Romeo And Juliet Infatuation Essay

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A Study of Teenage Infatuation in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Love and infatuation are both strong emotions that most will encounter within their lifetime. The two feelings are often misunderstood, but are differentiated through their outcomes and stability. True love does not only rely on physical attraction, but also on one’s personality. When one is truly in love, they accept their partner’s flaws and perfections. There is a connection between two people, in which they can make compromises and smart decisions. The love grows stronger with time and is not instant. On the other hand, infatuation occurs almost instantaneously and progresses quickly. Infatuation relies on lust and physical attraction. It can cause an individual to
Juliet receives a vial containing a potion from Friar Lawrence, who has a plan that will make Juliet appear as if she is dead, so that when she awakens, she will unite with Romeo. Juliet considers several consequences before drinking the potion, such as losing her sanity or being buried alive. Despite her reasoning, she summons the courage to drink the potion, exclaiming “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee” (Shakespeare 4.4.58). Instead of Juliet making a logical decision to avoid drinking the potion, she follows through with her emotions. Juliet has an obsession with Romeo, in which she is willing to take a risk on the assumption that Romeo will be there when she awakens. She recklessly abandons the fears she once had because her logic is clouded by her immense feelings for Romeo. Fears such as the friar poisoning the potion are quite realistic, since he wants to avoid suffering punishment for secretly marrying two teenagers from rival families. Juliet is so deeply lost in her emotions that she is prompted to take her own life into her hands. Infatuation can take control of someone and cause one to make rash judgements, similar to the one Juliet makes by drinking this potion for Romeo. The couple’s infatuation is seen again when Romeo
Romeo attends the Capulet’s feast as a part of a masquerade. When his eyes suddenly catch a glimpse of Juliet, he exclaims, “o she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/ As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear” (Shakespeare 1.5.43-45). When Romeo compares Juliet to a torch, he makes a metaphor, suggesting that her beauty and radiance resemble the light of a torch. He continues to refer to Juliet’s beauty when he compares her to a sparkling jewel that catches the eye of the night sky (the “Ethiop” being a person of dark skin). Romeo correlates Juliet to a torch and a jewel, but never once mentions anything about her personality, even when he has his first interaction with her at the feast. Romeo simply feels desire towards Juliet and seems to over exaggerate his feelings for her. He relentlessly speaks about how beautiful she is when he questions, “did my heart love till now? forswear it sight!/ For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Shakespeare 1.5.51-52). It is evident that Romeo cannot focus on anything else but Juliet’s looks, which is a sign of physical attraction rather than love at first sight. Romeo proclaims to “love” Juliet the minute he lays eyes on her. However, if he falls in love with just the sight of Juliet, there is no other reason he can claim to be in “love”

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