The sonnet is a specific type of poem that has its roots in Italy, and it is often used to express love, beauty, or deep emotions. In literature, sonnets are usually written with a specific structure: they consist of 14 lines, often written in iambic pentameter (a rhythmic pattern), and they follow a certain rhyme scheme. This form of poetry is most famously associated with William Shakespeare, the renowned English playwright and poet. His works, especially Romeo and Juliet, contain various sonnets that have become some of the most beloved and iconic passages in English literature.
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses the sonnet form to convey the intense and timeless nature of love. The play opens with a sonnet spoken by two characters, Romeo and Juliet, during their first encounter, and this sonnet is key to understanding the emotional depth and passion of their love. In this article, we will explore what sonnet Shakespeare used in Romeo and Juliet, why it is significant, and how it contributes to the themes of the play.
What is a Sonnet?
A sonnet is a 14-line poem that typically follows a strict rhyme scheme and is written in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter means that each line consists of ten syllables, divided into five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). The rhyme scheme can vary, but one of the most common forms of a sonnet is the Shakespearean or English sonnet.
In the Shakespearean sonnet, the rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The first twelve lines are divided into three quatrains, and the final two lines form a rhymed couplet. Shakespeare often used this form to explore themes like love, beauty, time, and death. His ability to manipulate language within the constraints of the sonnet form is one of the reasons why his works are still celebrated today.
Sonnets in Romeo and Juliet
In Romeo and Juliet, the sonnet is used as a way of expressing the deep and immediate connection between the two main characters. The first time we encounter a sonnet in the play is when Romeo and Juliet meet at the Capulet’s feast. Romeo, seeing Juliet for the first time, is struck by her beauty and speaks a sonnet to express his admiration.
The First Sonnet in the Play: Romeo and Juliet’s First Meeting
When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they engage in a shared sonnet. This moment is significant because it shows how, even though they have just met, their connection feels destined and eternal. The use of the sonnet form here reflects the purity and idealism of young love, suggesting that their love is already as perfect as a poem.
Romeo: If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
These lines are full of metaphor, comparing Juliet to a holy shrine and his lips to pilgrims seeking to touch something sacred. The religious imagery suggests that Romeo sees Juliet as something divine, and his love for her as a spiritual experience. The reference to a kiss also foreshadows the intimate and romantic nature of their relationship.
Juliet: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this:
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
Juliet’s response is clever, as she plays along with Romeo’s metaphor. She agrees that pilgrim’s hands touch saints, but she makes it clear that a kiss between them is not just a physical act—it is a sign of devotion, akin to a holy gesture. This exchange continues the theme of love as something sacred and elevated, showing that their connection is not only physical but also emotional and spiritual.
The shared sonnet between Romeo and Juliet elevates their first meeting to a poetic level. The use of the sonnet form here implies that their love is already idealized and perfect, as though it were written by a poet. Their exchange is not just a conversation—it is a moment of shared artistry and harmony.
The Significance of the Sonnet
The sonnet in Romeo and Juliet is more than just a poetic form; it is a reflection of the characters’ emotional states. When Romeo and Juliet speak in sonnets, it shows that their love is not ordinary—it is a love that transcends the mundane and reaches for something eternal and ideal. The sonnet provides a way for Shakespeare to express the depth of their feelings, and it gives the audience a sense of the intensity and purity of their emotions.
Furthermore, the use of the sonnet also highlights the theme of fate in the play. The fact that Romeo and Juliet’s first words to each other are in the form of a sonnet suggests that their love is predestined, written in the stars like a perfect poem. It implies that their love is part of something larger than themselves, something that cannot be changed or altered.
The Role of the Sonnet in the Play’s Structure
Shakespeare’s use of the sonnet is not limited to just the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, sonnets appear at key moments in the play, often highlighting the emotional intensity or beauty of the characters’ relationships. For example, later in the play, when Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet after their wedding night, they share a final sonnet that expresses the sorrow of their separation.
In this sense, the sonnet structure in Romeo and Juliet acts as a form of emotional punctuation. Each time the sonnet appears, it signals a moment of deep significance in the relationship between the characters. The sonnet provides a formal structure to encapsulate the fleeting moments of love, beauty, and passion that are central to the play.
Love as a Central Theme
The repeated use of sonnets in Romeo and Juliet also reinforces the play’s exploration of love. Love in the play is presented as all-consuming, overwhelming, and often tragic. The sonnet form, with its strict structure and formal beauty, mirrors the intensity of the love that Romeo and Juliet experience. It is a love that cannot be contained or controlled, much like the sonnet itself, which is bound by rules but still allows for creativity and emotional expression.
The sonnets in Romeo and Juliet convey the idea that love is a powerful force that can transcend time, space, and even death. The language of the sonnet is elevated, reflecting the lofty nature of the characters’ emotions. Their love is not just a fleeting infatuation; it is something eternal and beautiful, captured in the language of poetry.
The Final Sonnet: Death and Love
The final sonnet in Romeo and Juliet occurs at the end of the play, when both Romeo and Juliet are dead. This sonnet, often referred to as the “dying sonnet,” expresses the tragic nature of their love and the inevitability of their fate. In the face of death, their love remains pure and untainted, suggesting that even in the end, love can triumph over all.
In this final sonnet, Shakespeare uses the same poetic form to highlight the contrast between life and death, love and tragedy. The beauty of the sonnet form, even in the face of death, reinforces the idea that love is eternal, and that it can persist even beyond the grave.
Conclusion
The use of the sonnet in Romeo and Juliet is a powerful tool that Shakespeare employs to explore the themes of love, fate, and tragedy. The sonnet form gives structure to the emotions of the characters, allowing them to express their love in a way that is both beautiful and intense. Through the sonnet, Shakespeare captures the essence of young love, idealized and perfect, and contrasts it with the harsh realities of the world around them.
Ultimately, the sonnet in Romeo and Juliet is not just a literary device—it is a reflection of the play’s deeper themes and emotional complexity. Through the sonnet, Shakespeare elevates the love between Romeo and Juliet to something transcendent, something that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. In the end, the sonnet serves as a fitting tribute to the power of love and its enduring beauty, even in the face of death.
