Romeo and Juliet English Coursework Essay
Examine the part played by Romeo in Act One, showing how Shakespeare reveals his attitude to love.
In the play we do not meet Romeo until after the fight in the street between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s, Shakespeare shows the audience the feud between the two families before he introduces the main character, Romeo.
The first impressions we get of Romeo are that he is a loner and prefers to be on his own, rather then spending time with other people. Shakespeare shows this by making him seem solitary and distant, he also uses darkness to portray Romeos feelings, he does this when Montague describes Romeos actions “Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out and makes himself an artificial night”. Montague talks to Benvolio about Romeos troubles and describes his condition as an illness, Shakespeare shows this when Montague says “as willingly give the cure as known” this shows that Montague describes Romeo as being ill as he refers to a “cure” being able to help him. When Benvolio promises Montague to “know his grievance” the audience meets Romeo for the first time already with an idea about his character, that he is a loner and is depressed.
When Romeo first appears he has a conversation with Benvolio, this tells the audience what is wrong with Romeo. Romeo tells Benvolio that his current state is because of unrequited love. Shakespeare shows Romeos emotions using a paradox “O brawling love, O loving hate” (the theme of love and hate is reoccurring through out the play) and “Feather of lead” these are examples of oxymoron’s (a paradox reduced to two words), they show that Romeo is in a confused and perplexed state, this could mean that Romeo does not fully understand his love for Rosaline and is bewildered by it. Romeo tells Benvolio that the love he feels for Rosaline makes him feel like some one else and he admits to loosing his grip on reality “I have lost myself; I am not here, this is not Romeo, he’s some other where.” This shows that Romeo is self absorbed and infatuated by Rosaline, this gives the idea that Romeo loves the idea of being in love. Although because his love is unrequited it makes him feel ill and depressed “sick man in sadness” this shows that Romeo is a romantic character who wants to be in love. Romeo seems to be suffering with his love for Rosaline “out of her favor I am in love” this shows that Romeo understands that Rosaline will never love him, the thought of this makes Romeo suffer which shows that his attitude to love is idealistic. Romeo seems to be enjoying the fact that he is in love and he would rather be unhappy in love then not be in love at all.
