is burdening love, and that is not the nature of love. Love is supposed to be tender. When Romeo answers, Shakespeare uses a simile to convey to the reader that Romeo's view of love is not quite the same; "Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boist-rous, and it pricks like thorn" (I.iv.25-26). Mercutio states that Romeo is burdening love, but Shakespeare turns it around when Romeo argues the toll that love has taken on him. As Laura mentioned yesterday, he seems like a whiny teenager. Romeo's lover, Rosaline, is going to become a nun, making her off limits. At the party, he is supposed to meet Juliet, his "star-crossed" lover. If this love for Rosaline is described this burdensome now, how will he describe his love for Juliet?
ReplyDelete"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
ReplyDeleteToo rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn" (I.iv.25-26.)
In the above quote, Romeo compares love to a thorn, which made me think of a rose. Shakespeare has already shown the reader that he thinks love is frustrating and troublesome, yet also wonderful. In the quote Rachel read yesterday in class, "Love is a smoke... An madness most discreet" (I.i.197-200), Shakespeare uses both positive and negative words to describe love. When he compares love to a thorn, it reminded me of a rose. So I thought Shakespeare was comparing love to someone that is beautiful on the outside, but still has sharp thorns when you touch it. I think by using this metaphor, and earlier quotes in the play, Shakespeare thinks that love is both good and bad, it has both wonderful and hurtful aspects. I think Shakespeare wants to point out that love is not happy all the time, and he presents his case in his character Romeo.
As Romeo and Mercutio discuss the upcoming Capulet dinner party, Mercutio tells Romeo that he must find someone to dance with when he arrives. In other words, Romeo must try to find a new woman to get himself out of the depressing ditch he has dug himself into. Romeo's response to this is, "I have a soul of lead, so stakes me to the ground I cannot move"(I.iv. 15-16). Shakespeare uses this metaphor, soul being the tenor and lead being the vehicle, to describe the crippled nature of Romeo's "soul." Just like lead, Romeo's soul is soft, easily penetrable, and even poisonous to the point of causing psychological complications. Love has had a devastating effect on Romeo. Another interesting literary device that comes from this quote is the pun of Romeo saying his "soul" is made of lead in comparison to the "soles" of dancing shoes." Although not effective towards furthering the story, this would have provided some comedic relief for those watching the play. More importantly though, this quote shows us the inconsistency of Romeo's mental state. Where as here he is love struck over a women to the point of depression, by the end of scene v. he has fallen in love with another woman, Juliet. Romeo's tendency to over exaggerate his feelings may have dreadful consequences for him later on in the story.
ReplyDelete"I fear too early, for my mind misgives/ Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/ Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/ With this night's revels. And expire the term/ of a despised life closed in my breast/ By some vile forfeit of untimely death" (I.iv.113-18). Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to foreshadow the looming death of Romeo. Most know the basic story of Romeo and Juliet and therefore understand the significance of Romeo's prophecy. By entering the party, he dooms himself to death.
ReplyDelete"...he's a man of wax" (I,iii,82)
ReplyDeleteThis metaphor has the tenor of "he" and the vehicle of "man of wax." It's very appropriate in this setting because Paris and a wax figurine have much in common. They both are physically attractive, and they also both represent the vision of the ideal man. Paris's social status gives him that identity. Another facet of the vehicle that is significant is the artificiality of a wax sculpture. This artificiality agrees with the arranged nature of Paris and Juliet's supposed marriage. Their relationship will not supposedly come from a natural source.
When Romeo first sees Juliet at the feast, he claims "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear" (1.v.52-53). He is intrigued by her looks and compares her to images of beauty. Juliet is the tenor and the vehicles would be the "cheek of night" and the "rich jewel." The "cheek of night" would be the moon, a symbol of light and charm. The Ethiopians wear extravagant jewelry, another symbol of her appeal. Both vehicles depict the immediate love Romeo has for Juliet and her attractiveness. Romeo says, "For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (1.v.60).
ReplyDeleteBefore the party, Romeo and Mercutio are talking about dreams. Romeo states “Peace, peace Mercutio, peace! Thou talks of nothing” (101-102). Mercutio responds, “True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot if nothing but vain fantasy, Which is as thin of substance as the air and more inconstant than the wind” (103-107). In this simile dreams are the tenor, and the vehicle is air and wind. The use of this simile is to point out that dreams are unimportant. In order to display the insignificance of dreams he compares them to air and wind both of which are invisible and frequently changing. Mercutio is trying to get Romeo to not make actions in his life based on a dreams that he has. This points out that Mercutio is a more rational character than Romeo. Romeo tends to become very emotional and irrational, and it seems that Mercutio is trying to help Romeo control his emotions.
ReplyDelete"True, I talk of dreams,
ReplyDeleteWhich are the children of an idle brain" (I.iv.103-104)
I really liked this quote because it personifies the mysterious thing called dreams. Children are known for being wild, unpredictable, uncontrollable, and potentially dangerous. You could also say that believing dreams makes one childish. He is also saying that an idle brain is dangerous. This relates directly to Romeo whose mind is idling on this impossible love of Rosaline. When Mercutio is describing the dream fairy, he is going nuts. He talks about how they can ruin a man and drive him to do crazy things. This could be a forewarning to a bad ending for him or something like that.
When Romeo first sees Juliet at the dinner party, he exclaims to himself, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear" (I.v. 51-53). The first figurative language in this quote would be the metaphorical action of Juliet "[teaching] the torches to burn bright." This metaphor is used to highlight this intense "flame" that Juliet sparked in Romeo. Shakespeare follows this metaphor with two similes comparing Juliet to both a rich jewel and "[hanging] upon the cheek of night." Later in Romeo's romantic rant, he says, "Did my heart love till now?" (I. v. 59). Together, these similes and the metaphor explain the passion Romeo instantly feels as he completely forgets Rosaline.
ReplyDeleteRight after Romeo grabs Juliet's hand at the party, the personification of both characters begins in this certain part of the text. Romeo is described as a Pilgrim, whilst he refers to Juliet as a saint. He says to her "O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair" (I. v. 57). This seems to personify how Romeo now feels about Juliet. At first, he had his eyes set for Rosaline. Now he proclaims that he has never felt love like this before for a woman.
ReplyDelete"If love be rough with you, be rough with love; prick love for pricking, and you beat love down." 1.4.27
ReplyDeleteRomeo is having troubles with the pining feelings of love in his heart, but his friend Mercutio wants him to treat love just like treats him. If love is treating him harshly, making him have feelings of remorse and sorrow, Romeo needs to treat love harshly in order to get over it and live his life and have fun at this party.
While Juliet's Nurse and mother are talking about Paris, they try to convince Juliet to accept his offer of marriage. Lady Capulet says, "Verona's summer hath not such a flower" and the nurse replies, "Nay, he's a flower in a faith, a very flower" (I. iv. 83-84). The tenor of the metaphor is Paris, and the vehicle is a flower. Lady Capulet says that he is the most beautiful flower in all of Verona, but Lady Capulet takes it a step further saying that he is the most beautiful flower ever. Of course Paris is not literally a flower, but a man. Juliet's mother and nurse are not very successful, because Juliet falls in love with Romeo very quickly. Very soon after they meet Juliet says, "My only love sprung from my only hate!" (I. v. 152). The only person she has ever loved is someone she is supposed to hate, yet that does not stop her. Lady Capulet and the Nurse's convincing metaphor proves to be unsuccessful when it comes to Romeo and Juliet.
ReplyDeleteWhen Romeo is describing his dreams to Mercutio, he uses the metaphor "Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut" (I,4,58). The line comes in the middle of Romeo detailing how a fairy comes to him in his dreams at night. All of the descriptions of her chariot are of nature terms. The tenor is her chariot and the hazel-nut is the vehicle. In this case, it is the 'vehicle' almost literally as well as figuratively. Shakespeare uses the nature comparison in order to illustrate that the fairy is doing what is natural (in other words, what it should be doing). All is right in the world, until his dreams become worse later on in the passage.
ReplyDelete