Boat Imagery in Romeo and Juliet

A detailed Summary of Boat Imagery in Romeo and Juliet

"I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far/ as that vast shore washed with the/ farthest sea,/ I should adventure for such merchandise"(II;ii;88-89)

In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo is constantly pursued by the image of a drifting boat in the stormy sea. The first time that "more clouds" are "added to clouds"(I;I;136) happens due to Rosaline's refusal to Romeo's love intentions. Unable to sustain failure, he is at the border of striving for his boat to "sink" and thus "burden love"(I; iv; 23). However, the sun soon shows itself from behind the clouds, as Romeo sees Juliet and realizes that "[he] n'er saw true beauty till this night"(I; iv; 60). Juliet brightens up Romeo's existence, but the ever-severing storm, made of the events that built around the young lovers, prevents their happiness from being. Since Romeo is "no pilot"(II;ii;87), he is unable to steer the boat in such a manner as to resist the forces of nature, and therefore fate. Thus, boat imagery may be seen as a "symbolic" overview of the relationship between Romeo and Juliet, which proves that it is fate that drives the lovers "on the dashing rocks"(V;iii;118)

Romeo's character is first mentioned in the conversation between Benvolio

On the way to the party, at which Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, Romeo pleads "[him] that hath the steerage of [his] course/ [to] direct [his] sail"(I;iv;119-120). In this sense, Romeo hands the steering wheel of his boat to the "all-mighty" forces, which will control his journey. This perilous journey is the love adventure of Romeo and Juliet, in which Romeo is the boat and Juliet is the merchandise, which Romeo is seeking to make his. At the balcony scene, Romeo admits to Juliet that was she "as far/ as that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,/ [he] should adventure for such merchandise"(II;ii;87-89). Regardless of the hatred between their families, which keeps the lovers apart, Romeo is still willing to try to sail over all the hindrances that might threaten their love, "for stony limits cannot hold love out"(II;ii;72). One of those "limits" or harmful phenomena that Romeo faces on his voyage is the lighting, symbolizing the hastiness, in which Romeo's and Juliet's relationship develops. Even Juliet describes it as being "too rash, too unadvised too sudden,/";"too like the lightning"(II;ii;125-126). Also, the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio, which results into both of their deaths, is the obstruction that sets the fatal mark on the love between Romeo and Juliet. Romeo's banishment along with the ever-increasing hatred between the two families finally puts the boat off course. At the news of the brawl, Juliet describes it as a "storm that blows so contrary"(III;ii;70), therefore the fight between the two families is symbolized by the storm. Since the phenomena such as storms and lightning are under the control of some outer force rather than of the human kind, it implies that neither Romeo nor Juliet are in power to control it, but it is rather fate that sets up those traps. The same way that we can't control the weather, Romeo is not able to protect his ship and his journey from the forces of nature.

After their wedding night, Juliet points out that "envious streaks/ do lace the severing clouds

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Approximate Word count = 1376
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English