CP/M/CPM_CDROM.iso/mbug/mbug186.arc/IMAGERY.NTS

Text File | 1979-12-31 | 5KB | 152 lines

11
11
Imagery is any piece of language which makes the reader IMAGINE
- that is it makes us form a mental picture or image.
For example when Benvolio describes Tybalt in Act I scene i
as
...fiery Tybalt.

We can 'see' clearly something of Tybalt's character.

Shakespeare's plays are always interesting for the richness of
their imagery and 'Romeo and Juliet' is no exception. Imagery
is also a frequent topic for examination essays.
14
The two most important types of imagery are similes and
metaphors. These are common even in everyday speech but
Shakespeare puts them to special use.
He uses repetition and interweaving of related images to stress
the important themes of the play. The most obvious example in
'Romeo and Juliet' is the frequent use of imagery of light and
darkness. (See the notes later in this topic.)

SIMILES use the words 'like' or 'as' to help us form a picture
in our minds. e.g.
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear.  (Iv)
Romeo is trying to explain the way Juliet seems to stand out
brilliantly from the background.
13
METAPHORS are examples of figurative language - they are not
literally true. For example when Romeo declares:
I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes
He is referring of course to the darkness which prevents the
Capulets from seeing him. This is one example from the play
where darkness seems warm and comforting.

Another similar metaphor is in Act II scene ii when Juliet
refers to:
Loving black-browed night.
Actually this is a special type of metaphor called
PERSONIFICATION since night is given the characteristics of
a human being.
12
Although 'Romeo and Juliet' is not as rich in REPEATED IMAGES
as some of Shakespeare's plays we may trace at least three
image clusters.

The following notes refer to these three recurring images in
the play.

1. LIGHT/DARKNESS

2. NATURE

3. RELIGION
14
LIGHT/DARKNESS

From the moment Romeo first sees Juliet to the lovers' last
moments they use images of light to describe each other and
their love. A few examples follow:

She doth teach the torches to burn bright.  (Iv)

It is the East and Juliet is the sun.   (IIii)

...thou day in night.     (IIIii)

...here lies Juliet and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.  (Viii)
14
Traditionally light represents good and darkness stands for
evil. This is not always the case in 'Romeo and Juliet'. As
has already been pointed out darkness is sometimes seen as
a comforting protective presence.
In fact Romeo and Juliet nearly always meet at night.

However in other examples darkness takes its more usual
perspective. e.g. Juliet is terrified of the dark in the
Capulets' vault:
The horrible conceit of death and night...  ((IViii)

It is worth noticing that the most frequent images are not
just of light but of light contrasted with darkness.
For example a swan with crows snow on a raven's back etc.
13
NATURE

Natural images are used to describe the characters and their
relationships. e.g. Montague describes Romeo's troubled nature
as:
the bud bit with an envious worm.   (Ii)

More pleasant is Juliet's declaration
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.   (IIii)

Later in the same scene she also use 'bud' imagery:
This bud of love by summer's ripening breath
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
10
Another interesting image is when Juliet twice compares Romeo
to a bird in Act II scene ii. First she sees him as a hunting
hawk and then as a pet bird spoiled by its mistress.

However Nature is not always kind. Capulet uses a particularly
striking image to express his grief at Juliet's supposed death
Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.   (IVv)
and extends it by saying that Juliet the flower was deflowered
by Death.
14
RELIGION

Throughout the play the purity and grandeur of Romeo and
Juliet's love is emphasised by the use of religious imagery.
Their first meeting provides the finest example. The two share
a witty sonnet based around a pilgrim (Romeo) worshipping at
a saint's shrine (Juliet).

To Romeo Juliet is an angel (IIii) while she calls him 'the
god of my idolatry'.

OTHERS
There are of course many other striking images scatterd
throughout the play.
14
Romeo describes his climb to Juliets bedroom window on their
wedding night using sea-faring terms:
...the high top-gallant of my joy.  (IIiv)
When he is about to enter the Capulets tomb which already
holds the body of his beloved Juliet he compares it to a
greedy mouth into which he will stuff one more morsel
(himself).
Thou detestable maw thou womb of death
Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open
And in despite I'll cram thee with more food.  (Viii)

And Friar Lawrence decribes passionate love as:
fire and powder/Which as they kiss consume.  (IIvi)
10
As you read the play and revise it keep your eyes open for
any images which particularly stike you or which seem
especially appropriate.

Note them down for use in exam or term essays.

Remember you can learn many of these quotations including
their context by playing:

QUOTATION QUIZ from the QUIZZES MENU.