Theme Of Love In Romeo And Juliet

1358 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How does Shakespeare present the theme of love

The quest to discover the perfect companion to spend the rest of your life with is one of the hardest tasks in life. Shakespeare explores the protagonist’s change in attitude towards love by juxtaposing two relationships: Romeo’s infatuation for Rosaline and his true love for Juliet. In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare introduces us to Romeo’s passionate desire for Rosaline through the use of binary opposition, soliloquy, and vivid imagery. In contrast, when Romeo is addressing Juliet, his language shifts through the use of symbolism, religious, and mythological imagery to reflect his newly found romantic love for Juliet. The dramatic language of Shakespeare’s young lovers in Romeo Juliet serve as a cautionary tale of love, lust and loss which displays their divergent relationships and expression of love as shown throughout the play, and, ultimately, demonstrates that a truly progressive, wholesome and loving relationship must be spiritually based and equally beneficial to both the woman and the man to be worthwhile.
Shakespeare juxtaposes various types of love through imagery and language in Romeo and Juliet as revealed by the flowery and passionate dialogue of Romeo of the Montagues as he falls in love with Juliet of the Capulets in sharp contrast to the sensual and dangerous lust he feels for Rosaline. Shakespeare uses his character’s language to depict Romeo’s feelings for Juliet, and to contrast the pure affection he has for Juliet with the superficial lust felt for Rosaline. Seeing Juliet at the window, Romeo instantly begins to fall in love when he cries, “But soft, what light through yonder breaks/ It is the East, and Juliet is the sun/ Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon” (2.2.3-5). Romeo compares Juliet to ...

... middle of paper ...

...for each other. Shakespeare explores the growth of his protagonist’s attitude towards love as he depicts the contrasting relationships of Romeo’s love for Rosaline and Juliet. As the hero’s understanding of love matures, the reader witnesses him lifting out of his depression and unrequited infatuation for Rosaline. and experiencing wholesome and respectful love for Juliet who, in turn, returns his love. Despite the dire ending of the play, the passionate relationship of Romeo and Juliet has been a model of pure love for hundreds of generations because unlike so many depictions of romance, it more closely assimilates the model of a healthy relationship defined in Science in Health. Echoing passionate, loving statements, they living each day to the fullest filled with their mutual love for each other while challenging the other to grow spiritually. This is true love.

Show More
Related

  • Lust In Romeo And Juliet

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    By the end of the play, Romeo and Juliet have completely fallen in love, which ultimately led to their premature deaths; with their relationship beginning as lust and blossoming into love. While Romeo and Juliet's interest in each other starts off as just physical attraction, through spending time together and learning about each other, their relationship transitions into true love because of the constant fear of living without each other.

    Read More

  • 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

  • Romeo And Juliet Language Techniques Essay

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    Three strongly recognised language techniques are used to highlight romance between the two main characters in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The most overwhelming techniques comprised of the poetic text have long been acknowledged as metaphors, personification and symbols. These techniques focus on the devotion and love shared between the romantic ‘Star-crossed Lovers’ throughout the dramatic tragedy.

    Read More

  • How Does Shakespeare Use Extended Metaphors In Romeo And Juliet

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare is amazing at using extended metaphor in Romeo and Juliet to show love between the characters, the word choice that Shakespeare uses to write extended metaphor is very detailed. During the balcony scene, Romeo says something towards Juliet which is an extended metaphor which shows love Romeo said, “Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art far more fair than she” (Shakespeare 2.2.3-5). What this means is that Juliet is being compared to the sun and Romeo is telling Juliet to arise beautiful woman and kill the envious moon so Juliet is a fair sun which has to destroy the darkness which is the moon. Romeo is saying that Juliet is as beautiful as the sun which shines over the world they live in. A little later during the balcony scene, Romeo uses extended metaphor again to compare Juliet to something good. Romeo is in love with Juliet and her beauty because Romeo always complements Juliet with something lovely and he speaks of Juliet in a nice way. For example, Romeo says “O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white-upturned wondering eyes” (Shakespeare 2.2.29-32). This really shows the love that Romeo has for Juliet because he compares her to a bright angel and being compared to an angel shows that she’s very glorious and mighty with beautiful features. Also, Romeo complements Juliet’s eyes again saying that her eyes are awestruck and so pretty that all mortals fall back to gaze this shows that Romeo is in love with all of her beauties and all the other people are too. Romeo says a lot of extended metaphor during the play to compare Juliet to things that are of beauty and not something that is horrible thus extended metaphor is used to show the love between

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Oxymoret Analysis

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the mention of the phrase, “love can transform a person,” most people reflect upon the happiness and blessings that come with finding one’s other half. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet broadens the spectrum of love’s possibilities as the play narrates the progressions of a doomed relationship toward death. Belonging to two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets, Romeo and Juliet cultivate their forbidden love and marry in secret. After a string of misfortunes, including Romeo’s exile and Juliet’s arranged marriage with another man, the two lovers commit suicide, unable to imagine a life without one another. Through the use of oxymorons and hyperboles dotted throughout Romeo and Juliet’s interactions, Shakespeare communicates

    Read More

  • Forbidden Love In Romeo And Juliet

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    Playwright, William Shakespeare, conveys the different forms of love between characters in his drama, Romeo and Juliet. In the small town of Verona the different types of love are highlighted, through character actions and speech. Unrequited love is seen in Romeo and Juliet through Romeo 's 'love ' for Rosaline in Act one, while the forbidden love at first sight, also known as romantic love is seen between Romeo and Juliet. Furthermore, the motherly love/ familial love, Juliet and the Nurse share is also explored.

    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

  • Timing is Everything

    736 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the play, when Romeo and Juliet first meet, the timing is poor. At the time of him meeting Juliet, Romeo is heartbroken because the girl who he love, Rosaline, does not love him back. Juliet’s parents, at this time, have chosen a man th...

    Read More

  • Why Romeo and Juliet's Love is Real and Not an Infatuation

    535 Words  | 2 Pages

    True love is one of the most genuine, not to mention precious feelings in the world. In Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, a pair of lovers denotes the strength of true love and it's ability to overcome nearly all obstacles. However, this kind of love is a rarity due to it's pureness but somehow many cheap imitations are still mistaken for real love. Romeo and Juliet's love is authentic and by no means an infatuation seeing as first of all, they both risk their lives to see each other and would rather die than be separated. Juliet also has an unusual level of loyalty towards her partner for her age which supports the idea of true love. In addition, throughout the play, Romeo's demeanour started to change and he began to mature in a considerably short period of time. Young love is a petty sentiment nonetheless when it develops into a fully-fledged unconditional love, both partners will begin to evolve and will do nearly anything for the other.

    Read More

  • Timelessness of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    The classic play Romeo and Juliet by the famous playwright William Shakespeare is one of the most beautiful love stories of all time and has captured and inspired readers everywhere. Regardless of the fact that it was written in the 1500’s, it is still being performed and extolled today. There is a multitude of reasons for such continuance of the play. First of all, its everlasting themes of love and hate enable people to deeply relate to the story. Secondly, its memorable characters deeply imprint on the minds of readers. And lastly, above all, is its magnificent language which many writers today regard in awe. These three elements make the acclaimed play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most timeless stories of our lives.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Descriptive Language Essay

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    Countless people all around the world are familiar with the idea of the famously tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. Their heart wrenching love story has been an inspiration for many literature pieces throughout various genres and later cinematic works of art. The young couple was not only memorable for their passionate, devoted love, but also the tragic events that ultimately lead to their death. One aspect of the play that has a strong impact on the audience is Shakespeare’s use of charismatic and compelling language seen throughout the play. The unique personality traits used to describe Romeo and Juliet allows many to relate to the young lovers. Shakespeare’s use of descriptive language, allows the audience to understand the societal expectations, beliefs, and values set out for the men and women of Verona, Italy. Romeo’s character, however, can be been seen defying these expectations and also

    Read More

  • True Love in Romeo and Juliet

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet is a romantic love story about a young lad named Romeo who has fallen in love with Lady Juliet, but is unable to marry her because of a long-lasting family feud. The play ends in the death of both these characters and the reunion of the friendship between the families. Romeo is in love with Juliet, and this is a true, passionate love (unlike the love Paris has for her or the love Romeo had for Rosaline) that nothing can overcome, not even the hatred between their two families that is the reason for the death of their two children. Throughout the play, Shakespeare thoroughly explores the themes of both true love and false love and hatred. Without either of these themes, the play would loose its romantic touch and probably would not be as famous as it is today.

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet is Not a Love Story

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a play commonly viewed and known as a true love story; however, after analyzing several hints portrayed by the protagonists, it is evident that Shakespeare did not intend to make Romeo and Juliet seem like a true love story but a criticism of how superficial society’s view on love is.

    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

More about Theme Of Love In Romeo And Juliet

Open Document