Love Conquers All

To begin with such an idea of an emotion conquering all is quite vague and can be interpreted in
several ways. In act 1 scene 5 Romeo states She doth teaches torches to burn brightBeauty too rich
for use, for earth too dear. From this its clear that Romeo is conquered by love. Shakespeares
choice of words and phrases like teaches the torches to burn bright, beauty too rich and for earth
too dear are all mostly positive adjectives. From this it is evident that Romeo loves Juliet but to what
extent? Shakespeares lexis represents Romeos appeal to Juliet is illustrated visually rather than her
as a person. Its safe to say Romeos love for Juliet at this stage is nothing more than a teenage
infatuation. Can this be considered a love that conquers? Alternatively between lines 44 53
Shakespeare makes Romeo talk of his love in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet. A signature
technique used only by Shakespeare at the time, its evidence to show. There are rhyming couplets
every two lines. Bright Night and Ear Dear. This could suggest that Romeos love was so
strong for Juliet that the words in his brain aligned to make a harmonic array of words. This has been
done for theatrical effect. Such a combination of words would keep the audience engaged whilst
viewing. Going back to the original quote Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear is a clear
example of the importance of religion at the time. Romeo states that Juliet is so beautiful that she
deserves to be in heaven, that Earth is too filthy a place for her. He continues to put her on this
religious pedestal when he says that shes a Snowy dove trooping with crows. A slight use of
anamorphicism is also used when he makes this comparison. This style of speaking is clearly a
cultural norm as this is not the first time animorphism is used in the text.
Looking at contemporary poetry there are slight similarities in Carol Ann Duffys style of poetry and
Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. Duffy states in her poem YOU that falling in love is a glamorous
helllike a tiger, ready to kill. Already several similarities can be made. Firstly Duffy states that
falling in love is a glamorous hell. At the end of Romeo and Juliet both the characters die. The fact
that Duffy states love is hell and Romeo and Juliet die by disobeying their parents, thereby going to
hell in Catholicism. Secondly Duffy states like a tiger, ready to kill. Similar to Shakespeares
presentation of Romeo, Duffy puts her lover on a pedestal by comparing her to a tiger an animal
that is rather high up in the animal kingdom in terms of status. In addition to this an interesting
comment can be made about Romeo comparing Juliet to a snowy dove as Doves play a vital role in
Christianity. They represent whats known as the Holy Spirit. In fact the Bible mentions Doves 92
times. This shows as Duffy represents her lover as a tiger an species high up in the animal kingdom,
Romeo compares his lover to a Snowy Dove a bird that is very high up in spiritual life.
Alternatively Duffy calling her lover a tiger can also be to show that her lover is fierce and is a
predator. The same can be said for Romeo calling Juliet a snowy dove, it could just be done merely
for Romeo to show his appreciation to her beauty. Duffy goes on to say larger than life, you strolled
in another comparison can be made as Romeos love for Juliet was larger than life and it lead to both
their deaths. If a conquering love is a love that overcomes all, love conquering all is clearly evident as
it has conquered the lives of Romeo and Juliet. This could also be done for theatricality a plot twist at
the end is common and the audience would have been caught off guard by this.

Shakespeares presentation of materialism and light/dark imagery is also seen through Romeo. In Act
2 Scene 2 Romeo states But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is east and Juliet is
the sun. Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon. Romeo clearly associates light with positive in
these first few lines. Its also clear that he associates dark with negative. Juliet also is compared to the
Sun, a star in the center of the Milky Way, another clear indication of Romeos religious pedestal.
Romeo goes on to say Two of the fairest stars in heaven comparing her eyes to stars. Such
vocabulary makes sense because of all the prejudice at the time. To be fair was something that was

desired. A lighter skin color meant that a woman was more beautiful. Elizabethan women would put a
light layer of mercury on their face to burn the top layer off even to get a few shades lighter. A
chemical that is highly toxic. This also shows the prejudice at the time and how blatant racism was
ok. Duffy also does this in her poem Name. She says I pray it, into the night, till its letters are light.
Duffy talking about prayer shows her religious belief , the time in which she prays, night shows that
she also associates darkness with the negative and finally she prays till its letters are light
which is clear that when light comes everything will be ok, Duffy has clearly associated light with
relief from the negative dark night shes facing. Going back to Romeo and Juliet can such a love filled
with such prejudice and preference be considered a love that conquers?
In conclusion love conquering all in Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet is clear. If the viewers
interpretation conquering love being one filled with prejudice, teenage infatuations, racism, insanity,
death, materialization and objectification of women, then yes love does conquer all in the play. If the
viewer is normal then no love conquering all its not evident at all in the Shakespeares play Romeo
and Juliet.