Fear In Romeo And Juliet Act 3 Essay

In Act 3, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare depicts the theme of both fear and shock that Romeo feels when exiled. Immediately into the scene, Shakespeare uses personification when Romeo asks, “What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand / That I yet know not?” (Shakespeare III.iii.5-6). Romeo discusses how sorrow is craving acquaintance at his hand, meaning that he will soon be sad, or suffering. This hidden meaning is presented, however, it is presented as personification because sorrow, an emotion, cannot actually crave anything. Shakespeare sets the tone of fear using this literary device to show how there are harsh consequences for killing Tybalt. Shakespeare further explores this theme when Romeo asks, “Doth she not think me an old murderer, / Now I have stained the childhood of our joy / With blood removed but little from her own?” (Shakespeare III.iii.103-105). Shakespeare’s choice of words ,
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This sentence really means that Romeo and Juliet’s new, young love is no longer as perfect as it once was; there is now something that has “stained it”, or has ruined how pure the love once was. Due to this act, the people of Verona banishes Romeo, a punishment more awful than all else. Romeo compares his banishment with that of death, emphasizing exactly how awful his punishment is with the metaphor, “There is no world without Verona walls / But purgatory, torture, hell itself. / Hence ‘banishèd’ is ‘banished from the world,’ / And world’s exile is death” (Shakespeare III.iii.18-21). By comparing the consequences of his actions with death, Romeo accentuates how awful his future might be. Shakespeare uses personification and metaphors to discuss the theme of fear that Romeo possesses when thinking of what his life will be like without his loved one, now that Verona has exiled him-- a life described as