Romeo And Juliet Language Analysis

What is the difference between saying “yes” and “yeah”? How do these replies, though they have the same meaning, alter one’s perception of the speaker’s level of education, courtesy and personality? William Shakespeare successfully explores the effect of speaking mannerism on perception in his tragedy Romeo and Juliet, as characters use varying poetic meters and literary devices in order to reveal social class and enhance characterization. Furthermore, Shakespeare implements these diverse social classes and characteristics in order to control tension and reinforce theme. Thus, through Shakespeare’s manipulation of language in Romeo and Juliet, it is undeniable that he effectively reveals social class and develops character, consequently creating …show more content…
Furthermore, Romeo’s extensive use of dark imagery, as he refers to doom and death, along with his foreshadowing of an unexpected death, creates an ominous tone, consequently heightening tension as the audience is left eager and anxious to discover whether he will live or die. In contrast, Shakespeare skillfully incorporates segments of comic relief, in which members of the lower class create humour in order to establish a temporary light-hearted tone. For instance, the servingmen at Capulet’s party create comic relief as they jokingly say, “ ‘You are looked for and called for, asked for and sought/ for, in the great chamber’ ‘We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys, be brisk/ a while, and the longer liver take all’ ” (1.5.11-14). The servingmen provide the audience with light-hearted entertainment as they tell jokes unrelated to the conflict of the story, which aids in helping the audience relax and relieve tension. The audience is easily able to identify the servingmen’s speech in prose, thus enabling them to take advantage of this cheery tone and prepare themselves for the nail-biting dread that is to come. Thereby, it is evident that Shakespeare adeptly distinguishes social classes using language, and effectively implements these characters of …show more content…
Moreover, Shakespeare utilizes these thoughts and emotions in order to reinforce the theme of love as a source of joy and pain. Romeo’s abundant use of varying literary devices throughout the play characterizes him as an overly-dramatic hyperbolist. This can be seen at the very begining of the play when Romeo mopes about his unrequited love for Rosaline as he states, “Not mad, but bound more than a madman is:/ Shut up in prison, kept without my food,/ Whipt and tormented”