Romeo and Juliet

665 Words2 Pages

The theme of love is highlighted effectively in Romeo and Juliet. At the play's beginning, Romeo describes his infatuation for Rosaline. His feelings are not returned and this means that he feels desolate: he shuts himself away from his friends and family. Shakespeare allows his audience to see that unrequited love can be painful. However when Romeo meets Juliet, all thoughts of Rosaline disappear. Romeo and Juliet's attraction for each other is immediate. The love they feel is passionate and based on a genuine understanding of each other's feelings. Romeo declares, "Did my heart love till no?" (Act 1, Scene 5) and Juliet realizes their love is special. Shakespeare encourages his audience to consider the qualities people need to fall in love and to remain in love. Shakespeare shows that unrequited love can make people feel sad and unhappy. Romeo falls in love with Rosaline and Paris falls in love with Juliet. Romeo sees Rosaline as the earth and sky, calling her fair, wise, and as well as beautiful. Rosaline does not return the love he has for her, and is therefore forced to grieve over her. In the first act Romeo is talking of his love for Rosaline with Benvolio. Romeo uses oxymorons such as "Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!" (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 101) this shows how he is confused by his relationship with Rosaline as she does not return his love. Romeo continues to speak about the pain of love as he says he has been "Shut up in prison, kept without my food, / Whipped and tormented..." (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 31, 32). Mercutio says Romeo’s love for her is based on a weak foundation, much like how dreams do not hold strong ground. When Romeo first sees Juliet, Shakespeare explores the idea of love at first s... ... middle of paper ... ... Juliet is anxious for them to get married and as it will be "tis' twenty years till then." (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 128). Mercutio never stops teasing Romeo about his unrequited love for Rosaline, even after Romeo has lost all interest in her. Shakespeare uses a variety of love In Romeo and Juliet to show the difference between them, sexual love, romantic love, true love, mother-daughter love, unrequited love and love at first sight. Romeo and Juliet being romantic love, true love, sexual love and love at first site, the mother-daughter love between the Nurse and Juliet, and the unrequited love between Romeo and Rosaline. There is also sexual love, romantic love, true love, spiritual love, unrequited love and love at first sight. In Romeo and Juliet their love was very visual. Romeo never would have fallen in love with Juliet at the start if it wasn't for her looks.

Show More
Related

  • Romeo And Juliet Haste Quotes

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s impulsiveness contributes to the tragedy of the play. There is no doubt that Romeo rushes into love throughout the play. One example of this is when he falls in love with Rosaline. Although Rosaline is not a major role in the play, it shows the sorrow and uncertainty Romeo goes through after not being loved back. Marilyn Williamson said “During the time in which he was infatuated with Rosaline, he was … withdrawn into darkness” (6). The fact that Rosaline never shares the same feelings with Romeo, shows how quickly Romeo is to fall in love. “Out of her favor, where I am in love” (Rom. 1.1.158). Ironically, Romeo falls in love with Juliet during his plan to get closer to Rosaline. He is at a Capulet party when he first sees Juliet and

    Read More

  • Examples Of Attraction In Romeo And Juliet

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two teenagers from feuding families who fall in love at first sight. Through the course of the play, Shakespeare uses the characters Romeo, Friar Lawrence, and Benvolio to reveal that physical attraction is often misinterpreted as love.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and in the Baz Luhrman and Zeffirelli Film Versions

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Act 1, scene 5, Romeo and Juliet first catch sight of each other. Romeo is amazed by her beauty and is instantly attracted to her looks. This is the idea of love at first sight, it makes it seem as though. They both knew as soon as they saw each other that they were meant to be together with the other. When Romeo says 'For I ne'er seen true beauty till this night we know for sure that he thinks Juliet is the girl of his. dreams.

    Read More

  • Familial Love In Romeo And Juliet

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Love is made by two people, in different kinds of solitude” – Louis Aragon. Shakespeare presents a variety of feelings in Romeo and Juliet to appearance, emotions and relationships shared through Romeo and other characters. Romeo and Juliet depict a romantic relationship between “a pair of star-cross’d lovers” (prologue). Romeo also is committed to Mercutio with the familial love overriding the friendship bond. Unrequited love is seen through Romeo expressing his emotions on the unavailable relationship of himself and Rosaline.

    Read More

  • Love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1589 Words  | 4 Pages

    Love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare examines the concepts of love in the tragic play

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    The initial relationship between Romeo and Juliet is based on impulse. Romeo immediately chooses a lover without thinking about her. Romeo mopes about his past love. Romeo’s past love is Rosaline. When Benvolio suggests to Romeo that he can Benvolio suggests that Romeo learn to forget Rosaline "By giving liberty unto thine eyes; / Examine other beauties"(8), Romeo says that Rosaline is the fairest of all and that he can never forget her (8). Romeo thinks that Rosaline is a love of his life and He cannot live without Rosaline. He tries to find Rosaline in every girl he sees. This action -by Romeo shows that he considers love in the emotional way. On the other hand, Romeo forgets his first love when he first sees Juliet in Capulet party. Romeo tells to Juliet that

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet- Is The Story

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    The love in the story is not only shown between Romeo and Juliet. It is also shown in the form of filial love between Romeo and Mercutio. Romeo ‘loved’ Mercutio as a friend so much that he would vow revenge on the person that brought upon his death. The friendship was everlasting and would always be treasured by Romeo, even after Mercutio’s death. Other love was shown between Juliet and the Nurse. Juliet grew up with the nurse by her side all the time. The nurse was more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet ever was.

    Read More

  • The Opposing Themes of Love and Hate in the Play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is a shallow way to look at love and Shakespeare effectively contrasts it with the genuine love felt by Romeo and Juliet. They would be prepared to die for each other and this is in strong contrast with the hate that fills Verona. When Romeo and his friends arrive at the Capulet’s party, it was said to have been love at first sig... ... middle of paper ... ... d live happily ever after.

    Read More

  • 5 Types Of Love In Romeo And Juliet

    533 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play Romeo and Juliet there are many types of love present throughout the course of the story and involves many of the characters. These types of love include romantic, platonic or friendly, and finally familial. The most obvious type of love present in the play is the romantic love shared between Romeo and Juliet as their passion for each other is what drives the story; the first time we see their love is in the party scene where they share glances and ultimately kiss. See their love is what ignited the initial plot and there are more examples of this love in the play such as when they got married and the most important moment being when they killed themselves thinking their lover had died demonstrating their devotion towards each other.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Infatuation Essay

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Obsession in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite what many people think, Romeo and Juliet is not a love story; rather a story of desperation and obsession. People have been reading Shakespeare for hundreds of years and several people have mistaken it for a love story, due to the fact that Romeo loves Juliet so much he is willing to kill himself when he finds her supposedly dead; she does the same when she wakes up to find him dead. But in fact, Romeo is more taken aback by her beauty than he is in love with her. Juliet is intrigued by the fact someone could love her because her parents are very unsupportive of her. When the two find each other, they immediately become obsessed, mistaking this for love at first sight.

    Read More

  • Obsession and Infatuation in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    552 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love tales, but what if the play is not actually a tale of love, but of total obsession and infatuation. Romeo has an immature concept of love and is rather obsessive. Romeo is not the only person in the play who is obsessed though. Many people throughout the play notice his immaturities about love. Very rarely was true love actually shown in the play. attention. Romeo childishly cries to his friend, Benvolio because Rosaline will not love him back and says " She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow/ Do I live dead that live to tell it now" (I i 219-220). Romeo is stating that he's ready to die for loving Rosaline. This is exactly the same attitude Romeo had towards Juliet a little later in the play. During Scene I, Act ii, Romeo's friend, Benvolio tries to get him to go to the Capulet's party to help him get over Rosaline and meet other women Romeo gets very angry and emotional when he suggests this. “Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, / Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” (II 5-6). The chorus expresses Romeo’s juvenile way...

    Read More

  • Love And Infatuation In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even before Juliet is introduced, Romeo considers himself to be in love with Rosaline. Although he says that it is true love, stating “.. Doth add more grief to too much of mine own. Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes.” (Shakespeare, I.1.23), it is clear that his obsession with Rosaline is purely surface-level.

    Read More

  • Lightness And Darkness Motifs In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, it has multiple themes including death and rivalry. But the most significant, prominent theme in Romeo and Juliet is the theme of love. It is presented in many different ways and there are many different aspects to it. Shakespeare displays these aspects using lightness and darkness motifs such as the sun, moon and stars. Romeo's love for Juliet shows the more emotional, pure, and true aspects of love.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Romeo in William Shakespeare´s Romeo and Juliet

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    Romeo, at the beginning of the play, is a love-struck, immature, and impulsive young man. In the beginning of the play, Romeo believes that he has found the person and place “where I am in love” speaking of Rosaline, a girl who he barely knows (I.i). Romeo is love-struck and impulsive, saying that about Rosaline after just meeting her. Romeo doesn’t know what real love is, he is just an immature young man who doesn’t see reality as it is. Towards the end of the scene, Romeo sees a new girl named Juliet and questions if his “heart {has} loved till now” (I.v). Romeo forgets and moves on from girls he “loved” very quickly making him immature and an impulsive lover. He “loves” the prettiest girl he see without even meeting her. Overall, Romeo says and does actions without thinking and moves on very quickly.

    Read More

More about Romeo and Juliet

Open Document