Use Of Dramatic Irony In Romeo And Juliet

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is developed through tragedy, romance, and most importantly dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something the other characters do not know. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to create suspense and to help create action in the play. In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare uses dramatic irony such as Romeo and Juliet’s feuding families, Juliet’s arranged marriage to Paris, and Juliet’s death to keep readers on edge and wanting to read more.

Although we know what actually happened to Juliet, Shakespeare decided to use dramatic irony as a way to build tension for the audience. In scene I, Romeo asked the apothecary, “Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor. Hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have a dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear” (Shakespeare 469).

In William Shakespeare’s timeless play Romeo and Juliet, two star crossed lovers are faced with great adversity as they hide their romance from their feuding families. As author James Lane Allen once said, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it”. Romeo, a Montague, struggles to hide his love for the Capulet daughter, Juliet, from his family and friends. The challenge of lying to his closest companions, and going against his family’s ways to secretly marry Juliet causes Romeo to act erratically and carelessly. Throughout Act 3 Scene One, Shakespeare exposes the lovestruck Romeo’s mercurial nature and impulsivity through his thoughtless actions.

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses imagery and other types of figurative language to help us see how each character felt when they speaked. It seemed almost as if on every page he used at least one form of figurative language.Whether it was personification, a hyperbole, or a smile. By doing so he contributed by helping us understand the meaning of the longer speeches in the play.

In William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the use of multiple literary devices makes the play interesting. Dramatic irony, which is when the audience knows more than the characters, occurs numerous times throughout the play and grabs the attention of the audience. Soliloquies, which are lengthy speeches by a character to project their thoughts and emotions to the audience, this allows the audience to be more attentive. Allusions are references by characters to well-known places, events from myths or other literature that cause the audience to be absorbed into the play. After reading this marvelous play, it is obvious that Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, allusions, and soliloquies all written in blank verse to grasp the undivided attention of the audience.

“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare entertains the audience through use of character, language and drama. The plot focuses on the theme of conflict and consequences, using deep characterisation, descriptive language and high drama to entertain. Act 3 Scene 1 focuses on a brutal feud between two enemies and Act 3 Scene 5 follows the patriarchal society’s approach to women marriage and societal expectations. Shakespeare forces the audience to engage with the idea of conflict and what it must have been like to live through this time. Shakespeare cleverly utilises a changing atmosphere in Act 3 Scene 1 to expertly entertain his audience.

Friar Lawrence had a plan to get juliet out of the marriage with Paris. So Juliet received a potion from Friar Lawrence that was supposed to make her look dead for 48 hours ,but she is really sleeping. Friar Lawrence was supposed to tell Romeo but couldn’t give him the letters which caused him to mess the plan up. Romeo heard from from his friend that Juliet 's dead and Romeo

Romeo is saying that he has fallen for Juliet, Lord Capulet’s daughter, and even though they are enemies, it does not matter because he loves her. Romeo and Juliet want to get married very quickly and Romeo asks the Friar to marry them in secret. This big step in their lives is decided on very quickly and should have been taken into more consideration. Another example of impulsive decisions in the play is when Juliet wants to kill herself because she doesn't want to marry Paris. Thankfully, the Friar gives her another choice but it is still a risky one.

He had given Juliet, who was begging for help, a small vial containing the liquid that would fake Juliet’s death. When the time had come, he depended too much on Friar John, and Romeo received the wrong news. Romeo had thought that Juliet was dead and went back to Verona with a bottle of poison to kill himself. Quickly, Friar Lawrence ran to stop him, only to find Romeo dead and Juliet waking up.

From the very beginning of the play, Shakespeare, is holding fate to blame for the death of the two lovers. In the line “from forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” foreshadowing, metaphor and alliteration are used to show how Romeo and Juliet’s love would end in tragedy. Foreshadowing is used to create suspense leading to a later scene in the play where the lover’s suicide. The metaphor “star-crossed lovers” suggest the prophetic alignments of the stars are against them. The lovers are ill-fated from the start. Furthermore, alliteration is used to emphasize the woeful fate of Romeo and Juliet, “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes”. The repetitions of the “t” and “f” sounds highlight

“Brutality of Love” through Figurative Language Figurative language is often used in many pieces of writing. The use of figurative language adds color, along with other numerous elements to the writing. Even themes can be advanced through the use of figurative language. Of course, this is not something unheard of, as Shakespeare himself used figurative language to advance certain themes in his writing, “Romeo and Juliet” -- a writing which dates back to the late 1500’s. Within the play/writing, “Romeo and Juliet”, the theme: “brutality of love” is quite evident through the use of figurative language types: personification, simile, and metaphor, as they are used to advance the theme.

Seeking to flee her father’s demands about marrying Paris, Juliet ran to Friar Lawrence in pursuit of a plan, or else threatening to take her own life. Once Friar Lawrence finally gave in to Juliet’s pleas, he comforted her by saying, “Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber. / Take thou this vial, being then in bed, / And this distilling liquor drink thou off” (4.1.92-94). This proposition made the entire Capulet family believe that Juliet was dead, but unfortunately it was not passed on to Romeo in the right means, which made him believe that Juliet was truly dead.

He was supposed to run away with Juliet when she would waken from her long sleep. Friar John said, “ I could not send it here it is again not get a messenger to bring it thee, so fearful were they of infection.” Friar was very disappointed in and thinking what he would do to get the news to Romeo. FRiar lawrence was not able to give romeo the news before he found out from someone else. Romeo found out that juliet was dead but he thought she was truly dead, so he got a vial of poison and drank it.

Friar Lawrence sent a letter to Romeo Montague that she was not dead and that Romeo needs to meet Juliet in her tomb when she awakes. Romeo did not receive this letter and he truly thought Juliet died. Friar Lawrence gave the letter to Friar John. Friar John not realizing the importance of this letter calmly told Friar Laurence, “I could not send it, here it is again,-Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,” (Shakespeare 5.2.14-15).

In a desperate attempt to reunite them free of familial burdens, Friar Lawrence devises a plan for Juliet to fake her death and run away with her husband. This plan ultimately falls through when Romeo learns of his wife’s death and takes his own life, Subsequently,