Discuss how the motif is seen throughout Romeo and Juliet.
"Within the infant rind of this weak flower
Poison hath residence and medicine
power;
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part;
Being tasted,
stays all the senses with the heart." (2.3)
Friar speaks to Romeo to tell
him that too much of a good thing can be bad. Romeo and Juliet's love for each
other is still young, but as it progresses it will become dangerous. He compares
their love to a dangerous flower, and he says that the flower may be harmless at
first, but he says that too much of it can kill just as too much of Romeo's and
Juliet's love will eventually bring about an untimely death:
"Bid a sick
man in sadness make his will." (1.1)
Towards the end of the play, Health
vs. Illness act as a different motif, resembling Life vs. Death. When Romeo got
the news of Juliet's death, he fell under an "emotional illness" (depression
caused by her death) and traveled to the tombs in Verona to see his lover's
body. When he saw her body, the last of his "illness" was finishing him. He was
pushed to the breaking point and died (by killing himself with poison):
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct; come,
unsavory guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks
thy seasick weary bark!
Here's to my love! O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are
quick. Thus with a kiss I die." (5.3)
When she awoke and saw him lying
there, she contracted the same "illness" and killed herself with Romeo's
dagger:
"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!
This is thy
sheath; there rust, and let me die." (5.3)
"Within the infant rind of this weak flower / Poison hath residence and medicine power; / For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; / Being tasted, stays all the senses with the heart." (2.3)
RépondreSupprimerFriar speaks to Romeo to tell him that too much of a good thing can be bad. Romeo and Juliet's love for each other is still young, but as it progresses it will become dangerous. He compares their love to a dangerous flower, and he says that the flower may be harmless at first, but he says that too much of it can kill just as too much of Romeo's and Juliet's love will eventually bring about an untimely death.
"Bid a sick man in sadness make his will." (1.1)
Towards the end of the play, Health vs. Illness act as a different motif, resembling Life vs. Death. When Romeo got the news of Juliet's death, he fell under an "emotional illness" (depression caused by her death) and traveled to the tombs in Verona to see his lover's body. When he saw her body, the last of his "illness" was finishing him. He was pushed to the breaking point and died (by killing himself with poison).
A dateless bargain to engrossing death! / Come, bitter conduct; come, unsavory guide! / Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on / The dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! / Here's to my love! O true apothecary! / Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die." (5.3)
When she awoke and saw him lying there, she contracted the same "illness" and killed herself with Romeo's dagger.
"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! / This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die." (5.3)
Students from Mrs Cnockaert's English class, can you find any quotations from the play that have to do with 'health and illness'?
RépondreSupprimerDo you agree with the Friar that "too much of a good thing can be bad"? Can you give other examples from life?