2.2.2-3). During this scene, Romeo describes Juliet as being so radiant that her light does to the sunlight what the sunlight does to a lamp. This is very powerful imagery, which seems to indicate that Juliet has much control over Romeo.Animal ImageryAnimal imagery, especially in the form of birds, seems to be a recurring theme in the play. In act two, scene two, Juliet summons Romeo, “Hist, Romeo, hist! O, for a falc’ner’s voice / To lure this tassel-gentle back again(2.2.158-59). This is falconry terminology from that time period. Furthermore, in an article from Notes and Queries, titled, “Romeo’s Niece: A Note on ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ”author Horst Breuer, referring to the usage of the word “niesse” in act two scene two, maintains, “An ‘eyas’ is a hawk or falcon fledgling, a young inexperienced bird which may be tamed and trained easily”(54). It would seem that Juliet is the hawk, and Romeo is the falconer. Nevertheless, references to other animal forms is a common theme throughout the play.Some of the references to animal imagery are romantic, while others are not so romantic. Romeo is awestricken by Juliet’s beauty as he compares her to the other women at the party, “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows”(1.5.48). After Juliet learns of Tybalt’s death at the hands of her beloved, Romeo, She uses a series of oxymorons that use images of animals. Juliet says, “Dove-feather’d raven! wolvish ravening lamb”(3.2.76). Juliet is expressing her mixed emotions about the terrible thing that has happened. This type of imagery is common in the play, but it is not the most common or the most important.Herbs and PlantsProbably, the most important and the most common type of imagery in this tragedy are the references to herbs and plants. In act one scene three, the nurse and Lady Capulet are discussing Paris,...
