In act1 scene5, when Romeo says ‘for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night’, Shakespeare anchors for the audience that Rosaline’s beauty was an infatuation and that Juliet has true beauty. This is anchored because when Romeo says ‘for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night’ his implication to the audience is that he has never seen true beauty before until now; which purports to the audience that Rosaline’s beauty was an infatuation.
When Romeo says ‘my lips, two blushing pilgrims’, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss’ Romeo is expressing desire towards Juliet. This is known because, when Romeo says ‘ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss’ what he’s conveying to Juliet is that he is ready to kiss her which shows desire as he wants to kiss her.
Shakespeare uses holy language to disguise the desire that Romeo and Juliet feel for each other. This is shown in act1 scene5 when Romeo says ‘Then move not while my prayers effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg’d’ what Romeo is saying is: stand still while I kiss you and the sin from my lips is forgiven. Shakespeare did this because at the time when he wrote this play, the audience used to respond differently i.e. shocked, towards conversations about desire.
Shakespeare voices the audiences’ concerns through characters. This is shown in act2 scene2 after Juliet has just asked Romeo if he loves her, and if he does then to get married to her she says ‘ Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse, and say thee nay,’. Juliet voices the audiences concerns because Romeo and Juliet have only just met and already are in love and talking about marriage; here, the audiences concerns would be that they are going too fast so that is what Juliet voices.
Romeo implies to the audience that Juliet is something special to him when he says ‘it is the East and Juliet is the sun’ in act2 scene2. Romeo indicates that Juliet is something special because he calls Juliet the sun and the sun is like a life giver to plants and animals therefore, what Romeo is implying is that Juliet is his life giver and he can’t live without her which symbolises that Juliet is something special to Romeo as he can’t live without her. He also implies to the audience that Juliet is something special in act1 scene5 when he calls Juliet ‘dear saint’. By calling her a saint, he is indicating to the audience that Juliet is something special and important to him religiously the way a actual saint is to Christians.
Shakespeare anchors for the audience at the end of act1 scene5 and at the start of act2 scene2 that Romeo and Juliet truly love each other. This is known by Juliet at the end of act1 scene5 when she says ‘Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy.’ This means that before she was born her fate was decided and that she will love Romeo although he is an enemy. It is known by Romeo at the start of act2 scene2 when he says ‘it is my lady, O it is my love:’ here, he clearly states his love for Juliet as he calls her his ‘love’.
Shakespeare displays the seriousness of Romeo and Juliet’s love in act2 scene2 when Juliet says ‘Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet’. This shows that their love is serious because Juliet is willing to give up her family name just to be with Romeo and at the time when this play was written, family names were a persons pride and identity, it would be a big sacrifice to give up a name. Also in act2 scene2, in response to Juliet, Romeo says ‘Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptis’d; henceforth I never will be Romeo’ this also shows that their love is serious as Romeo is ready to give up his name for Juliet and it shows a sign of commitment as both Romeo and Juliet are willing to give up their names for each other.
Shakespeare confirms to the audience that Romeo and Juliet’s love is true when they meet for the second time and arrange to get married. This is shown in act 2 scene 2 when Romeo asks for ‘ th’exchange of thy loves faithful vow for mine’ this shows true love because they arrange to get married even though it will be against their families will. Also they show commitment as they are willing to be together no matter what happens.
The true love that has been portrayed between the characters Romeo and Juliet is conceived to the audience as being completely owed to fate as Romeo and Juliet are sincere fate believers this is shown as Romeo and Juliet constantly speak about the sun, skies, heavens, stars etc. Juliet also talks about having a ‘prodigious birth’. Their love is emphasised more to the audience as both the main protagonists are controlled by fate. Although this has convinced the audience that Romeo and Juliet’s love is true, does it convince the audience that true love actually exists?
