1. Man vs Fate
1.1. Romeo was in love with Juliet, but fate was against them. They had a very tragic death, both of them, and there was no way they could escape them because fate was against them.
1.1.1. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-marked love
1.1.1.1. Prologue:
2. Melodramatic
2.1. Romeo is very melodramatic in a lot of scenes. He exaggerates how he is feeling and makes it over the top.
2.1.1. ROMEO When the devout religion of mine eye Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires; And these, who often drown'd could never die, Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.
2.1.1.1. Act 1 Sc 2:
3. Aside
3.1. An aside is when you say something to the audience, but no one else in the play heard it. Romeo did this when he realized that Juliet was a Capulet, and that was forbidden.
3.1.1. ROMEO (aside) Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.
3.1.1.1. Act 1 Sc. 5:
4. Sililoquy
4.1. Romeo uses sililoquys in order to express his long love for Juliet. He isn't talking to anyone in general, except the audience, when he sees Juliet in a window and wants to express her beauty.
4.1.1. JULIET appears in a window above But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. Be not her maid since she is envious. Her vestal livery is but sick and green, And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off! It is my lady. Oh, it is my love. Oh, that she knew she were! She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that? Her eye discourses. I will answer it.— I am too bold. 'Tis not to me she speaks. Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars As daylight doth a lamp. Her eye in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand That I might touch that cheek!
4.1.1.1. Act 2 Scene 2:
5. Foil
5.1. Mercutio is a foil for Romeo. Mercutio mocks Romeo because of the way he sees love, and thinks thinks it is just a physical pursuit. He is an anti-romantic, yet Romeo believes in romance and is a romantic.
5.1.1. ROMEO Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. MERCUTIO If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.— Give me a case to put my visage in! A visor for a visor.—What care I What curious eye doth cote deformities? Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me.
5.1.1.1. Act 1 Sc 4, pg 2:
6. Man vs Society
6.1. Romeo and Juliet have to face society telling them they should be enemies because they come from opposing families, but their heart tells them that they belong with each other.
6.1.1. ENTER CHORUS Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
6.1.1.1. Prologue, pg 1:
7. Man vs Another man
7.1. Romeo fights with Tybalt, because Tybalt has killed Mercutio, Romeo's best friend. Their families are also enemies, the Montagues vs the Capulets
7.1.1. Act 3. Sc 1, pg 6:
7.1.1.1. BENVOLIO Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. ROMEO Alive in triumph—and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. TYBALT Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here Shalt with him hence. ROMEO This shall determine that. They fight. TYBALT falls
8. Rhyming Couplet
8.1. Romeo is complimenting Juliet, using a rhyming couplet in order to describe Juliet's beauty and his feelings towards her.
8.1.1. Act 1 Sc 5, pg 2:
8.1.1.1. ROMEO Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
9. Tragic Hero
9.1. Romeo is a tragic hero because he was born into the Montague family, and that makes them automatically noble because they are high up. Romeo also has a tragic flaw which is falling in love too quickly and deeply.
9.1.1. Act 1 Sc. 5, pg 3:
9.1.1.1. CAPULET Content thee, gentle coz. Let him alone. He bears him like a portly gentleman, And, to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-governed youth. I would not for the wealth of all the town Here in my house do him disparagement. Therefore be patient. Take no note of him. It is my will, the which if thou respect, Show a fair presence and put off these frowns, An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
10. Dramatic Irony
10.1. There is dramatic irony when the audience know that Romeo is over Rosaline, and has spent a night out with Juliet, but Friar Lawrence believes that he is still hung up on Rosaline and that he was with her.
10.1.1. Act 2 Sc 3, pg 2:
10.1.1.1. FRIAR LAWRENCE God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?