Romeo and JUliet

Authors Avatar

Introduction

I am writing an essay of how Shakespeare explores different types of love in Romeo and Juliet and then how they are similar to liturgy heritage poems.  I also look at a poem by Elizabeth Benet browning that is a poem that has the same structure as Shakespeare sonnets. In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare portrays many different types of love, as it is the most important theme in the play, and appears in many contrasting forms. Love is depicted in different ways by different characters, figurative language and imagery. In the beginning of the play Romeo’s love for Rosaline is unrequited which means it isn’t returned and is build on lust and infatuation and is therefore unrequited. Mercutio and Tybalt have a very strong filial love which is love for their families and their fighting reputation is driven by this hatred. The true love between Romeo and Juliet shows that lovers are not interchangeable and that love transcends appearance. The love between Capulet and lady Capulet is forced love and is over possession and money. The nurse is constantly making bawdy comments and see’s love a sexual and marriage.  First type of love we see is Romeo’s unrequited love for Rosaline.

At the start of the play in act one; Romeo is in love with a woman called Rosaline. He is acting in a peculiar way; his cousin Benvolio discovers why, incurable lovesickness. He is upset because the one he loved vowed to chastity. Romeo thinks love is about lust and is desperately in love with Rosaline. “Why then, o brawling love, o loving hate”. This is an oxymoron and this shows Romeo is confused and is love sick. Also he thinks he is doing something that nobody else is doing so he feels left out. This quotation shows that Romeo is not in his right mind. ‘Shut up his window, lock fair daylight out and makes himself an artificial night’ this is how his farther describes Romeo. The imagery Shakespeare used created a depressing atmosphere, Shakespeare created a difference between light and dark, also portrayed the miserable and sorrowful feeling of Romeo. Romeo believes love is about appearance and beauty, he reveals this when he talk to Benvolio. ‘Doth her beauty serve but as a note’ he is saying he wants to love a beautiful woman. However her beauty won’t last forever so he wants the moment now. This links to sonnet 18 because Romeo thinks love is about the moment and physical and pleasing himself. ‘Every fair from fair sometime declines’ this means everything will lose their beauty one day and won’t last forever like a summer’s day. In sonnet 18 Shakespeare is talking about looks and beauty. The modern reader can relate to this kind of love because most young people fall in love and might not all go to plan.    

Join now!

Romeo totally changes his view of love when he see’s Juliet at the party in act two. ‘She doth teaches the torches to burn bright’ he is in love with Juliet even though he doesn’t know her. That quotation links to sonnet 18 ‘compare thee to summer’s day’ summers day is hot and Juliet is as beauty will never fade and not even death can take it and this is like Romeo describing Juliet.  Juliet’s beauty completely erases his memories of Rosaline. ‘Did my heart love till know’ Shakespeare is saying Romeo see’s Juliet more beautiful than the rest. This ...

This is a preview of the whole essay