Romeo & Juliet
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Love in all its Forms in – Romeo and Juliet Essay
The theme of love is probably the most common theme in all literature and Romeo and Juliet is no exception. The theme of love is predominant throughout the entire of play of Romeo and Juliet. There are many different forms
of love and Shakespeare incorporates many of them into his “Romeo and Juliet” play. In ” Romeo and Juliet” Shakespeare brings out the cruel superficial love Romeo has for Rosaline, the bawdy, physical, and sexual love that Shakespeare expressed through Nurse and Mercutio, the contractual love Paris has for Juliet, the compassionate, paternal, and caring love Capulet has for Juliet , and finally the spiritual emotional and true love Romeo and Juliet have for each other.
In the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet Romeo is lovesick. He is in love with a girl named Rosaline, a relative of Juliet. Rosaline does not love Romeo back, which causes Romeo to be love sick. Romeo states his love sick and sad feelings by saying
“Why, such is loves transgressions. Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest with more of thine. This love that thou hast shown Doth add more grief to too much of mine own (I:I, 33-39). This is an example of the immature and superficial love Romeo has for Rosaline and how he is grieving. Not only is this love for Rosaline superficial, it is also painful love. Romeo says “With Cupids arrow; she hath Dians wit; And, in strong proof of chastity well armd, from loves weak childish bow she lives unharmed. She will not stay the siege of love” (I:I, 205-209). This quote wonderfully describes how Rosaline does not love Romeo in return, which results in the cruel love Romeo has for her. This type of love is also a form of unrequited love.
Another form of love in Romeo and Juliet is the bawdy type of love. This type of love refers to the physical and sexual form of love. Shakespeare brings out this type of love with two superb and colorful characters. These characters are Mercutio and Nurse, who each in their own demonstrated this kind of love and mindset. Mercutio and Nurse make many bawdy comments throughout the play such as “An old hare hoar, And an old hare hoar, Is very good meat in lent; But a hare that is hoar, Is too much for a score, when it hoars ere to be spent” (II:IV, 127-132 ). This quote spoken by Mercutio shows how he has quite a bawdy sense of humor and how he tends to focus on the physical side of love.
Nurse also brings out the physical side of love in act one, scene three by expressing “A man, young lady! Lady, such a man As all the world Ð- why, hes a man of wax”(I:III, 127-132). A “man of wax” refers to a man of striking beauty, or a man with no imperfections.
Paris love for Juliet symbolizes another form of love that Shakes brought out in his play of “Romeo and Juliet”. The love Paris has for Juliet is a contractual love (Novel analysis Romeo and Juliet). Paris does not actually love Juliet for who she, but he loves her for what she is. Paris did not fall in love with Juliet, but he fell in love with her name and title. This kind of love is typical for arranged marriages, such as the marriage that is supposed to happen between Paris and Juliet. Paris does not really know Juliet, he just knows her familys status in Verona .Arranged marriages were common during these times (LoveToKnow Weddings), so it is no surprise the contractual marriages were common during this time period. (Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet)
In certain parts of the play, Lord Capulet comes across to the reader/viewer as a very compassionate man. He demonstrates his compassion mainly towards his daughter, Juliet. In act one, scene two of “Romeo and Juliet” The County Paris asked Capulet if he can have his daughter Juliets hand in marriage. Paris asked Capulet, “But now, my lord,