What Are Examples of Paradoxes in “Romeo and Juliet”?
Examples of paradoxes in “Romeo and Juliet” include when Romeo says that his eyes cannot mislead him in manners of love, and when Friar Lawrence describes the earth as nature’s tomb and womb. Romeo uses another paradox when he says “This love feel I, that feel no love in this.”
Romeo’s friend Benvolio is hopeful that Romeo finds another girl at the Capulet ball that takes his friend’s mind off of his heartache over Rosaline. Romeo replies that his eyes do not delude him. The paradox of Romeo’s statement occurs when he sees Juliet for the first time and it is “love at first sight.”
Friar Lawrence also uses a paradox when he describes the earth as nature’s tomb and womb because a tomb invokes images of death while a womb symbolizes birth and life. Romeo uses another paradox when he states that he has no love for the feelings of love in order to describe the heartache that he experiences when Rosaline rejects him.
Finally, the plot of the play itself is paradoxical because of what transpires between Romeo and Juliet. The two fall in love, an emotion that is heavily imbued with vitality and life, and the love that they share ultimately leads to the young couple’s death.
