Romeo and Juliet

Question

By William Shakespeare



How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry, which their keepers call A lightning before death. O how may I

Call this a lightning? O my love, my wife! Death that hath sucked the honey of thy breath Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquered; beauty’s ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,

And death’s pale flag is not advanced there. Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? O what more favour can I do to thee,

Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain To sunder his that was thine enemy?

Forgive me cousin. Ah dear Juliet, Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe That unsubstantial death is amorous, And that the lean abhorred monster keeps Thee here in dark to be his paramour?

For fear of that, I still will stay with thee, And never from this palace of dim night Depart again. Here, here will I remain

With worms that are thy chamber-maids. O here Will I set up my everlasting rest;

And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars

From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes look your last. Arms, take your last embrace. And lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death.

[Takes out the poison] Come bitter conduct, come unsavoury guide.

Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark. Here’s to my love! [drinks] O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

Question
Use the passage and the image to answer the question.

Juliet, clutching a dagger, kneels over the dead body of Romeo. To her left is the door of the tomb, on which the shadow of an approaching man falls.
Source: Zuri Swimmer. Alamy Stock Photo

In what ways does the scene in the painting match the description in Romeo’s speech? In what ways does the painting depart from the details laid out in the speech?

(4 points)

Answer 1

In analyzing the painting alongside Romeo's speech from Romeo and Juliet, we can see some similarities and differences that highlight the emotional weight of the scene.

Similarities:

1. Setting of Death: Both the painting and the speech convey the presence of death. In Romeo's speech, he describes Juliet's beauty even in death and refers to her as being untouched by death's power. The painting, showing Juliet kneeling by Romeo's lifeless body, emphasizes the stark reality of death as she clutches a dagger, suggesting her own impending demise.

2. Emotional Turmoil: The intense emotions expressed in Romeo's words, such as despair and love, are mirrored in the painting's composition. Juliet's pose, kneeling over Romeo with a dagger, illustrates her anguish and the depth of her love for him, resonating with Romeo's lament for Juliet and his wish to be with her in death.

3. Symbolism of Love and Death: The speech references the idea of sealing a bond in death ("A dateless bargain to engrossing death"). The painting portrays this theme visually; Juliet's act of holding the dagger indicates her intent to join Romeo in death, reinforcing the tragic love story.

Differences:

1. Presence of Tybalt: In Romeo's speech, he speaks directly to Tybalt, suggesting a conflict and duality specific to his actions. However, the painting does not feature Tybalt, which alters the focus from the immediate familial strife present in the speech to the more personal tragedy between the two lovers.

2. The Shadow of an Approaching Man: Romeo's speech is moment of solitary reflection before he takes the poison, devoid of any external presence. The painting, however, introduces the element of a shadow representing an approaching man, possibly signifying impending confrontation or rescue. This adds a layer of tension that is not present in Romeo's soliloquy, which is focused solely on his tragic decision.

3. Juliet's Position: In Romeo’s speech, he is the active figure taking drastic action (drinking the poison), while the painting depicts Juliet in a vulnerable position kneeling and clutching a dagger. This shifts the emotional weight from Romeo's despair to Juliet's grief and potential desperation, differing from the moment where Romeo sees himself as the one dying for love.

These similarities and differences in the painting and the speech together amplify the tragic narrative of Romeo and Juliet, fusing their poignant expressions of love and despair while offering distinct visual interpretations of the characters' emotional states.