Chazotte 1

Jack Chazotte
Mrs. Hope
Honors World Literature and Writers Workshop
15 January 2016
Literary Analysis of Allusions in Shakespeare
An allusion is a reference to something important or related to culture in literature,
theatre, or speech and the literary device has been used in media for many centuries. Shakespeare
used allusions in his writing to make his plays and sonnets more relatable toward his audience.
Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeares use of allusions helped explain details and
important characteristics of the plot in his goal to describe his writing and make his words
relevant to those reading or watching.
Shakespeare began his use of allusions early as he explained the relationship between
Romeo and Rosaline, a woman who does not feel the same passion as Romeo and has taken an
oath of virginity. This unrequited love has causes Romeo to sulk about his fortune and describe
his love to Benvolio. He spoke, Well, in that hit you miss. Shell not be hit / With Cupids
arrow. She hath Dians wit; (1.1.216-217). Cupid was often described as blindfolded to display
how random love is, yet Diana was the goddess of chastity. After being told Rosaline will one
day fall for Romeo, he uttered the line as a reason for his suffering to continue because
Rosalines morals oppose Romeos intentions of marriage and love. This quote is describing how
Rosaline will never return the same passion as Romeo because of her moral beliefs. This
relationship and personality Shakespeare described allowed the plot to continue because Romeo
met Juliet while trying to see a glimpse of his unrequited lover. These allusions to Roman and
Greek gods also demonstrate the importance of classical ideals in the time period Romeo and

Chazotte 2
Juliet was written. But, Shakespeare uses other allusions of Roman mythology throughout the
play due to their popularity.
When the Middle Ages ended, an effort to follow ideals of the time before the Dark Ages
began and influenced culture of the time period. So, Shakespeare included other allusions to
classical ideals because they were well recognised. Another example of references to popular
culture of the time period include Romeos farewell to his love, Juliet. When Romeo was
sentenced to leave Verona, he had a formal farewell from Juliet during the night. As he left, Juliet
dreaded it was becoming day, so Romeo responded with, Ill say yon gray is not the mornings
eye; / Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthias brow, (3.5.19-20). Romeos response to Juliets
sadness of the day coming was the night could be as long as she wanted it to be. Cynthia was the
goddess of the moon, so Romeo explained the sunlight of early morning was simply the moon
goddesss glow lighting up the sky. This allusion helps display the connection to Greek and
Roman mythology people felt in Shakespeares time period because he included more references
to past beliefs.
Allusions have been apart of culture and media since its dawn. Often times, allusions help
make a text or play more relatable to the audience and allows an authors ideas to be expressed
clearly. Shakespeare embodied this technique of the literary device as he incorporated references
of Greek and Roman beliefs into his writing. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet depicted the
connection between two star-crossed lovers in their journey in the streets of Verona. The
allusions Shakespeare used allow this story to be described more efficiently because the
personalities and setting are able to be pictured with greater accuracy to Shakespeares intentions
as the audience uses these references have greater understanding of his creation.