Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet explores the tragic love of two teens from warring families. Amongst neglectful parents and horrific coincidences, readers have questioned the causes that lead up to the young couple’s deaths for years, whether they result from chance or choice. In Act 4, Scene I of the play, Juliet confronts the Friar for help in avoiding her soon approaching marriage to Paris. Though this speech could characterize Juliet as immature and brash, Shakespeare’s use of powerful words, careful balance between mono- and polysyllabic lines, and even scornful language characterize Juliet more so as a determined and honorable young woman set on upholding her marriage to Romeo.
At first glance, Juliet’s speech only portrays her as a rash …show more content…
Near the start of her speech, each line typically contains only one polysyllabic word, “Friar, hearest, unless, prevent, wisdom, resolution, presently” (50-54). This scarcity and spread of polysyllabic lines cause them to seem more prominent and deliberate, clarifying Juliet’s determined wish. The complexity of the words such as “wisdom”, “resolution”, and “presently” (52, 53, 54) also puts greater emphasis on them, and further suggests how Juliet thinks through her decisions and acts accordingly, rather than throwing caution to the wind. As the speech continues, the lines begin to contain more polysyllabic words which increase the pace of the passage: “Present counsel, behold, extremes, bloody, umpire, commission, issue, honor” (61-65). The complexity and frequency to which Juliet uses them then imbue reader with the same sense of frenzy she feels as desperation and fear nearly overwhelms her beneath that resolute exterior. However they still maintain that same sense of conviction and desperate wish of honoring her …show more content…
Juliet first brings up the Friar’s age and long life, reasoning that he should have the wisdom to aid her: “Which the commission of thy years and art/Could to no issue of true honour bring” (64-65). These words are scornfully directed at the Friar, which seems rude and ungrateful at first. But beneath the harsh exterior Juliet is only desperately pushing him to draw upon his past experiences and procure a solution in a way she thinks effective. She actually relies heavily upon him to save her marriage. Then Juliet again makes very clear that she would rather die than put her marriage at risk: “Be not so long to speak, I long to die,/If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy” (66-67). Instead of a foolhardy decision, Juliet uses this daring declaration to make the Friar understand just how much she values her marriage, and push him to find a solution more quickly. Juliet’s taunts are not emotionally motivated and uncontrolled, but carefully calculated to help her quickly reach an effective solution to the situation at
At first glance, Juliet’s speech only portrays her as a rash …show more content…
Near the start of her speech, each line typically contains only one polysyllabic word, “Friar, hearest, unless, prevent, wisdom, resolution, presently” (50-54). This scarcity and spread of polysyllabic lines cause them to seem more prominent and deliberate, clarifying Juliet’s determined wish. The complexity of the words such as “wisdom”, “resolution”, and “presently” (52, 53, 54) also puts greater emphasis on them, and further suggests how Juliet thinks through her decisions and acts accordingly, rather than throwing caution to the wind. As the speech continues, the lines begin to contain more polysyllabic words which increase the pace of the passage: “Present counsel, behold, extremes, bloody, umpire, commission, issue, honor” (61-65). The complexity and frequency to which Juliet uses them then imbue reader with the same sense of frenzy she feels as desperation and fear nearly overwhelms her beneath that resolute exterior. However they still maintain that same sense of conviction and desperate wish of honoring her …show more content…
Juliet first brings up the Friar’s age and long life, reasoning that he should have the wisdom to aid her: “Which the commission of thy years and art/Could to no issue of true honour bring” (64-65). These words are scornfully directed at the Friar, which seems rude and ungrateful at first. But beneath the harsh exterior Juliet is only desperately pushing him to draw upon his past experiences and procure a solution in a way she thinks effective. She actually relies heavily upon him to save her marriage. Then Juliet again makes very clear that she would rather die than put her marriage at risk: “Be not so long to speak, I long to die,/If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy” (66-67). Instead of a foolhardy decision, Juliet uses this daring declaration to make the Friar understand just how much she values her marriage, and push him to find a solution more quickly. Juliet’s taunts are not emotionally motivated and uncontrolled, but carefully calculated to help her quickly reach an effective solution to the situation at