The True Essence of Romantic Love

1141 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of William Shakespeare

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, love is exemplified more ways that we can imagine, from the undying love of two people to parental love. Love celebrated by the protagonists with playful sonnets to express their endearment and love for one another. Love that transcends from such powerful gazes and translates into an undying love. Society’s encroachment to a very innate and fundamental aspect of our being is met with violence and death. We must not forget that the very essence of love is that you cannot control love. It is innate, a reflex if you will, and for everyone the Holy Grail of life.
In the prologue, the narrator begins with “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;” (prologue 6). The protagonists are being revered as celestial bodies where two planets collide in love. The reverence to the heavens signals a higher kind of love that has no bounds and is infinite as the heavens. The narrator sets us up with a glorified love that will prevail even in death. In the first scene of the play, Romeo was asked about his love. He replies, “Out of her favor, where I am in love” (1.1.173). Romeo is referring to her love, Rosaline, where he reflects on an unrequited love. While Benvolio sympathizes with Romeo’s plight and suggests to Romeo a solution to his unrequited love with Rosaline is to find a new love: “Take thou some new infection to thy eye,/And the rank poison of the old will die” (1.2.51-52). Romeo truly believes in true love even expressing
Ty 2 that though love is blind it still finds two total strangers to fall in love, when he says, “Alas that love, whose view in muffled still,/Should without eyes see pathways to his will” (1.1.176-177)! When Romeo finally lays eyes on Juliet, “Did my heart love till...

... middle of paper ...

...respass sweetly urged!/ Give me
Ty 5 my sin again” (1.5.120-121) Romeo takes Juliet’s bait, the guilt of having to take his sins, he then kisses her again to take it all back. Nice little trickery from Juliet to induce another kiss. Juliet finishes, “You kiss by th’ book” (1.5.122) She enjoyed the playfulness of both of their exchanges, implying that his experience in this game called love.
Let one celebrate life’s most fundamental aspect, love. Teach it in our homes, classrooms, workplaces, churches, playgrounds, movies, songs, and more importantly to one another. It is the very backbone of our humanity. Love supersedes all. Glorify and respect what love has to offer. Let us not confuse love with the connotation of sexual notions. Sex may be a component of love but there is more to love than just sex. Finally, to love one another culminates into great things.

Show More
Related

  • Romeo And Juliet Who Is At Fault Essay

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Don’t waste your love on someone who doesn’t value it.” In the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare exposes the life of two young lovers in the Renaissance period fighting for something they cannot live without; each other. Although fate takes its toll, the everlasting feud between two families, conditional love by parents, and the irresponsibility’s of father and mother like figure are the main causes in the death of Romeo and Juliet. The idea of love is something that is valued in this play from many different aspects of characters, lines, and scenes. Shakespeare leaves the minds of readers soaring over not why it happened, but who was at fault.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Attraction In Romeo And Juliet

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    After seeing how heartbroken unrequited love has made Romeo, Benvolio is determined to cheer his friend up. He takes Romeo to a party and urges him to “...in that crystal scales let there be weighed your lady’s love against another maid” (1.3.103-104). Here Benvolio metaphorically compares Romeo’s eyes to crystal scales, and suggests that Romeo forget about Rosaline and look at other girls. In another attempt to comfort Romeo, Benvolio against instructs him to “take thou some new infection to thy eye, and the rank poison of the old will die” (1.2.51-52). Here Benvolio is symbolically comparing love in two different ways: as an infection, and as poison. He suggests that once Romeo finds someone more beautiful than Rosaline (“take thou some new infection to thy eye”) then he will no longer feel the pain of Rosaline’s unrequited love (“the rank poison of the old will die”). Benvolio suggests that a person is in love until they find someone who is even more beautiful - again blurring the lines between physical attraction and

    Read More

  • Major Theme in Act I of Romeo and Juliet

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Act I of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare demonstrates different forms of love that characters face. From the beginning, Romeo struggles to find true love and what love really is. As for Juliet, she also struggles on what love is, but also finding her own voice. And when finally finding true love they discover that they have fallen in love their own enemy. They both realize that the idea of love can be amazing, but also a painful experience. Shakespeare demonstrates love versus evil and the forms love takes that is acknowledged as an universal issue that connects different types of audiences. Audiences are captured by relating on love and the emotions that are displayed. From Romeo and Rosaline’s unrequited love, Paris and Juliet’s false love, and Romeo and Juliet’s ill-fated love, create the forms of love that establishes love as a leading theme in Act I.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Forgiveness Analysis

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love is a wonderful curse that forces us to do unexplainable things. Romeo and Juliet is a famous play written by William Shakespeare, who does an exceptional job in showing the readers what hate, mercy, death, courage, and most importantly what love looks like. This play is about two star-crossed lovers who are both willing to sacrifice their lives just to be with one another. Unfortunately tragedy falls upon the unconditional love Romeo and Juliet have for each other, but along the way they experience immeasurable forgiveness and extraordinary braveness just to be with one another. Sadly enough, love is a cause of violence in the end. Even though the pair spends less time together, it is enough for them to fall in love. It is clearly true

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Obsession Analysis

    987 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is perhaps one of the most well-recognized love stories of all time. However, it is more than just a classic love story, it is a tale of desperation and obsession. While developing these themes, Shakespeare contrasts Romeo and Juliet’s obsession with the concept of real love; he also demonstrates the danger of obsession-Romeo and Juliet do not heed Friar Laurence’s ominously omniscient warning “[t]hese violent delights have violent ends/ and in their triumph die, like fire and powder,/ which, as they kiss, consume”(II vi 9-11), and obsession with honor is likewise dangerous. He probes the theme of despair; the suicidal impulses that become reality for Romeo and Juliet are grounded in the dynamic and

    Read More

  • Examining the Characters and their Weaknesses in Romeo and Juliet

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    Juliet’s weakness to be controlled by love leads her to make unadvised and irresponsible decisions that contribute to her choice of ending her life. Characterized as a young and rash teenager, with no interest in love and marriage at first, Juliet wants to be independent. However, after she first lays eyes on Romeo, Juliet’s perception of love is quick to change. Their strong love easily manipulates and clouds her judgment. Even if she is cautious and realizes their love is too fast, the rush of feelings from having a first love overcomes her. Her soft-spoken words symbolically foreshadow the journey of Romeo and Juliet’s love. “Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, / I have no joy of this contract tonight. / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;…/ This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, / May prove to be a beauteous flower when next we meet” (2.2. 117-123). The blooming flower is indicative of their growing love, especially Juliet. Being her first experience of true love, her actions become more rash the deeper she falls in, even ...

    Read More

  • Essay About Love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, various types of love are portrayed. According to some of the students of Shakespeare, Shakespeare himself had accumulated wisdom beyond his years in matters pertaining to love (Bloom 89). Undoubtedly, he draws upon this wealth of experience in allowing the audience to see various types of love personified.  Shakespeare argues that there are several different types of love, the interchangeable love, the painful love and the love based on appearances, but only true love is worth having.

    Read More

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

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever been in love before? Many would say that love is hard to come by, and even harder to maintain, while some would say the opposite. In Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet, he explores similar concepts related to love and infatuation. Although the reader never directly hears from Shakespeare, one could infer that his own thoughts are similarly mirrored in his characters, with the play serving as a warning tale of sorts, and the various roles echoing different dangers when it comes to love, which there are many. More specifically, Romeo Montague and his actions in the play are very intentional, as they help explain Shakespeare’s intentions and his own personal thoughts on the topic of love and its hazards, as well as its ups, too, which there are many.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Reckless Quotes

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    The lover’s immediate connection is established at the Capulet feast, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” Through doing this, it shows that Romeo is reckless and continues even though he recognizes that they come from different families, “o dear, my life is my foe’s debt”. Throughout the play, it establishes that Juliet allows herself to behave impulsively and be persuaded by Romeo into a impetuous and thoughtless marriage, “The exchange of thy love’s faithful vowel for mine” Juliet expresses her concern that it is too soon to promise to love Romeo when they have only just met, “It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden / Too like the lightning” This simile is used to convey Juliet’s thought on their sudden love. Although Juliet has recognized how spontaneous they are acting, it does not prevent her from continuing her relationship with Romeo, proving that Juliet is just as impulsive as Romeo. Thus, Shakespeare has skillfully utilized the lovers to demonstrate that their own reckless actions is a reason for their untimely

    Read More

  • Love Overpowers Hate in Romeo and Juliet

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ultimately`, William Shakespeare shows in many different ways throughout the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, that love is the more powerful force than hate. The readers see how the characters continuously forgive one another, even when the conditions are tough. The friendships between specific characters display a loving bond that cannot be broken with hate. Shakespeare demonstrates that Romeo and Juliet’s love can overpower the hate of many events in the play. He shows that their love can even overpower the death of one of their own family members. Romeo and Juliet’s love brings friendship between their feuding families. This story is a true example of how love can conquer all.

    Read More

  • How Are Romeo And Juliet Rebellious

    1110 Words  | 3 Pages

    Romeo’s false pronouncements of love, his incapacity to see beyond love, and approaching love in an almost dreamy and unreal way were all parts of his daily demeanour. "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." (1. 5. 44). Romeo was lost in his passion, and exaggerated his remarks about his love for Juliet, since he had just loved Rosaline minutes before. Another point was Romeo’s blind love, which proved he did not think of the problems that could arise; “If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark”. (2 .1. 33) Mercutio’s phrase of Romeo’s actions was correct in the sense that Romeo take into account the background of his love. Also, Romeo’s blind love proved to ‘not hit the mark’ as his romantic views of love turned out to be fatal, as well as impaired his judgement heavily. Romeo again, was so lost in his romantic thoughts that he did not give any reflections for the future, rather, wanted to live in the moment. Romeo’s approach to love was also very glamourous and unrealistic, worried only what he might do next to woo his love. "See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! That I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!" (2. 2. 25) Romeo was beginning to pursue Juliet, and all he was worrying about how he should approach her, which reinforces the fact that Romeo’s overly romantic personality

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet is Not a Love Story

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a Renaissance poet and playwright who wrote and published the original versions of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, and often called England’s national poet. Several of his works became extremely well known, thoroughly studied, and enjoyed all over the world. One of Shakespeare’s most prominent plays is titled The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. In this tragedy, the concept that is discussed and portrayed through the characters is love, as they are recognized as being “in love”. The general umbrella of love encompasses various kinds of love such as romantic love, the love of a parent for a child, love of one’s country, and several others. What is common to all love is this: Your own well-being is tied up with that of someone (or something) you love… When love is not present, changes in other people’s well being do not, in general, change your own… Being ‘in love’ infatuation is an intense state that displays similar features: … and finding everyone charming and nice, and thinking they all must sense one’s happiness. At first glance it seems as though Shakespeare advocates the hasty, hormone-driven passion portrayed by the protagonists, Romeo and Juliet; however, when viewed from a more modern, North-American perspective, it seems as though Shakespeare was not in fact endorsing it, but mocking the public’s superficial perception of love. Shakespeare’s criticism of the teens’ young and hasty love is portrayed in various instances of the play, including Romeo’s shallow, flip-flop love for Rosaline then Juliet, and his fights with Juliet’s family. Also, the conseque...

    Read More

  • Romeo's Impetuousness

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Romeo meets Juliet, he claimed to be immediately in love. Although he has been sulking over Rosaline, when he met Juliet, he states, “Did my heart love till now? forswear it sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Act 1.5 Lines 51-52). The entire time as he envisions love with Rosaline, it was all incoherent. Romeo’s impulsive attitude causes him to fall head over heels with Juliet, which begins the drama in this play.

    Read More

  • Power of Love in Shakespeare´s Romeo and Juliet

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare shows that love has power to control one’s actions, feelings, and the relationship itself through the bond between a destined couple. The passion between the pair grew strong enough to have the capability to do these mighty things. The predestined newlyweds are brought down a rocky road of obstacles learning love’s strength and the meaning of love.

    Read More

  • The Definition of Love

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love has been expressed since the beginning of time; since Adam and Eve. Each culture expresses its love in its own special way. Though out history, though, it’s aspect has always been the same. Love has been a major characteristic of literature also. One of the most famous works in literary history is, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. This story deals with the love of a man and a woman who’s families have been sworn enemies. There love surpassed the hatred in which the families endured for generations. In the end they both ended up killing their selves, for one could not live without the other. This story is a perfect example of true love.

    Read More

More about The True Essence of Romantic Love

Open Document