Motifs in Romeo & Juliet A theme is a main or central ideaof the story (the moral or lesson one can learn) …themes in Romeo and Juliet include love, conflict, family, fate vs free will, individuals versus society, duality (see writing journal slides for intro)Their love is this powerful, overwhelming, transformative force, “star-crossed” and all the foreshadowing, near misses= is it fate? “I defy you stars, shake the yoke of inauspicious stars” What do you owe your family, what can they require of you? “an you are mine”, tragic results of conflict, duality= light vs dark, Montagues vs Capulets, “o loving hate”- idea of hate and love being two sides of same coin of powerful emotion, ex passion leads to Juliet’s wedding and Tybalts’ death, lovers’ suicide and family peace STARS RELIGION

Motifs A motif is a distinctive idea, image, word, or phrase that is repeated throughout a literary work. Motifs in Romeo and Juliet include: Love vs. Hate Light vs. Dark Youth vs. Old Age Celestial Beings (stars/heaven/moon) Religion/Faith Dreams Time “more light and light it grows” “come gentle night” “keeps thee here in the dark”

Love vs. Hate The themes of love and hate run throughout the play. There is such a fine line between love and hate. Both are full of passion and each has a reason for its behavior. “Here’s much to do with hate but more with love./Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,” (1.1.165-166) “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy

Light vs. Darkness light represents the lovers; darkness represents their troubles and secrecy. It can also represent how easily love and life can be snuffed out. "Away from light steals home my heavy son…and makes himself an artificial night" (1.1.127-30). “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy 4

Youth vs Age Naïve and irresponsible vs. older and wiser; conveys the idea that youth is foolish and reckless but full of passion. As people grow older, they become more responsible and believe they know what is best; however, they begin to lose that passion. Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day/That I have worn a visor and could tell/A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear/Such as would please. 'Tis gone, ’tis gone, ’tis gone.—Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet/For you and I are past our dancing days. (1.5.25-36) “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy 5

'A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life' (The Prologue, 6) Celestial Beings Repetition of stars and celestial beings represents the belief in fate; a doomed romance destined from the start to end in tragedy. 'A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life' (The Prologue, 6) “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy 6

True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Dreams, visions, and premonitions play an important role. They foreshadow events and tragedies to come. They also represent the idea of false security and/or belief in happiness ever after. True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, (1.4.58-61; 97-104) “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy 7

Religion The use of religious imagery, especially relating to the young lovers, represents that there is a strong faith and love between them. It also implies that Romeo and Juliet regard love as a sort of religion in itself, meant to be worshiped and revered. For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. (1.5.91-92) “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy 8

I mean, sir, in delay/We waste our lights in vain, like lights by day! Time Time is crucial to many events in the story. It conveys the idea of wasting time, running out of time, and simply having the right timing. It plays into the idea that timing and chance can change the outcome of an event. I mean, sir, in delay/We waste our lights in vain, like lights by day! (1.4.44-45) “Shakespeare made Juliet’s age even lower, “old folks feign as they were dead”, Juliet’s parents want to married to “safe” guy, friar right about “violent ends” but feud, political ambition, friar’s plan contribute to ending, so set in their ways they can’t change until tragedy 9