Commentary on Romeo’s soliloquy in Act 5 Scene 3

Intro.

The soliloquy begins with Romeo discovering who he has killed. He is very pitiful and sympathetic towards Paris and also out of control. It says, “when my betossed soul…” and the word “betossed” shows the imagery of ship in a storm and Romeo is now confused. In line 83, it says “ One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book!” and it represents the image of a “ sour misfortune book” which resolute throughout the play and has the idea of his fate controlling the action. Romeo also asks many questions to himself which is another sign of confusion. The line, “ I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave.” tells us that the grave is magnificent as it holds the body of Juliet.

In the next part, Romeo sees Juliet. There is a contrast between light and dark as it is set in a dark tomb. “A grave? O no, a lantern, slaughter’d youth” and “This vault a feasting presence full of light” shows us this imagery, Romeo describing Romeo as a source of light in the darkess of the tomb.. Dying in a dark tomb might also represent eternal darkness. It also says “ feasting presence” meaning a festival. It makes the audience more aware of how close the lovers come to finding joy but making their end in darkness all the more tragic. However, these images also suggest a spiritual light that may surround a feast for them beyond death. that with Juliet, he is always happy. The line, “ Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr’d” represents the desperation of Romeo. The “death” is Paris and Romeo is describes himself as a “dead man” meaning that Paris has been buried by a dead man and also the 3rd person is used even if it was romeo.

Then looking back at Juliet, Romeo is struck by the way Juliet's beauty appears to defy death and she still looks alive: “ Death, that hath suck’d the honey of thy breath/…had no power yet upon thy beauty” and personification is used on death. Romeo imagines him like a lover and a monster: “And that the lean abhorred monster keeps. Romeo sees Juliet as a ensign: “thou art not conquer’d, beauty’s ensign…/and death’s pale flag is not advanced there.” It means as beauty’s red flag is seen in Juliet’s lips, the white flag of death cannot be defeated.To tybalt, romeo talks again in 3rd person and asks for forgiveness and peace. "Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe / That unsubstantial Death is so amorous?" he asks bitterly, believing that death preserves her to be death's own lover and promises he will stay. It is also ironic that he comments on juliet’s beauty. The dramatic tension is increased by the audience's awareness that Romeo is seeing the physical signs of Juliet's recovery from the sleep. Romeo says, “ and never from this palace of dim light”. The word “palace” also shows that being with Juliet is like in a palace.
Romeo thinks fate is trying to keep him and Juliet apart, but death will bring them together. By dying, he will “shake the yoke of inauspicious stars” and escape his fate. It is like he is blaming fate. This could suggest that Romeo is almost eager to die. As Romeo is about to die he makes a “dateless bargain to engrossing Death.” Meaning that it is an everlasting contact with Death, who finally takes possession of everything. And then he returns to the imagery of the sea: “Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark!” and referrs the pilot to himself about to delibriately crashing into rocks and then he dies