How does Shakespeare present the theme of love in Act I of Romeo and Juliet.

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How does Shakespeare present the theme of love in Act I of

Romeo and Juliet

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act I sets the scene for the rest of the play and shows how the main characters love for each other will develop. Shakespeare develops many different types of love through a complex plot, characters and with the added twist of fate.

At our first meeting with Romeo, he shows a stylised, conventional view of love, known as courtly love or Petrarchan love. Shakespeare conveys this love in Romeo’s speech, his actions and his emotions. Romeo is adamant that only Rosaline will suit him and when she dismisses him, Romeo tells his cousin Benvolio ‘I have lost myself; I am not here; This is not Romeo, he's some other where’1,1,191. This helps portray the stylised view of love, as Romeo is lost without Rosaline and is not himself anymore. Romeo is also very melancholy in the way in which the speaks, ‘Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears’1,1,185. Love stories containing this type of courtly love often follow a similar plot to each other, and invariably must fill certain criteria. It can be seen, by taking Romeo’s love for Rosaline, that Shakespeare has fulfilled these criteria for courtly love. The plot should follow these lines: the man falls in love, the woman is unattainable, she spurns his advances, the woman’s coldness only inflames the man’s passion, he cannot eat or sleep and suffers from jealous thoughts. By studying Act I it can be seen that Shakespeare has followed these guidelines closely. Romeo falls in love with an unattainable woman ‘Out of her favour, where I am in love’1,1,162, Rosaline spurns his advances, ‘she'll not be hit; with Cupid's arrow’1,1,202 and her coldness inflames Romeo’s passion, ‘She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair’1,1,215. It is appropriate that his feelings should be so strong as it gives him a natural motive to go to the Capulet’s masked ball. On the way to the ball, the audience are reminded of the strength of his love for Rosaline and the misery it is bringing him, ‘Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn’1,4,25. Romeo is confused by his love for Rosaline and the illogical effect it has upon him. Courtly love is a love often found in Shakespeare’s plays, however, in Romeo and Juliet, it is only present in the first few scenes and is quickly replaced by the sexual love, then eventually true love between Romeo and Juliet.

A different approach to love is presented in the opening scene and references are made throughout. This love may be thought of a sexual love. Men of the Montague house first make references of a sexual nature in the opening scene. However, sexual love is best demonstrated in the course humour of the nurse. She jokes that ‘women grow by men’1,3,96, and at the possibility of Juliet getting married, she tells her to ‘seek happy nights to happy days’1,3,106. Mercutio’s conversations also involve lewd references, however the use of puns makes the sexual references seem light hearted and inoffensive. At the Capulet’s party, Shakespeare has Romeo admire Juliet from a distance and does not introduce them too each other immediately in order to build up sexual tension. Romeo uses ‘flowery’, elaborate words when describing Juliet, ‘Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear’1,5,43, and also uses many similes and metaphors, as perhaps Romeo is so stunned that he cannot find the words ‘So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows1,5,45’. When Romeo and Juliet first meet, the emotion between them is not true love, often associated with these two characters, but more infatuation as they have been admiring each other from across the hall. Romeo’s first words to Juliet reveal the immediate impact meeting Juliet has had upon him, ‘If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine’1,5,90.

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Dutiful love can be demonstrated in the relationship between Juliet and Paris. This is characterised by the dutifulness of affection that attends an arranged marriage. Even before she meets Romeo, Juliet does not want to marry Paris. When her mother first suggests the proposed marriage, Juliet is not convinced, ‘It is an honour that I dream not of’,1,3,67. However, when her mother reveals that they have arranged for her to meet him at the ball, Juliet’s sense of duty takes over, ‘I'll look to like, if looking liking move’1,3,98. Obviously Juliet loves her parents and wishes to make them happy. ...

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