Month / May 2017

by Christopher Waugh

Essay Assessment

 

Romeo and Juliet.

Essay Complete

“Two star-crossed lover’s take their lives”. This is the iconic line from the famous play of “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare. In the play Shakespeare shows that fate is no more unusual than the sun rising from the east, and setting in the west. Throughout the story the theme of fate is rich and is shown through out. From the things that may seem small like two people meeting, but turn into a situation which would seemed impossible a few scenes back which really decide Romeo’s and Juliet’s future. Let the journey begin.

In the play “Romeo and Juliet” many of the main characters say many lines that relate to God and his power in all of their lives and in this case Shakespeare chooses metaphors to show this. One of these examples is when Romeo goes to the Capulet’s party. Romeo however holds the name of a Montague which is arch enemy of the Capulet’s. He is now unsure whether he should attend the party and says “…He that hath steerage of my course,direct my sail”. This is a very good use of metaphor because Romeo is referring him self as a ship and is letting the captain to have full control over his choice his course. In other words the captain will decide what will happen to him. The captain is referred “He” with the capital letter meaning that the captain is God. We can justify this because this is only done when we refer to God. Romeo is now prepared to embrace Gods choices for what is best for him. Also Romeo may feel that if God didn’t want him to go to the party God would do something to stop him. This is fate because he is allowing something that doesn’t physically exist have power and control over his life.

Fate in the play is used by many different types of language techniques and one of the most obvious is metaphors. As the play goes on Romeo’s life is turning to the worst and he makes two statements that expresses that he regrets letting God have control over what happens in his life.  “Thou desperate pilot, at once on the dashing rocks, thy seasick weary bark”. Romeo is now referring that a ship has crashed on the rocks. Because he is the ship ,he means that the he has crashed on the rocks. In other terms his life has gone for the worst and is leading to his doom. “Thy seasick weary bark” This could also mean that “seasick” is referring that he is sick of the sea. Because Romeo is the boat and God is his captain this could mean that the captain has led the boat into unsettled waters and he wants the captain to walk the plank. In other words he is sick of the things God is doing to him and he wants to take control back over his life. Second statement is “I defy you stars” .Romeo says this after he hears some news that Juliet is dead (which she obviously isn’t). The stars  are anther reference to God. So when he says I defy you stars he is saying that I rebel against you God which is most likely because he is hating the decisions God is making for him. Shakespeare shows fate through metaphors and other language techniques by showing that Romeo is unhappy with the things that God is deciding on what happens in his life and now wants control back.

Shakespeare also shows fate being used directly in speech also known as dialogue. “i would the  fool were married to her grave”. This shows strong anger within someone at the heat of the moment because most people wouldn’t go cursing other  people to die. This quote is said by Lady Capulet when she is angry that Juliet Rejects the offer to marry Paris.This is dialogue  because it is a direct reference to death.This proves fate because it is a direct reference to death. This can be labeled a coincidence because Juliet  does eventually kill herself while already married. The whole play is building to the fact on how could two love birds come to state that they would want to kill themselves.This is mostly constructed through the weird events that the characters encounter.

There are many times within the play that Shakespeare shows fate by the events charters face and many of them are through coincidences. One of these coincidences is used right at the beginning of the play while the Capulet’s are organizing a party and Head Capulet gives his servant a guest list with all the people invited. But the servant can not read so he finds someone who can. And out of complete luck he runs into Romeo who reads the letter to the servant.As a reward the servant then invites Romeo to the party as long as he’s not a Montague. Romeo only wishes to go to the party because Rosaline his crush, is going. But only at the party does he meet Juliet. “Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master is the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of Montague’s, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry”! This is a great example of coincidences because if the servant never asked Romeo to read the letter to him, Romeo never would have been invited to the party and in turn never meet Juliet there. Also it is very lucky that the servant didn’t know that Romeo was a Montague because if the servant did recognize him then he would have never invited Romeo to the party. This is a strong example of fate because if the servant never asked Romeo to read the letter he never would have gone to the party or meet Juliet and this is all by chance.

As Shakespeare illustrates us the play “Romeo and Juliet” you may notice that a whole lot of things happen out of complete luck or coincidence. Shakespeare does this through out the play but perhaps the one with the greatest effect which really determines what happens to Romeo and Juliet is when Frair Lawrence(Romeo’s friend and Priest) constructs a letter to Romeo explaining a plan which says Juliet is alive. It is with bad luck that the letter never reaches Romeo because there was a plague in a local town.This ultimately stopped  Friar john(Mail man) from delivering the vital letter.”Here in this city visiting the sick,And finding him, the searchers of the town,Suspecting that we both were in a house.Where the infectious pestilence did reign,Sealed up the doors and would not let us forth”.  This is again a coincidence because the chance that there was a Plague in Mantua right when Friar John was delivering the letter to Romeo would have been low.But Friar John also says that the searches of the town quarantined him by mistake. The chances of this happening would be astronomically small. This would strengthen the idea that the whole plague scenario was a coincidence. This would be known as fate because it would seem that a power like God deliberately did this so Rome and Juliet would kill themselves but Shakespeare also uses things even as silly as dreams to show fate.

Shakespeare shows fate in many aspects of the play like plot events or even dreams known as Premonition. One of these examples is when Romeo and Juliet are saying their goodbyes to each other. As Romeo leaves Juliet has a strange vision.“O God, I have an ill-divining soul.Methinks I see thee now, thou art so low As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.Either my eyesight fails, or thou look’st pale”.In this vision Juliet sees someone dead at the bottom of a tomb.  When Juliet says “I see thee” She is meaning Romeo. This can be proved because Romeo was the only one in the room at the time and she is looking at him because Romeo is talking to her. This is premonition because Juliet is having a seeing something that has not happened yet. At the end of the play this does happen and Juliet’s does see Romeo dead at the bottom of the Capulet tomb.Also when she says “I have an ill-divining soul” she is saying that she thinks she may have an evil soul that is predicting the future.  Near the end of the play Romeo has a near identical vision to the one Juliet had.“I dreamt my lady came and found me dead—Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think—”. Romeo dreamt that he was dead and Juliet was there. The chances of two people having almost identical visions is ironic and could also be called a coincidence. This would be known as fate because it would seem that a power like God deliberately showed them so Romeo and Juliet would kill themselves.

A very interesting point in the play “Romeo and Juliet” is that the whole play could be considered a Paradox.  At the end of the play Romeo and Juliet kill them self by suicide. But in many religions including Christianity it is forbidden for you to take your own life because God has given you the gift of life.” Here’s to my love! (drinks the poison) O true apothecary,Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die”.So the question is why would God want Romeo and Juliet to kill them selves. This is a Paradox because at first it would prove that free will existed which is not the message Shakespeare was trying to get across.But if Shakespeare is trying to show fate then it would make no sense for God to go all means necessary to let the two fall in love with one in other and kill them selves. For example the plague that stopped Friar John getting the letter to Romeo. But the twist or paradox here is it would have been in Gods best interest to make the two kill themselves because in the end it stopped the family feud. If it was not stopped it could have caused more and perhaps more devastating destruction. This is a very strong example of fate because it clearly shows that Shakespeare believed that God has near total authority of our lives and that we do not have free will.

 Many times in the play Shakespeare links fate to paradox. One example of this is when Juliet says “My only love sprung from my only hate!”. This is suggesting that she loves Romeo but hates him at the same time. This is a paradox because normally it would seem totally Impossible for someone to both have feelings of love for someone but hate them at the same time. But in this case it is possible because Juliet does love Romeo but her family ,The Capulets and Romeos family, Montague are arch enemy’s.

 Now that are journey is over we can see the true importance of fate within the play. Also how Shakespeare intended for us to belive God being a higher power would do what is necessary for the overall greater good. whether this is true in our world we may never know. But for me as the reader and for some of you reading, we can see that most of the characters in the play reflect their beliefs to fate in some form.”For never was a story of more woe than  this of Juliet and her Romeo”.

 

Essay guidance :http://henryashoweld.student.edutronic.net/2015/12/17/english-lit-controlled-assessment/

By:Oliver.c

by Oliver

Act 5 Scene 3

Charters: Romeo,Juliet,Paris,Page,Balthasar,Frair Lawrence,Captain of the watch,Second Watchman,Third Watchman,Prince,Capulet,Lady Capulet and Montague

Scene Set: Veronas Churchyard at the Capulets Tomb. Some time at Night

Enter Paris. He goes and pays his respects to Juliet but sees Romeo and he hides and watchs Romeo.Romeo tells Bathasar to leave him and if he doesn’t he will kill him. He then says that is what a good freinend would do and gives him a bag of gold. Balthasar exits and Paris then rises and threatens to kill Romeo. “This is that banished haughty Montague,That murdered my love’s cousin, with which grief,It is supposed the fair creature died.And here is come to do some villainous shame To the dead bodies. I will apprehend him.” Romeo doest mind because he has nothing to lose and fights Paris. Paris then falls and Paris then has a requests that he would like to be lain next to Juliet. He then puts Paris in the tomb but next to Juliet. He walks over over to Juliet and says his goodbyes to the world.”Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.Thou art not conquered.”…..”Thou desperate pilot, now at once run onThe dashing rocks thy seasick, weary bark.Here’s to my love! (drinks the poison) O true apothecary,Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.”Rome Then dies

Enter Frair Lawrence who finds Balthasar who says He is in the tomb but he dares not enter because Romeo would kill him. He then enters the tomb and finds Romeo and Paris dead. Juliet then rises but to find that Romeo is dead and they must leave. Frair Lawrence exits but juliet stays and finds Romeos dagger and kills her self with it. Captain of the watch enters finding all of them dead and orders page to get the Prince. Capulets enter andhear the bitter news. Montague then enters and hear the same news. They then agrue untill Frair Lawrence enters. He then tells everyone the whole story includeing how Romeo and Juliet loved each other and how he married them in the hope that the familys would stop there fued and the plan of faking juliets death. Montague and Capulet agree to stop there piontless agureing and help each other. the prince then says the finail words of how everything went so wrong and it could of been prevented.”A glooming peace this morning with it brings.The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head.Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things.Some shall be pardoned, and some punishèd.For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

by Oliver

Act 5 Scene 1

Charters;Romeo,Balthasar and Apothecary

Scene Set:Wednesday morning Enter Romeo

Summary:Romeo wakes from a bad dream”I dreamt my lady came and found me dead—Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think—”. He had a dream that Juliet found him dead and love has darkness too. Romeos friend Balthasar comes and Romeo asks about Juliet. He tells him the bad news about that Juliet has died and Romeo now thinks that God is betraying jim by letting juliet die”Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!”. He then plans that he would like to die in the Capulet’s vault next to Juliet.He then visits the Apothecary and asks him to give him  potion that will kill him in exchange of lots of gold.

by Oliver

Act 5 Scene 2

Charters:Frair Lawrence,Frair John

Scene Set: Frair Lawrence’s cell

Summary:Frair John Tells Frair Lawrence that his letter could not reach Romeo because there is a plague in Mantua. Frair Lawrence then says he will try to send another letter.

by Oliver

Act 4 Scene 4

Charters:Lady Capulet,Nurse,Capulet,First Servingman,Second Servingman.

Scene Set:The Capulet household prepares for the wedding

Summary: Capulet orders his servants to get his ten Chiefs to come and cook for the wedding.Nurse and Lady Capulet organize the wedding in more detail. Capulet Then leaves to go and talk to paris about the wedding.”Go waken go and trim her up,I’ll go and chat with Paris.Hie make haste.”

 

by Oliver

Act 4 Scene 5

Charters: Nurse,Lady Capulet,Capulet,Frair Lawrence,Paris ,First musician,Second Musician,Peter

Scene Set:Juliet’s Bedroom

summary: Nurse enters and tries to wake juliet up but realises she’s dead and screams for help. The news quickly spreads and the Capulet family is in despair.”Dead art thou! Alack, my child is dead,And with my child my joys are buried.”.Frair Lawrence then says a prayer to Juliet and all the main charters leave the scene leaving Nurse,Peter and musicians. Peter and have a Musician disagreement on what to play. musicians leave the stage.

by Oliver

Act 4 Scene 2 And Act 4 Scene 3

Charters: Capulet,Servingman,Nurse,Juliet and Lady Capulet

Scene Set: Tuesday afternoon:Capulet’s house.

Sumarry:Capulet is organizing a party for Juliet’s wedding and orders his serving man to summon his twenty chiefs. Juliet then enter and bowls down to Capulet and apologizes for being disobedient even tho she is playing along.”Where i have learnt me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition to you and your behests and am enjoin’d by holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here to beg your pardon”. Capulet  forgives her and is exited and puts the wedding a day early Wednesday and goes to give Paris the good news.

Sumary Scene 3: Juliet asks the Nurse to leave and lady Capulet also to let the nurse to help out with the wedding. she is then alone and says good-bye to her family but then starts thinking of scenarios like what if she wakes up early or if it kills her and how the bones of her for fathers. She then thinks she will go mad if she wakes up in the vault. Or maybe Tybalt’s ghost will kill Romeo.”O methinks i see my cousins ghost seeking out Romeo that did spit his body! Upon a rapiers point. Stay Tybalt Stay”.

 

by Oliver

Act 4 Scene 1

Charters: Paris,Juliet and Frair Lawrence.

Scene set:Tuesday morning at  Frair Lawrence’s cell

Frair Lawrence and paris discuss the marriage between Paris and Juliet.Frair Lawrence is unhappy about this because paris doesn’t know what Juliet thinks about all of this. And he now rethinks about why he married Romeo and Juliet together. Juliet and Paris bicker about there marrigae.Paris says”Happily met my lady and my wife” Juliet then replys”That may be sir,when i may be a wife” .paris thinks Juliet is upset because of Tybalt’s death when really it’s not that but of Romeos banishment. Paris leaves and states that she would much rather die than marry Paris.Frair Lawrence says he has a plan that involves Juliet drinking a potion the night before the wedding and it will make it look like she is dead. then she will wake up in the Capulets Vault where she will be greeted by Romeo and himself.Frair Lawrence will brief Romeo of the plot. Juliet is more than ready to get started to get started.

by Oliver

Act 3 Scene 5

Charters: Romeo,Juliet,Capulet,Lady Capulet and Nurse

Scene set: Capulet Mansion

Romeo enters the scene and says to Juliet that he can’t stay long because he will be killed if he does.But Juliet insist that he stays. Nurse then enters and warns them that lady Capulet is coming.They farwell each other and Romeo exits the scene. Lady Capulet can see Juliet is sad and revels the news that she will be marrying Paris but juliet refuses and lady Capulet doesn’t want any more to do with it and lets Capulet deal with it Capulet then enters and is enraged and threatens that he will banish him from the Capulet house hold and keeps mocking her. Nurse then interumps and Capulet then mocks her. Juliet then asks lady Capulet to help her otherwise she would kill herself. Lady Capulet doesn’t care want she has to say and leaves. Juliet then asks the nurse and she responds that she should go through of Capulets says. Juliet feeling helpless says this “I’ll to the friar to know his remedy.If all else fail, myself have power to die.”

by Oliver

Act 3 Scene 4

Charters Capulet,Paris,Lady Capulet

Scene set Capulets mansion.

Capulet comes to paris and accepts paris to marry Juilet and says they could be married on Thursday.Pairis then says”My lord i would that thursday were tomorrow