Romeo and Juliet

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   sullymonster Teacher
   Community / Jr. College

   Friar Lawrence says this to Romeo just before the wedding.  He is trying to tell Romeo to "love moderately", meaning to not be too extreme in his feelings.   The Friar suggests that when a feeling is expressed with such exaggeration, with no limits, than the feeling is likely to die out.

   This quote has importance because it foreshadows the ending of the  play as well.  The "violent delights", meaning the passionate love, of the two teenagers do bring about violent ends for both. 

   Also, this quote is symbolic of the plays theme.  All of the violent delights of the characters, both love and hate, result in tragic ends.  Mercutio and Tybalt and wrapped up in emotion and duel.  When Mercutio is killed, Romeo's grief puts him in a murderous rage.  The message is that when humans allow emotion to take control and to be exaggerated, then they are putting themselves in danger.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/romeo-text/3384

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   Posted by sullymonster on Wednesday April 2, 2008 at 3:25 PM
   
   

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