2. Life and Death: The contrast between life and death permeates the play. For instance, Romeo's banishment feels like death, while Juliet's fake death leads to actual death.
3. Light and Dark: Light and darkness are frequently contrasted in the play, reflecting the characters' shifting fates and emotions.
4. Youth and Age: The play juxtaposes the youthful exuberance of Romeo and Juliet with the cautious restraint of older characters like Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet.
5. Fate and Free Will: Romeo and Juliet's story raises the question of fate versus free will. Are the lovers victims of fate or do their own actions contribute to the tragic outcome?
6. Beauty and Ugliness: The play contains examples of both exquisite beauty, such as the lovers' expressions of affection, and extreme ugliness, such as the violence and bloodshed that pervade the city of Verona.
7. Hope and Despair: The characters alternate between moments of optimism and despair, mirroring their fluctuating emotional states.
8. Violence and Tenderness: The tender love and affection between Romeo and Juliet often stand in stark contrast to the violence and conflict that surround them.
9. Nature and Human Action: The play juxtaposes the natural world, like the garden where Romeo and Juliet meet, with the man-made conflicts and societal structures that ultimately drive the tragedy.
10. Poison and Medicine: The play uses the image of poison to represent both literal death and the destructive effects of passionate emotions. At the same time, medicine offers a potential cure and antidote.
These instances of juxtaposition in "Romeo and Juliet" reflect the play's exploration of contrasting themes, emotions, and events, intensifying the dramatic impact of the story.