Shakespeare’s Use of Light and Dark Imagery

Shakespeare’s Use of Light and Dark Imagery throughout the Play

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most consistent visual motifs is the development of light and dark imagery. Shakespeare portrays light to symbolize the love between Romeo and Juliet, while darkness is used to show depression and secrecy. Not only is this a powerful form of imagery, but when these two are used together as a contrast, they often symbolize the true complexity of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.

Elements of light are used to symbolize the beauty and love between the two lovers. When Romeo first sees Juliet at the Capulet party, he says, “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” (I.v.44). By this, he means that Juliet is so radiant and beautiful, that she “burns brighter” than the blaze of a torch. At the beginning of the balcony scene, Romeo compares Juliet’s beauty to the sun. “But soft! What light through yonder windows breaks? / It is the east and Juliet is the sun.” (II.ii.2-3).

In contrast, darkness is used by Shakespeare to show depression and secrecy. In the very first act of the play, Lady Montague asks Benvolio where Romeo is. He responds by saying, “Madam, an hour before worshipp’d sun / … a troubled mind drove me to walk abroad; / where… so early walking did I see your son.”(I.i.116-121). Then, Montague explains how Romeo has been quite depressed, and has been locking himself in his chamber, in the ‘darkness’ (I.i.129-140). Shakespeare uses a lot of dark imagery in this section to show how depresses Romeo is. This is not only found in Montague’s speech about his son (I.i.129-140), but also in that Benvolio had only seen Romeo walking before sunrise (i.e. in the darkness). The other major role of darkness is for secrecy. Besides for their marriage, Romeo and Juliet only meet during night time. They first meet during the Capulet party at the night. The balcony scene (II.ii.) takes place that same night. Before Romeo leaves for Mantua, he spends the night...