Romeo and Juliet Analytical Essay on Antithesis
The play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, portrays certain themes of antithesis. The major form of antithesis, or theme, that we have interpreted from the play is love and hate or that of violence and peace. These themes are portrayed strongly in many scenes of Romeo and Juliet, and it is what keeps the plot going. Shakespeare may have wanted to show how hate and love, violence and peace, can lead to something that is great in the end.
Violence and hate is shown throughout the play between the feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets. There are three key events in the play that depict violence and hate. In act one, scene one, when the Capulets servants and Montague servants confront each other. Then the Capulets servants insulted the Montagues. Which lead to a street brawl between the two feuding houses. And, in act three, scene one, when Tybalt insults Romeo and Mercutio and trades sword blows ending with Mercutio and Tybalt slain. Lastly, in act five, scene three, Paris and Romeo fight in Juliet’s tomb, Romeo then kills him.
The street in Verona, a public place, is where the violence starts. In act one scene one, Sampson and Gregory, servants for the Capulets, insulted the Montague servants, Abraham and another servant, by biting his thumb at them. This leads to a fight; Benvolio appears and tries to stop them, Tybalt emerges to try to fight as well, the citizens of Verona show their displeasure, and come out and try and break the fight up. The prince shows up and tells the houses off and if they continue fighting they will be punished severely, with death. Violence and hate is a major part of this play. Shakespeare makes it a major part by having the play start with violence and hate.
In act three, scene one, Mercutio and Benvolio are walking through the streets of Verona, they meet Tybalt, who picks a quarrel with Mercutio, now Romeo arrives trying to stop the arguments. Tybalt draws his sword and challenges Romeo. Romeo refuses to fight and Mercutio steps in to meet Tybalts challenge. Romeo, again, steps in to stop the fighting but Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm. Mercutio dies from his injury. In an act of retribution Romeo then kills Tybalt. Violence and hate has lead to two deaths that could have otherwise been avoided. Now Romeo is to be banished,...