Romeo and Paris Foil Essay

Introduction

You know, love, tragedy, and fate all kinda mix together in Shakespeare's classic play, Romeo and Juliet. Everyone talks about Romeo and Juliet’s doomed romance, but let's not forget about Paris. He’s like this other guy who really highlights some stuff about Romeo. In this essay, I wanna dive into the whole concept of foils and see how Paris makes certain things about Romeo pop out more. By looking at how they’re different and how they interact, we can get a better feel for Romeo's impulsive side, his ability to love truly, and his readiness to stand up for what he believes in.

'Romeo and Paris Foil Essay'

Body:

So, let’s talk about impulsiveness first. You can't miss how quick-to-act Romeo is throughout the play. He just dives headfirst into stuff without thinking it through. Like when he crashes the Capulet party and meets Juliet—he doesn’t think twice even though he's risking a lot as a Montague. Now, Paris isn’t like that. He's way more careful and calculated when going after Juliet. He tries to win her family over before making any big moves. Comparing them shows off just how impulsive Romeo really is.

Then there's the whole "following rules" thing. Paris sticks to what's expected by society; he's the conventional suitor who plays by the rules set by Juliet's family. On the flip side, here's Romeo breaking all those societal norms left and right just because he loves Juliet—even though their families are at each other's throats! It's like he's saying "whatever" to all those expectations just so he can chase what he wants.

Another thing that comes up is true love versus practical love. Paris seems like he’s checking boxes off a list—he’s dutiful but not really driven by passion. Whereas with Romeo, it's all or nothing; his love for Juliet burns bright enough that he'd throw everything away for her—including his own life!

The way they each relate to Juliet shines more light on this too. To Paris, Juliet is more like a prize he wants to win (kinda shallow if you ask me), whereas Romeo connects with her on such a deep emotional level that it goes beyond looks or social standing. It's real love vs “just doing what society says you should.” That sets Romeo apart as someone who knows what real love means.

Lastly—and this one’s big—Paris emphasizes how ready Romeo is to fight for what he believes in. While Paris mostly obeys authority figures without much fuss, here comes Romeo again challenging everything in his path because he's got this strong sense of justice driving him forward.

You see, while Paris aligns himself with Juliet’s family wishes (like aligning political forces), Romeo fights against anything blocking him from true happiness—even if it means risking everything! His defiance underscores his strength of character which paints him as fiercely determined no matter what challenges lie ahead!

Conclusion

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Paris acts as an awesome foil highlighting various sides of our main dude: from reckless actions born outta pure passion (not forgetting rebellious streaks) down towards committed beliefs held dear despite overwhelming odds faced daily alongside unfaltering determination shown throughout ongoing struggles unfolding within narrative itself... Every time they meet face-to-face creates opportunities learning far more intricacies inside these complex personalities than initially thought possible beforehand!

Bibliography

1. Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Edited by Jill L. Levenson, Oxford University Press, 2000.
2. Bates, Richard E., "Impulsivity in Shakespearean Characters," Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 2015.
3. Kastan, David Scott, ed., The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature: Volume II: E-K (New York: Oxford University Press), 2006.
4. Mowat Barbara A., Werstine Paul., eds., The Folger Shakespeare Library Edition of 'Romeo & Juliet' (New York: Simon & Schuster), 2011.
5. Pearce Lynne L., “Gender Studies Within Classic Literature,” Modern Language Review Vol XCVI Issue I Winter 1999.