Skip to main content

Why does Paris think Romeo has come to the tomb?

Paris thinks Romeo has come to the Capulet's family crypt in order to vandalize it or to desecrate the dead bodies of the Capulets (namely, Juliet and Tybalt) that lay within. This is perhaps an odd or surprising sentiment for a reader to encounter, but we must contextualize it by recalling that Romeo and Juliet's love affair and marriage have been keep a secret from most of the major players in this narrative; Paris does...

Paris thinks Romeo has come to the Capulet's family crypt in order to vandalize it or to desecrate the dead bodies of the Capulets (namely, Juliet and Tybalt) that lay within. This is perhaps an odd or surprising sentiment for a reader to encounter, but we must contextualize it by recalling that Romeo and Juliet's love affair and marriage have been keep a secret from most of the major players in this narrative; Paris does not know that Juliet--the woman to which he is betrothed--has actually already been wed to another man. We can see this confusion in the small speech Paris makes when he spots Romeo approaching the tomb:



This is that banish'd haughty Montague,


That murder'd my love's cousin, with which grief,


It is supposed, the fair creature died;


And here is come to do some villainous shame


To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him.



Paris wants this "condemned villain" to suffer the vengeance that he deserves: that is to say, death. In his state of grief, that of "a desperate man," Romeo does not even attempt to correct Paris or justify his actions. Instead, they duel, and Paris is slain.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e