How Does Shakespeare Portray a Variety
Of Different Forms of Love In
Romeo & Juliet
In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet love is a main theme from the play. However there is not one type of love. There are many: Love as a transaction for power and money, infatuation, love as a physical attraction and of cause true love between Romeo and Juliet. This essay will look into the portrayal of these types of love in the play how they are experienced by the characters.
At the beginning of scene 1 Act 1 Sampson and Gregory talk of brutal sex and joke of power and lust, “therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall.” This shows that they mock women as the weaker being. Benvolio also shows love as a physical attraction, “At this same ancient feast ……. And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.” This show that Benvolio is trying to persuade Romeo to stop thinking about Rosaline. Throughout the play dirty jokes are used, for example Mercutio talk of love as rough and something to overcome. “If love be rough with you, be rough with love: Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.”