Writers like to use many literary tools. Metaphors and personification instantly come to mind. What probably isn't as commonly used, however, are oxymorons. The word can be broken down into "oxy", which means sharp, and "moron", which means dull. Rarely ever to we notice when these are applied to literature. Most often, we can see oxymorons used to describe irony. It makes sense; what better place to use an oxymoron than when something is the opposite of what it should be?

In all of literature, no work has ever become famous for oxymorons. At least, not of a recent century. In the late 1500s, there was a famous playwrite named William Shakespear. We can call him Bill for short. One of Bill's most famous plays was Romeo and Juliet, and it is also a classic example of using oxymorons.

This blog entry specifically focuses on a certain oxymoron that branches out like a tree in this play.

In Act II, Scene II and Act III, Scene III, each of the main protagonists whisper soliloquies at the beginning of the scene. They both take place at the balcony, and they are both about each other, but their meanings are completely different. It is a subtle oxymoron, but for those who pay close attention to the reading as they would to a Harry Potter book, this is a work of art.

Here is the first soliloquy, coming from Romeo, Act II. The main characteristics are in bold.

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

Be not her maid, since she is envious;

Her vestal livery is but sick and green

And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.

It is my lady, O, it is my love!

O, that she knew she were!

She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?

Her eye discourses; I will answer it.

I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,

Having some business, do entreat her eyes

To twinkle in their spheres till they return.

What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,

As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven

Would through the airy region stream so bright

That birds would sing and think it were not night.

See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!

O, that I were a glove upon that hand,

That I might touch that cheek!

The primary focus of this speech is Juliet's beauty and how she overcame his mourning for Rosaline's cold shoulder. What he describes it to more than anything else is light, the sun, and the day. Light is universally used to symbolize goodness, and there is definite goodness in how Romeo sees things. This speech takes place not too long after the story switches from giving the setting to starting the plot. Thus, this speech is an important mark in the drama. It subtly gives us a clue at the direction of the plot. Judging by the bright and positive images, Romeo has set the feel for an upturn.

Now, let us look at Juliet's soliloquy.

Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,

Towards Phoebus' lodging: such a wagoner

As Phaethon would whip you to the west,

And bring in cloudy night immediately.

Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,

That runaway's eyes may wink and Romeo

Leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen.

Lovers can see to do their amorous rites

By their own beauties; or, if love be blind,

It best agrees with night. Come, civil night,

Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,

And learn me how to lose a winning match,

Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods:

Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks,

With thy black mantle; till strange love, grown bold,

Think true love acted simple modesty.

Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night;

For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night

Whiter than new snow on a raven's back.

Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night,

Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,

Take him and cut him out in little stars,

And he will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun.

O, I have bought the mansion of a love,

But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold,

Not yet enjoy'd: so tedious is this day

As is the night before some festival

To an impatient child that hath new robes

And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse,

And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks

But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.

"Pay no worship to the garish sun?" This is a complete contradiction to how Romeo symbolically saw Juliet back in Act III. Didn't Romeo find the sun beautiful and the night scornful? Let us not forget that night is used so strongly to represent what is bad. Although Juliet may be using them in a positive manner, personally, it symbolizes the downturn in the plot. Before, things were good, and no the whole party is about to come crashing down on the two lovers. This is an oxymoron in the plot itself. In other words, irony has struck the romance, which was initially supposed to be good, but was causing them both grief.

Let's Compair:

Both speeches use night and day to describe how they feel about their lovers. This is the key similarity, as it defines the primary contrast.

Both of these speeches were given at Juliet's balcony. This is a subtle flag telling us that the two speeches are on the same topic. Bill has taken the balcony and has attached this symbolic little meaning to it. It's like how in some movies, where the color red might be a background hint that foretells that an emotional or tense moment is about to take place (The Sixth Sense, directed by M Night Shyamalan). Yes, it is subtle, but it all amounts to something when you are a focused reader who looks for those things.

Each speech was given at the same time, at the beginning of the second scene in their acts. They are exactly one act apart. Like the detail of the balcony, it shows that each speech has the same purpose.

Let's Contrast:

As mentioned first and foremost in the comparisons, there is the matter of night and day. I can afford no better term than this: the difference between night and day is pivotal. I say pivotal because a pivot is a point that two weights balance on. Anything on one side of the pivot is considered weight x, whereas anything on the other side adds to weight y. It makes all the difference, because these are exact opposites. One symbolizes an upturn in the plot, the other a downfall. All of the similarities are meant to bring attention to this.

And that concludes my literary essay.