In Moderation
Love and hate are two of the most, if not the most, powerful emotions. That wonderful, light feeling in one’s heart can make a person lose control over their actions. Yet dark hatred can lead to even worse. Such intense contradiction is made clear in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s use of binaries reveals that humans should find moderation between love and hate.
At the start of the play, love is portrayed as being both beautiful and terrible. Romeo, conflicted, chases after Rosaline, who does not love him back. He spills his thoughts to Benvolio, saying, “O brawling love, O loving hate, / O heavy lightness, serious vanity… / Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire…” (1.1.181-185). As Romeo ponders over the …show more content…
The two lovers meet, fall in love, and get married, all in the period of twenty-four hours. As Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet together, he says, “The sweetest honey / Is loathsome in his own deliciousness / And in the taste confounds the appetite. / Therefore love moderately” (2.6.11-15). His words “sweetest” and “loathsome” demonstrate how the most beautiful love can become hatred if not felt in moderation. Distracted by the overwhelming feelings of love, Romeo and Juliet are clueless as to what Friar Lawrence is saying. They continue to love each other so strongly no matter what terrible outcomes are in their future. Similar to honey, the initial feelings--or taste--of love is sweet and delicious. But after eating one drizzle too many, honey loses its deliciousness. Love too powerful can turn into hate if not felt in …show more content…
Shakespeare’s play ends with the tragic death of both Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo finds Juliet unconscious, he believes she is dead, and poisons himself. As he dies next to his new wife, Romeo says, “...And, lips, O, you / The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss / A dateless bargain to engrossing death” (5.3.113-115). Romeo’s words “breath” and “death” are binaries of each other, signifying the two extremities of love and hate. The couple believes they will only be able to love when dead, and live in hatred if alive. Thus, it never turns out well to live in extremes. Shakespeare uses these intense opposites to reveal how our emotions can become black and white. Instead, we should find the grey areas--the
Love and hate are two of the most, if not the most, powerful emotions. That wonderful, light feeling in one’s heart can make a person lose control over their actions. Yet dark hatred can lead to even worse. Such intense contradiction is made clear in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s use of binaries reveals that humans should find moderation between love and hate.
At the start of the play, love is portrayed as being both beautiful and terrible. Romeo, conflicted, chases after Rosaline, who does not love him back. He spills his thoughts to Benvolio, saying, “O brawling love, O loving hate, / O heavy lightness, serious vanity… / Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire…” (1.1.181-185). As Romeo ponders over the …show more content…
The two lovers meet, fall in love, and get married, all in the period of twenty-four hours. As Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet together, he says, “The sweetest honey / Is loathsome in his own deliciousness / And in the taste confounds the appetite. / Therefore love moderately” (2.6.11-15). His words “sweetest” and “loathsome” demonstrate how the most beautiful love can become hatred if not felt in moderation. Distracted by the overwhelming feelings of love, Romeo and Juliet are clueless as to what Friar Lawrence is saying. They continue to love each other so strongly no matter what terrible outcomes are in their future. Similar to honey, the initial feelings--or taste--of love is sweet and delicious. But after eating one drizzle too many, honey loses its deliciousness. Love too powerful can turn into hate if not felt in …show more content…
Shakespeare’s play ends with the tragic death of both Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo finds Juliet unconscious, he believes she is dead, and poisons himself. As he dies next to his new wife, Romeo says, “...And, lips, O, you / The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss / A dateless bargain to engrossing death” (5.3.113-115). Romeo’s words “breath” and “death” are binaries of each other, signifying the two extremities of love and hate. The couple believes they will only be able to love when dead, and live in hatred if alive. Thus, it never turns out well to live in extremes. Shakespeare uses these intense opposites to reveal how our emotions can become black and white. Instead, we should find the grey areas--the