The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, 1500And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. Mercutio. Thou art like one of those fellows that when he
The weather mirrors the mood with the heat symbolizing rising anger, and “mad blood” suggesting violence is basically inevitable.
These violent delights have violent ends
The Friar utilizes foreshadowing, warning that intense love can end badly.
Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
An oxymoron is utilized to compare two opposites at once.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
A similie is used. Lightning is bright but short-lived, and Juliet senses their love is intense, but could burn out or explode (perhaps foreshadowing as well).
With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
A metaphor is used to describe love as wings. Romeo feels powerful and fearless because of love.
What's in a name? that which we call a rose 890By any other name would smell as sweet;
A rose would smell the same no matter its name. Juliet believes labels shouldn’t define someone.
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Juliet is compared to the sun. She becomes the center of Romeo’s world.
Blind is his love and best befits the dark.
Darkness matches Romeo’s “blind” love. He isn’t thinking clearly.
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks
Metaphor. Love is compared to bait on a hook. It looks sweet, but it can trap and hurt you.
Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
Romeo’s old love (Rosaline) is described like it’s dying. This shows how quickly his feelings change.
O loving hate! 200O any thing, of nothing first create! O heavy lightness! serious vanity! Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
The phrases "loving hate" and "cold fire" are used as contradictions to show that Romeo's view of love is unstable.
Benvolio. Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do.
Benvolio's language establishes characterization through contrast.
Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down!
The chaotic imagery further builds the sense of "mob mentality", showing how violence spreads uncontrollably
What, ho! you men, you beasts,
The Prince uses metaphor, comparing the men to beasts to emphasize how uncivilized they were being due to their rage.
If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
This moment can potentially be foreshadowing.
Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs
Romeo utilizes a metaphor to portray love as something blinding and suffocating.
I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
A small insult is enough to trigger a full fight, emphasizing how fragile the peace is in this setting.
The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.
Even servants are pulled into the situation, showing how deeply this fued controled society.
I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.
The violent/sexual language is utilized as a way to show the clear links to power and misogyny
Sampson. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.
“Carry coals” means accepting insults. This shows how easily pride sparks violence in Verona.