What are some oxymorons in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

There are
dozens of oxymorons in s. Anis a rhetorical device that combines two words
that appear contradictory. In his plays, William Shakespeare frequently employs oxymorons to
reveal conflicting or complex emotions in his characters. Here are some of the more famous
examples from the tragedy ofand .

Whenadvises Romeo to abort his relationship
with Rosalind, Romeo melodramatically replies,

Heres much
to do with hate, but more with love.
Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate . .
.

Shakespeares use of oxymoron here reveals the raging
infatuation Romeo feels for his crush. The strength of Romeos infatuation is emphasized by
pairing hate, one of the strongest negative emotions, with the positive emotion of
love.

Later, when Romeo is rejected by Rosalind, he again uses several back
to back oxymorons to express his tortured emotional state.

Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,
Still-waking sleep that
is not what it is!

One final example of oxymoron is
uttered by Juliet in Act III when she learns that Romeo has killed her cousin . Attempting to
process the fact that the man she loves has murdered a family member, she exclaims,

A damn¨d saint, an honorable villain!

Juliet uses oxymoron to mirror her conflicting emotions of sadness and anger at the
death of her cousin and the love she feels for Romeo. In this moment of distress, Juliet cannot
decide whether to curse or honor her lover, nor can she determine whether Romeo is a saint or a
villain.

These are just a few of the oxymorons in Shakespeares tragedy Romeo
and Juliet. Good luck finding more for yourself as you study the play!