Essay Three

INTRODUCTION

William Shakespeare’s tragic play Romeo and Juliet relies on effective dramatic techniques to explore notions of love and loss. These techniques are used to enhance meaning and create a greater understand of the character’s emotions. Shakespeare achieves this through a wide range of wellexecuted techniques such as conflict, both physical and verbal, dramatic irony, symbolism, and juxtaposition.¹ It is through the use of these techniques that Shakespeare communicates his poignant ideas to his audience, ultimately contributing to a highly layered and powerful play

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Dramatic techniques, as expressed through the theme of conflict in Shakespeare’s play, are fundamental to its vast success. Both physical and verbal conflict is effectively shown in the argument between Mercutio and Tybalt². For instance, we see emotive language used in the lines “O calm dishonourable, vile submission!... Tybalt you ratcatcher will you walk,” with words like “dishonourable,” “vile,” and “rat catcher”³ are used to show the obvious animosity between the pair. The argument dissolves once they engage physically and Mercutio receives fatal wounds. Romeo retaliates by the means of killing Tybalt. Here, Sakespeare uses pace effectively as the the quick succession of events⁴ shocks everyone who is watching. The audience knows that the punishment for murder is death and this creates an enormous amount of suspense as we are left to find out what will happen to our beloved Romeo. A further example of inner conflict is presented when Juliet first discovers that Romeo is a Montague, as she laments that her “only love sprung from [her] only hate.”⁵ The paradox provides an accurate image of the struggles the couple will face due to their conflicting families. This technique compels the audience into an eagerness to discover what happens next. These examples of conflict through physical and verbal engagement accompanied with a well formulated paradox, engage the audience in the narrative and is strongly indicative of why the play is so successful.⁶

2. The best way to structure a paragraph in this kind of essay is to follow the PEEL structure P: Point (make your argument) E: Evidence (back up your point by supporting it with an example) E: Explanation (discuss how the evidence supports your point) and L: Link (link this point to your next point of analysis, or ideally back to the essay question and your contention).

3. Here, we are referring to a specific technique (emotive language) but being highly specific about which words are creating this effect. It’s okay to include the longer quote for context, but it’s usually more impressive when you pick apart the individual words and phrases to explain their effect or significance.

4. Remember that you don’t always have to start your analysis with a typical literary technique or structural device – you can comment on things like the chronology of the plot and the speed at which the audience is made aware of things too.

5. You can modify quotes using square brackets if the tense does not fit that of your essay, or if there are confusing pronouns that you need to replace with your own words. Alternatively, you can also sometimes paraphrase parts of the quote, and then only directly cite the most important language – whatever is easiest for you to remember and analyse!

6. Finally, we have a strong linking sentence that takes us back to the essay question.

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Dramatic irony, as a literary device, is used throughout almost every scene in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. An excellent example of dramatic irony is in the play’s prologue, which foreshadows “a pair of starcross’d lovers” who will take their lives, thereby providing the audience with the knowledge that there will be bloodshed long before the characters themselves are aware of this.⁷ This technique is used as a means to create suspense and make the audience anxious and excited about the upcoming plot. Dramatic irony is also used to encourage the audience members to pay close attention to the unfolding story line. This excellent display of techniques once again, involves the audience in the actions of the characters. With this involvement the audience develops empathy and real relationships will all of the characters and is invested in their story lines. As such, the audience applauds at every triumph and depletes at every sadness, standing testament to the plays vast success.

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There are many instances of symbolism in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that add layers of meaning to the plot as it unfolds. An excellent example of this is in Act 2 Scene 3 where Friar Lawrence is speaking to himself, and remarks that he “must upfill this osier cage... with baleful weeds and precious juiced flowers. In plants, herbs, stones and their true qualities. For naught so vile that on earth doth live. But to the earth some special good doth give.” In this passage, personification⁸ is used to state that everything on earth can be used for good or for bad. As Friar Lawrence attests, vice and virtue lie in plants just as the two attributes lie in humans. Therefore, according to Friar Lawrence poison is not only intended to be used for evil purposes. This notion of duality is also evident in the feud between the Capulets and Montagues – the hatred between the two families turns Romeo and Juliet’s love into a deadly force, with disastrous consequences. However, Shakespeare does not create archetypal villains or characters with ill-intent in Romeo and Juliet. Rather, it is solely the environment in which characters find themselves that turns their traits into a metaphorical poison.⁹ Thus, this effective use of symbolism draws the attention of the audience to the characters’ emotions and plight, creating a connection, and is therefore essential to ensuring the play’s success.¹⁰

8. Here, we explain the evidence and a literary technique. Using a wide range of metalanguage to analyse the text helps make your argument stronger!

9. This is a really impressive line that ties everything together, and uses the language and symbols of the text in order to comment on its meaning!

10. This essay relies heavily on techniques and then evidence of such a technique to prove the play’s success and worthiness.

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Juxtaposition is used throughout the play to communicate to the audience the development of key characters. An excellent example of this is Romeo’s infatuated love for Rosaline and his true love for Juliet. In Act 1 Scene 1, Romeo is contemplating his love for Rosaline amidst the “misshapen chaos of well seeming forms, feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,” with these oxymorons¹¹ used indicate Romeo’s confusion and sense of inner conflict and turmoil. In his mind, he is unsure how to process the love he feels for Rosaline, a girl who does not return his infatuations. In comparison, Romeo’s reaction to first seeing Juliet is entirely different, as he rhetorically questions “did my heart love til now?” before declaring “forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty until this night.” The light imagery and lyrical prose here indicates Romeo’s true and passionate love for Juliet upon first seeing her. This thereby forms part of Shakespeare’s presentation of Romeo’s feelings to the audience, encouraging them to condone this pursuit of unadulterated love in spite of the characters’ circumstances.

11. Remember that you don’t always have to point out a technique before introducing a quote. Sometimes you can just comment on the meaning of the language, and other times you might use metalanguage or refer to a particular device in your explanation after you have integrated a quote or two.

COMMENTS

William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet relies on effective dramatic techniques such as conflict, dramatic irony, symbolism and juxtaposition to draw in its audience, engendering a range of emotions from audiences as they watch the tragedy unfold. Ultimately, Shakespeare’s construction of the play hugely contributes to its timelessness, and its eternal place in the literary canon.