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How do Romeo and Juliet change during the course of the play (Shakespeares 'Romeo and Juliet')?

Romeo:
Throughout the play, Romeo changes a lot. At the beginning, he has a crush on Rosaline and mistakes it for love. When speaking about Rosaline, he uses many paradoxes (contradictions), such as heavy lightness, bright smoke, cold fire, and sick health. Also, brawling love and loving hate. He seems to be confused about what he's feeling but still believes its love.
When he meets Juliet, his speaking becomes less complicated.
For example,
"It is my lady, O, it is my love.
O that she knew she were."
When he sees her on the balcony, he sees Juliet as the sun, and claims that the moon is envious of Juliet. The moon is the traditional symbol for a woman's beauty and purity. When compared to Romeo's earlier speech about Rosaline, Romeo's tribute to Juliet takes on even more significance. When he speaks about Rosaline, he says she has vowed to live chaste, and Romeo believes that in that chaste, her beauty is lost to "all posterity" (1.1.217). When he descri...

Posted by: Jennifer Valles

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