Shakespeare’s plays Richard II and Romeo and Juliet , like many others of his plays focuses on language and action emphasizing them with a variety of writing styles. This essay will focus on the premises of Imagery, Metaphor, and symbolism in how these writing techniques affect both play in their use of language and action.
Imagery in Shakespeare is a thoroughly exposed in Romeo and Juliet, and Richard II. The use of imagery in Romeo and Juliet is stressed heavily in the language one of the many uses through profanity. A prime example of imagery can be found in act 1.4 (line 55) Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech:
“[…] Her wagon-spokes made of long spinners ' legs,
The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,
The traces of the smallest spider 's web,
The collars of the moonshine 's watery beams,
Her whip of cricket 's bone, the lash of film,
Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,
Not so big as a round little worm
Prick 'd from the lazy finger of a maid;
Her chariot is an empty hazelnut
Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub [….]”
The …show more content…
Lastly, the important use of symbolic references in both stories, in how it deepens the use of language and action. In Romeo and Juliet, a key symbolic item is the poison, which is used by both lovers. Friar Laurence introduces the symbol of poison in 2.2 (lines 15-23), speaking about the gifts and dangers of plants, and their ability to aid or harm those who use it.
“Within the infant rind of this weak flower
Poison hath residence, and medicine power
For this, being smelt and that part cheers each part; being tasted, slays all sense with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still in man as well as herbs grace and rude will; and where the worst is predominant full soon the cancer death up that
Imagery in Shakespeare is a thoroughly exposed in Romeo and Juliet, and Richard II. The use of imagery in Romeo and Juliet is stressed heavily in the language one of the many uses through profanity. A prime example of imagery can be found in act 1.4 (line 55) Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech:
“[…] Her wagon-spokes made of long spinners ' legs,
The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,
The traces of the smallest spider 's web,
The collars of the moonshine 's watery beams,
Her whip of cricket 's bone, the lash of film,
Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,
Not so big as a round little worm
Prick 'd from the lazy finger of a maid;
Her chariot is an empty hazelnut
Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub [….]”
The …show more content…
Lastly, the important use of symbolic references in both stories, in how it deepens the use of language and action. In Romeo and Juliet, a key symbolic item is the poison, which is used by both lovers. Friar Laurence introduces the symbol of poison in 2.2 (lines 15-23), speaking about the gifts and dangers of plants, and their ability to aid or harm those who use it.
“Within the infant rind of this weak flower
Poison hath residence, and medicine power
For this, being smelt and that part cheers each part; being tasted, slays all sense with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still in man as well as herbs grace and rude will; and where the worst is predominant full soon the cancer death up that