Light over Dark: The Choice Romeo and Juliet Didnt Make
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Light Over Dark: The Choice Romeo and Juliet Didn’t Make
The purpose of the light/dark motif in Romeo and Juliet is to show how Romeo and Juliet are unable to tell light from dark, or good from bad. I think everyone has the potential to discern what choices lead to “light” and what choices keep them in the “dark”. So Romeo and Juliet had that potential but I don’t think they wanted to know about that, since nothing else mattered to them but them. In this play, Romeo and Juliet do never make a clear choice of light over dark because they almost do not want to deal that decision in the midst of their romantic bliss. They could have brought their situation, which was becoming more of a mess each day, into the light by speaking openly about it. However that would’ve ended, I think the feud would have to be reconciled in some way and I’m sure Romeo and Juliet would not have lost their lives doing this. By ignoring their responsibilities and ignoring the darkness that was impeding upon them, Romeo and Juliet in essence allow tragedy to befall them both.
In the first scene, Romeo is depressed because his love for Rosaline is a one-way love. His parents are worried because Romeo spends all his time in the dark. Even when it is light, he shrouds himself in darkness to reflect his dreary mood: Away from the light steals home my heavy son / And private in his chamber pens himself / Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out / And makes himself an artificial night (I. I. 137-140). This light/dark imagery shows that Romeo is choosing to keep himself engaged in a relationship which will always be at this inevitable stand-still, since Rosaline doesn’t return Romeo’s love, and has vowed chastity. This choice to remain at a stand-still keeps Romeo in the dark because he is not moving on in his life and facing the myriad of other romantic possibilities.
Benvolio helps bring Romeo back into the light by taking him to a feast where he meets Juliet, who is brighter to Romeo than anything in Capulet’s house: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! (I.V. 44). Although, Romeo did feel unease earlier when he was going to this party with his friends: I fear, too early: for my mind misgives / Some consequence yet hanging in the stars / Shall bitterly begin his fearful date (I. IV. 106-108). So, we can see that Romeo had some ability to sense darkness, or he wouldn’t have felt that there was the possibility of tragedy to occur from what happens at this ball (meeting Juliet). Romeo doesn’t truly heed this warning, because he decides that if a calamity does occur, it would be fate, or God’s plan, and he wouldn’t be able to change it. This gives us a glimpse of the way Romeo and Juliet will ignore their responsibility to know and choose light from dark.
When we get to the balcony scene, Romeo and Juliet are so wrapped up in their dramatic vows and longing that they make the impulsive decision to get married: If that thy bent of love be honourable / Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow (II. II. 143-144). So, when Romeo and Juliet are in the “light”, as you can see by the imagery of angels and stars, and the selfless love they show, they make an impulsive decision that has the potential to lead them back into “dark” circumstances. This decision to get married could turn out badly if they ignore their responsibilities, and the presence of both darkness and light in their lives. When Romeo and Juliet get married in secrecy (and at night, in the dark), the Friar reminds them of the importance of balance and patience in their love: Therefore love moderately; long love doth so / Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow (II. VI. 14-15). However, Romeo and Juliet are too wrapped up in their blissful romance to pay attention to anything else. They don’t want to know about wisdom, about making good choices. Knowing what is right means that you have the responsibility to do right, and to choose “light” from “dark”.
We see the consequences of Romeo and Juliet’s obliviousness to responsibility in the next scene, in which the feud rears its ugly head once again and Mercutio and Tybalt both die. This should have awakened Romeo (and Juliet when she hears the news) that they both need to take responsibility for the choices they are making that are now putting them on a bad, “dark” track. The mess gets even