In William Shakespeare's _Romeo and Juliet_, Shakespeare introduces many

themes that he continues throughout all of his tragedies, including the language

of love vs. the language of death. The balcony scene is the most valuable

scene illustrating the language of love, whereas in the final scene of the

play the language of death is used to set the stage for their suicides, pulling

together the tragic ending of the play.

Throughout the second scene of

Act II, Romeo uses beautiful metaphors and similes to express his affection

for Juliet:

O, speak again bright angel, for thou art

As glorious

to this night, being o'er my head

As is a winged messenger of heaven.(Rom.

II. II, 28-30.)

This passage is used to compare Juliet to an angel, somethign

that is universally held as sacred and lovely. Elsewhere in the scene there

are lines that describe their love for one another, and add to the romantic

theme of the scene:

And but thou love me, let them find me here.

My life better ended by their hate

The death prorogued, wanting

of thy love.(Rom. II. II, 76-78.)

In the final scene of the play, there

is much talk of death by Romeo, Friar Laurence, and Juliet. Romeo announces

his own demise in his soliloquy:

Depart again. Here, here I will remain

With worms and chambermaids. O, here

Will I set 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 to engrossing death!(Rom. V. III, 108-114.)

The

Friar's Frantic wrods and actions in conflict to his previous calm stature

illustrate the grim mood of the scene:

Stay not to question, for the

watch is coming.

Come, go good Juliet. I dare no longer stay.(Rom.

V. III, 158-9.)

Both the language of love and the language og death play

important roles in the tragedy. They cooperate with light and dark imagery

to make the play the masterpiece it is, a play of paradoxes and oxymorons,

good and evil, neither one whole without the other. For without love there

would be nothing to lose, and without death there would be no way to lose it.