In Act 1 Scene 1 the play opens with the Capulet servants are in the town square. The servants attitude to love is crude and sexual. It is simply to do with sexual desire. It is not romantic in anyway, shape or form. (Quotation) “Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt”
At the beginning of the play Romeo is obsessed with a young women called Rosaline who is not at all interested in him. He behaves like a typical rejected lover. “But he, his own affections’ counsellor, is to himself’. Once he sees Juliet he forgets Rosaline, “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows”.
Romeo’s friends Benvelio and Mercutio encourage him to gatecrash the Capulet’s party because they think he will meet a prettier woman than Rosaline. “At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, with all the admire beauties of Verona”(Act 1 Scene 2), Mercutio says In Act 1 Scene 4, “If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down”. Here Mercutio is teasing Romeo’s lovesickness over Rosaline he says he’s too self-absorbed. Mercutio thinks that loves ridicules and those who allow themselves to be dominated by it.
The nurse portraits love as a physical and sexual satisfaction not romance. But she represents another kind of love in the play a warm unconditional lover. There is a contrast between the nurse and Juliet’s mother Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet love towards Juliet is cold, distant and maternal love for her daughter. The nurse has nursed her as since Juliet has been a baby. The nurse suggests to Juliet that she should marry Count Paris even though she is already married to Romeo. “Romeo’s a dish clout to him. An eagle, madam, Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye As Paris hath. Be shrew my very heart, I think you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first, or if it did not, Your first is dead, or twere as good he were As living here and you no use of him. This would be unlawful. It shows how for her on husband is as good as another. The nurse shows she has a bond between herself and Juliet. She has nursed her as a baby and looked out for her ever since. “Tis since the earthquake now eleven forget it- of all the days of the year, upon that day; for I had then laid wormwood to the dug. This contrasts with Lady Capulet’s cold, distant love for he own flesh and blood.
Friar Lawrence attitude to be caring, comforting and advising. (Romeo) “And bad’st me burry love’. (Friar Lawrence) “Not in a grave, To lay one in, another out have. The Friar can see how madly in love Romeo and Juliet are in, he thinks that their love for each other might solve the feud between the Capulet’s and Montague’s. “For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households rancour to pure love”.
Capulet (Lord) is very angered and annoyed about Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris. But he doesn’t know that she is already married to Romeo. He explains that he is wealthy, very good looking and the family are at a high status. “Gods bread, it makes me mad! Day, night, work, play, alone, in company, still my care hath been to have her matched; and having now provided a gentleman of noble parentage, of fair demesnes, youthful and nobly ligned, stuffed, as they say, with honourable parts, proportioned as one’s thought would wish a man.
Romeo and Juliet is about romantic passionate love. The two young lovers are unable to contain the force of their affections. Their love is very quick and unforeseen, the moment they catch sight of each other they don’t let go.
