Romeo only realises that his love for Rosaline was just an infatuation when he meets Juliet. He realises that it is love because he sees her inner beauty not just external. When he sees Juliet for the first time, at Capulet’s party, he sees her beauty shine more brightly than the torches that are lit there, “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright”. This love at first sight (as shown in John Clare’s ‘First Love’) soon develops into a strong mutual attachment. Whenever Romeo and Juliet meet it seems as though time stands still because they are so in love and only have eyes for each other. Romeo and Juliet decide to get married in secret because their love for each other is so deep and powerful, shown by how far they go to be together and the way they hide their relationship so that they will not be separated. They get married in secret because they know that their parents wouldn’t approve and would end the relationship because they are supposed to be enemies. They prove how much they love each other when Juliet drinks a potion that makes her pale and lifeless to deceive her family so that she can enjoy her life with Romeo without having to live up to her parents’ expectations. Romeo doesn’t realise she has drunk a potion and assumes she is dead and he realises how strong his love for her is. He doesn’t think he can live without her so he can live without her so he kills himself to be with her in Heaven because in the Elizabethan period, when the play was written, people believed in life after death (Heaven).
The next type of love portrayed in the play is familial love. There is a distinct lack of this love shown. This is shown when Romeo dies for Juliet showing that he would choose her over his family ‘I will stay with thee, and never from this palace of dim night depart again’ saying that he won’t ever leave Juliet and he doesn’t even give a thought for his family. Romeo gives the impression that he has tried very hard not to confide in his parents about Rosaline and then Juliet. There seems to be a lack of communication between Lord and Lady Montague and Romeo. It is also shown between Lord and Lady Capulet and Juliet, especially when Lord Capulet forces Juliet to marry Paris at the threat of disownment. This also shows that his love for Juliet is not unconditional as it should be between father and daughter.
Fraternal love is also shown in the play. Romeo is very close to Friar Lawrence and trusts him. Romeo proved how much he trusts Friar Lawrence when he got married as he asked Friar Lawrence to act as priest. This shows Romeo trusts him because Romeo and Juliet are supposed to be enemies and their relationship needs to be kept a secret. Friar Lawrence doesn’t approve of the marriage at first but then he decides that if they get married it may turn the Capulets and Montagues hate into love. He says this in Act 2, Scene 3 when he says, “for this alliance may so happy prove to turn this households rancour into true love”
Romeo also shows his trust for Friar Lawrence in Act 3, scene 2 and 3 when he hides in Friar Lawrence’s cell. This shows trust because Romeo had just killed Juliet’s cousin Tybalt and knows he is going to be punished but he has a close enough relationship with Friar Lawrence to know that he wouldn’t tell the police or he prince Romeo’s whereabouts.
Another example of fraternal love is between Juliet and the nurse. As a baby, Juliet was breast-fed by the nurse, this created a very close friendship between the two and Juliet sees the nurse as a surrogate mother and is closer to the nurse than she is to her real mother. Throughout the play Juliet shows her trust in the nurse as she tells her about her feelings towards Romeo, one example when she says, “My only love sprung from my only hate.” Juliet even asks her to send and receive messages to Romeo. The nurse keeps all Juliet’s secrets and finds out all the news about Romeo. For example when Romeo killed Tybalt and got banished she found out and told Juliet showing that the friendship is mutual. However when Juliet’s parents try to force her to marry Paris the nurse thinks she should forget about Romeo and marry Paris as he is rich and the nurse feels Juliet would be happier with Paris.
Another example of fraternal love (which is also joint to familial love) is shown when Romeo tries not to fight with Tybalt as he sees them as family because he had just married Juliet, shown when he says “I do protest I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise, till thou shalt know the reason of my love; and so, good Capulet, which name I tender as dearly as mine own, be satisfied”. But Tybalt does not know about Romeo’s love for Juliet and insists on fighting. To provoke Romeo, Tybalt kills Mercutio, who is Romeo’s best friend. Romeo and Mercutio are very close and they confide in each other about almost everything. In revenge to Tybalt murdering Mercutio, Romeo forgets about his familial love to Tybalt and kills him.
The other type of love in the play is the love of power. This is shown throughout the play, mainly by the two families. Each family wants power over the other and have been fighting for years, shown for example in Act 1, Scene 1 where a group of men from each family are arguing and one says to the other, “Draw if you be men” showing that whoever fights the best and wins is the better man. The other love of power shown is Romeo and Juliet wanting power over their own lives, shown when they keep their love and marriage a secret. However, Lord and Lady Montague feel they have power over Romeo and Lord and Lady Capulet have power over Juliet, which is shown when they force her to marry Paris. The last type of power shown is by the police. The policeman tells the two families that if they don’t stop fighting then he will banish them. This shows a love of power as he has power over them and will use it against them to keep his country law abiding.
To conclude, the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is based around love but turns into a tragedy. There are many different types of love presented in the play and they are not all good. The play proves how much two people can love each other and shows that you shouldn’t let a love of power take over your life.
