Rosaline In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

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In Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is love-struck with Juliet and Rosaline. However, Romeo defines his love for Juliet and Rosaline solely on their physical appearance, thus defining his sentiments towards them as lust, rather than love. Romeo is left forlorn after the woman he dotes on, Rosaline, swears chastity; dismissing the relationship that Romeo desires to have with her. When expressing his woes to Benvolio, Romeo continuously references Rosaline’s appearance, stating that “she is rich in beauty, only poor that, when she dies, with beauty dies her store” (I.i.223-224). The concern Romeo has about Rosaline's rejection is that he will have to watch her beauty fade, in addition to the chance to have the sexual relationship …show more content…

In an attempt to forget Rosaline, lovesick Romeo attends the Capulet’s party with Mercutio, and is instantaneously struck in the heart with Eros’s arrow when he sets his gaze upon Juliet, raising the question “[d]id [his] heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For [he] ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (I.v.54-55). Juliet’s beauty is so captivating to Romeo that he is willing to let go of the angst from Rosaline’s rejection entirely, and inquire himself if he saw true allure before his encounter with Juliet. Romeo’s perception of love is presented as his attraction to someone’s physical appearance, opposed to what love truly is, a deep emotional bond. For example, the initial reaction Romeo has to Juliet’s beauty reflects how he defines love, as when he sees Juliet, someone who objectively appears more beautiful to him than Rosaline, he completely omits his previous lust for Rosaline and in turn lusts over Juliet. Romeo’s obsession with Juliet’s beauty expresses that what Romeo calls love in actuality is defined as

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