In Act 2, Scene 3, we are introduced to Friar Laurence, who is spending his time searching for plants and flowers while describing them. The Friar states, "Within the infant rind of this weak flower poison hath residence, and medicine power. For this, being smelt with that part cheers each part; being tasted, stays all senses with the heart. Two such opposite kings encamp them still in man as well as herbs- grace and rude will; and where the worser is predominant, full soon the canker death eats up that plant." In this quote, Friar Laurence is describing how the flower has curative and medical properties, however, if one would eat it, it would be deadly. In his quote, the Friar presents a comparison between people and the flower. He's saying that the capacities to do good and to do evil exist in everyone, similar to two warring kings. This quote about the flower is very much a metaphor for the situation in Verona. The flower itself represents the town, and its two "warring" qualities represent the Montagues and the Capulets. Both are at a conflict with each other, while existing in the same place, just as the medical and fatal qualities both exist inside the flower.
I totally agree with your standpoint. The flower may seem harmless, but there's definitely more to it than what appears on the surface (in this case, conflict / "warring" qualities).
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation and this also isn't the only time a flower is used to represent something. In the balcony scene, Juliet uses it to say that the name of something doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the meaning behind the flower is much more than what meets the eye at first. It stands for both beauty and conflict.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analogy. The flower in this quote shows well the two families' conflict.
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