Slash, cling, clank are the sounds that are heard in a sword fight as a man is killed. In the play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare the theme of death are portrayed many times by the characters Mercutio, Romeo, and Juliet.
The first instance of the theme of death was in act 3 when Mercutio challenged Tybalt to a sword fight. “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find a grave man.”(Act three, scene 1, line 104.)
Also as Mercutio is dying he says “Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall Faint.” (Act 3, scene 1, line 113.) Both these quotes show how Mercutio portrayed the theme of death. Second, Romeo is the next to portray the theme of death.
Now in Act 5, this is the time that Romeo shows the theme of death. He has heard of Juliet’s death and is so heartbroken that he goes to an apothecary to get poison so he can join Juliet in heaven. “To Juliet’s grave; for there must I use thee.” (Act 5, scene 1, line 93).
Second, when Romeo is about to drink the poison he says, “Here’s to my love! [Drinks.] O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. [Falls.]” (Act 5, scene 3, line 122). These quotes show how Romeo loves Juliet. So much he will die to be with her.” The next quotes show how Juliet’s feelings are mutual with Romeo’s.
After Juliet wakes up from her death-like coma she sees Romeo’s dead corpse and notices that he had never got the message from the friar. “O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after? I will kiss his lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them. To make me die with a restorative.”
The next quote shows how the poison has no effect on Juliet, and how she is so desperate to be with Romeo she will stab herself. “O happy dagger! [Snatches Romeo’s dagger.] This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. [She stabs herself and falls.] These quotes all show Romeo and Juliet’s mutual feelings on how they will die to be together.
All these quotes show how the theme of death was portrayed by the characters Mercutio, Romeo, and Juliet in the play Romeo and Juliet. This theme was very important to the play in that if they didn’t love each other enough to die for one another the family feud wouldn’t have been ended. Now Romeo and Juliet may be together in a better place where their names don’t matter.
Thank you.
Vivid explanation.
*Mercutio
That’s a good analysis, it helped me a lot. Thanks