The Sun, the moon, the stars

Imagery helps the audience to a great extent to understand the characters and central themes. Shakespeare was very clever in using imagery that relates to the sky to further introduce his characters and central themes. An example of when Shakespeare used imagery related to the sky to further introduce a character is in act 2 scene 2 when Romeo has just meet Juliet at the Capulet's party and has run back to her window waiting for her to appear. Romeo says tenderly, "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon." This example shows when Shakespeare was using imagery relating back to the sky to further introduce Romeo. This quote shows Romeo to be romantic and very spiritual. Romeo is saying that Juliet is his sun and without her the sky would be dark. Another example of when Shakespeare uses imagery relating to the sky is again in act 2 scene 2 when Juliet is telling Romeo not to swear his love to the moon. Juliet says, "O swear not by the moon, th'inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb." In this quote Juliet tells Romeo not to swear his love for her to the moon as it changes every month. This shows Juliet as being romantic, quite unsure and wanting so desperately for Romeo to love her as much as she loves him. She begins to become anxious and this becomes apparent through Shakespeare's imagery relation to the sky. Shakespeare also used imagery relating to the sky to create certain themes. One of the themes that became evident was fate. In the play Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses the idea of star cross lovers which means that Romeo and Juliet had been brought together as their stars had aligned. They were basically destined to be doomed. He refers to the fact that Romeo and Juliet had no control over their fates as it was all planned out in the stars. Without Shakespeare using imagery relating to the sky audiences all over the world would not have as greater insight into the characters and themes in Shakespeare's plays as they do today.