American writer Jonathan Safran Foer once proclaimed that “You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” The outstanding moments in life make the poor ones miserable, but if one never sees the face of sorrow they will have nothing to make delight’s features more appealing. The key to happiness may very well be that very thing we long to lock up. Famous playwright and poet William Shakespeare grasped this centuries ago and decided to create a visual representation of this concept by making one of his most famous tragedies, Romeo and Juliet. This timeless play about two foolish children and their attempt to find love in a place where anger has controlled for years holds the key to happiness between its
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Shakespeare uses several different types of irony. He utilizes verbal and situational irony throughout his play for comedy. After Mercutio has fought Tybalt, he jests that “you shall find [him] a grave man” tomorrow (III.i.102). Then only moments later, he dies from a wound in his side, making him truly a man worthy of the grave. Prior to this, situational irony makes an entrance while Juliet and Romeo talk on the balcony. Romeo speaks of all the love he has for Juliet, in the meantime, she tells him that maybe they should slow down a little for they may be jumping in too fast. Then only moments later she agrees to marry him! So much for slowing down. In the long run, these comical scenes prepare the crowd for the sorrowful end by getting their hopes up. In addition to verbal and situational irony, like many other playwrights, Shakespeare also utilizes dramatic irony, for if the audience knows more than the characters on stage, it will kill them when they can’t do anything to stop the inevitable. At one point the audience knows that Juliet has not passed away, however, Romeo does not. As Romeo says his final words over Juliet's body, Shakespeare tortures the audience by allowing Romeo to ponder on the fact that “beauty’s ensign yet is crimson in [Juliet's] lips and in [her] cheeks”(V.iii.94-95). He comes so close to the …show more content…
Without all of the love and comedy our hearts would not have mourned for the deaths of these two fools, for without these differing emotions we would not have love enough to care about their story. In a world with so many unknowns, humans need contrast to better understand and differ concepts, essentially to find what they are really looking for. We long for joy only because we have walked in sorrows shoes and we know from experience that we do not want to feel that pain again. However, without tragic events, why would we long for joy? In order for one to find happiness they must first seek sorrow, for joy will come about shortly. These two emotions walk hand in hand and it’s almost impossible to acquire one without eventually acquiring the other. So don’t turn away from sorrow, embrace it with
Shakespeare uses several different types of irony. He utilizes verbal and situational irony throughout his play for comedy. After Mercutio has fought Tybalt, he jests that “you shall find [him] a grave man” tomorrow (III.i.102). Then only moments later, he dies from a wound in his side, making him truly a man worthy of the grave. Prior to this, situational irony makes an entrance while Juliet and Romeo talk on the balcony. Romeo speaks of all the love he has for Juliet, in the meantime, she tells him that maybe they should slow down a little for they may be jumping in too fast. Then only moments later she agrees to marry him! So much for slowing down. In the long run, these comical scenes prepare the crowd for the sorrowful end by getting their hopes up. In addition to verbal and situational irony, like many other playwrights, Shakespeare also utilizes dramatic irony, for if the audience knows more than the characters on stage, it will kill them when they can’t do anything to stop the inevitable. At one point the audience knows that Juliet has not passed away, however, Romeo does not. As Romeo says his final words over Juliet's body, Shakespeare tortures the audience by allowing Romeo to ponder on the fact that “beauty’s ensign yet is crimson in [Juliet's] lips and in [her] cheeks”(V.iii.94-95). He comes so close to the …show more content…
Without all of the love and comedy our hearts would not have mourned for the deaths of these two fools, for without these differing emotions we would not have love enough to care about their story. In a world with so many unknowns, humans need contrast to better understand and differ concepts, essentially to find what they are really looking for. We long for joy only because we have walked in sorrows shoes and we know from experience that we do not want to feel that pain again. However, without tragic events, why would we long for joy? In order for one to find happiness they must first seek sorrow, for joy will come about shortly. These two emotions walk hand in hand and it’s almost impossible to acquire one without eventually acquiring the other. So don’t turn away from sorrow, embrace it with