Romeo then answers back to Tybalt by saying:
‘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.’
Mercutio is shocked when Romeo says this. He then interrupts and says:
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
‘Alla stocatta’ carries it away.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?
This shows again that everyone is far too involved in this feud that they disregard there ever being a chance of this to end in peace so Mercutio and Tybalt continue to provoke each other. Romeo attempts to break up the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio, only for Tybalt to then stab Mercutio, under Romeo’s arm. Mercutio then curses Romeo, who is then enraged by this and forgets about Tybalt being his cousin and his devotion to Juliet, and goes after Tybalt, killing him in a rage. Zefferilli’s version of the play shows the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt as a sort of contest, not out of true hate, but a rivalry. Luhrmann’s interpretation of this I think is better, his version shows the fight as a violent fight of passion, which happens in spite of Romeo’s devotion to Juliet and Benvolio’s pleas following the Prince’s decision, from the event at the start of the play. Luhrmann’s version shows the society of Verona to be loveless, more than Zeffirelli ‘s because he shows the fight as an act of true hate, as well as love whereas Zeffirelli’s does not. Following the death of Tybalt Lady Capulet arrives and describes her love for Tybalt, only this ‘love’ is designed to gain the sympathy of the prince, for him to execute Romeo. This love is hollow:
‘Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child!
O Prince! O cousin Husband, O the blood is spilled
Of my dear Kinsmen. Prince, as thou art true,
For the blood of ours shed blood of Montague.
O cousin, Cousin.’
This is a true act of hatred as she is almost using her love for Tybalt to get at Romeo, to get him executed; as she probably already knew that Tybalt started it. She also said that if this does not happen she will hunt him down herself. Her mind is filled with hatred and revenge rather than her apparent grief from Tybalt’s death. Her actual words are like a selfish plea for help. The way she says ‘O Prince!’ and ‘O my dear Kinsmen’ makes the prince think she is deeply depressed and that her words are true. The ‘O’ emphasises this and proves just how far Lady Capulet will go to get her revenge.
Mercutio also seems to be unaware of true passion. He also mainly thinks about the physical side to love, and makes several jokes to Romeo about Rosaline:
‘I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes, by her high forehead and her scarlet lip, by her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, and the demesnes that there adjacent lie, that in thy likeness thou appear to us.’
Mercutio is referring to Rosalines body parts and urges Romeo to have sex with her, or to see the physical side of love. He refers to Rosaline’s thigh and ‘that there adjacent lie’ her body part that lies by thigh, his is imitating sex to him, but Romeo ignores this and continues to think of love that way, Mercutio is unaware that Romeo is in love with Juliet now. Luhrmann’s version of the play shows this behaviour from Mercutio as well. In the film he dresses up in women’s clothes and acts very physically and imitates sex, especially at the Capulet household.
This ongoing feud between the Montagues and the Capulets has caused Romeo and Juliet to be open about their feelings with each other. They have to keep their love a secret or they may both be punished. They certainly cannot confide with anyone in their own household. Juliet decides to confide in her nurse and Romeo confides in Friar Lawrence. This shows that the two lovers do not even trust their own family with their love; they are forced to tell others they feel close to. Although the nurse also tends to reduce love to a physical act a she also sees the physical side of love when she says:
‘And yet I warrant it had upon it brow a bump as big as a young cock’rel’s stone, a perilous knock, and it cried bitterly.
She is referring to the sexual parts of the male body. However, the nurse does show love for Juliet, even more so than her parents do. The nurse is sympathetic to Juliet and her feelings. The Capulets arrange a marriage to the County Paris, and of course expect Juliet to marry him, no questions asked. This shows that they are more interested in the economics involves with the marriage, rather than if Juliet actually wants to get married, this shows a lack of love for Juliet; they do not even ask her, they tell her. They obviously do not know her as well as they thought. This obviously betrays Juliets trust for her parents and she feels she can only confide in the nurse with her love for Romeo. But arranged marriages were quite common in Shakespeare’s time, so the audience would understand this and may well side with Capulet in this. The nurses love comes from the nurse losing her own child and she now sees herself bringing up Juliet. She cares for Juliet far more than Lady Capulet (as she does not even know her daughters age). The nurse always takes into account Juliet’s feelings and tries to understand her, and she also helps out Romeo and Juliet by being a contact, between Romeo and Juliet. Capulet does have some parental love though as he says to Paris that maybe the marriage should be delayed until Juliet is older:
‘But saying o’er what I have said before: My child is yet a child in the world, she has not seen the change of fourteen years; let two more summers wither in their pride ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.’
He may have said this because he feels that she needs to be mature and marry when she is ready to. But later we find out that it was mainly so that when she is older she will be more attractive physically, and when he says ‘ripe to be a bride’, he is saying that we eat a fruit when it is older and looks, or in Juliet’s case when she is older and more attractive he will use her, to marry her. But then Capulet soon realises that the County Paris is rich and powerful and he would benefit economically from the wedding. He then disregards his previous idea and the wedding goes ahead. Later in the play we see Capulet’s true selfishness when Juliet refuses to marry Paris. He erupts into a rage, insults Juliet and says:
‘To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face.’
Even after Juliet then goes on her knees and begs her father is insulted even more and curse her, telling her if she doesn’t marry she should never look at him again:
‘I tell thee what: get thee to church a’Thursday, or never after look me in the face. Speak not, reply not, do not answer me! … But now I see this one is one too much, and that we have a curse in having her. Out on her, hilding!’
He insults her deeply and says that it was a mistake having her. Even after Juliet begs on her knees he is insulted even more and resorts to violence. He goes for Juliet but Lady Capulet steps in the way and Juliet is forced to hide behind her, almost for her life. It seems now that there is almost no love between Capulet and Juliet now, only hate; although Juliet may still see a little love for her Father. But we must consider that, in Shakespeare’s time, a degree of respect was demanded from children to their parents. But even this outburst from Capulet would have stunned most in the audience and turned them against him. He ultimately she if she does not change her mind she would be disowned. Also even Lady Capulet shows fear of her husband, she dares not defy him; we know that they had an arranged marriage when she was young, and perhaps proves that not even they love each other. But then Lady Capulet also abandons Juliet, saying:
‘Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word, do as you wilt, for I have done with thee.’
This would have probably crushed Juliet, as she now realises both parents have abandoned her, but maybe Lady Capulet said that out of fear of her husband. The nurse is left to care for Juliet now. The nurse shows signs of agreement with the Capulets, but although Juliet is shocked at this, the nurse shoes no signs of ever leaving her. We can see here that the nurse is almost a substitute parent to Juliet, as her parents do not seem to want to know her anymore. This may be the same with Romeo as well, as he chooses to confide in friar Lawrence, as opposed to his own family. But Romeo’s mother dies of a broken-heart after he is banished, so there is signs of love. Then because of this he decides to turn to friar Lawrence; so him and the nurse are seen as substitute parents fro Romeo and Juliet.
Another type of love in Romeo and Juliet is infatuation, particularly Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline. At the start of the play we think Romeo is truly in love with Rosaline, as he is happy he is in love, but also sad, as Rosaline does not even know him. He even comments on his happiness and sadness by saying
‘Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health.’
He is contradicting his love, it is making him sad and happy, he doesn’t know what to feel. He does not care about the street brawl, he acts miserable, and leads us to believe this is true love; but this soon becomes shallow.
‘Well, in that hit you miss: she’ll not be hit with cupid’s arrow, she hath Dian’s wit; and in strong proof of chastity well arm’d, From love’s weak childish bow she lives unarmed.’
Even he is saying his love is weak, and we understand that it is mre of a young man’s fancy, and a kind of sickness that would probably be cured if he followed Benvolio’s advice and ‘Examine other beauties.’ Also Shakespeare refers to the beliefs of the ancient world, of Cupid and Dian. This type of faith is not strong, and therefore neither is Romeo’s love for Rosaline.
The main type of love in this play is the love between Romeo and Juliet. This is greatly shown because of the loveless society of Verona. When they meet in Act 1 scene 5, their love is almost instantaneous, as it is shown by Romeo’s first words comment on Juliet’s physical attraction.
‘As rich as a jewel in an Ethiop’s ear: Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!’
He is saying that Juliet’s beauty is so great that it is too good for this world, and she is too precious, like a ‘jewel’. The first meeting between Romeo and Juliet also shows the holiness of their love. Romeo calls Juliet a ‘saint’ and refers to himself as a ‘pilgrim’. Also they both use the words ‘holy’ and saint in their speeches.
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows this, for saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers kiss.’
‘Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?’
‘Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.’
‘O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do: they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn despair.’
‘Saints do not move, though grant for prayer’s effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg’d.’ (they kiss)
Here they imitate a prayer by kissing, and Romeo is saying that by kissing him, and praying, she is purging him of his sins, and he then asks her again to purge him of his sins. The words that Romeo and Juliet both use, are of feeling ad passion. They refer to each other as ‘saint’ and ‘pilgrim’. This language is totally different of that which Romeo uses when talking about Rosaline. Then he talks about cupid and Dian, whereas now they mention ‘saints’ and ‘pilgrims’; this shows that their love has purity, and power. Their words are in the form of a sonnet, this makes them powerful and true. This is symbolic of Christian beliefs, as Christ himself sacrificed himself for Christian beliefs, as do Romeo and Juliet in the play.
The balcony scene is also important in the play. It shows both of the characters true colours. Romeo climbs up the balcony and speaks about Juliet:
‘It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.’
He is saying that she is his sun, he summons her, to purge him of the moon and almost brighten him up, just by him seeing her. Luhrmann portrays this scene well, he has Romeo climb up the ivy up to the balcony, where Juliet is on the other side of the window and she then speaks of her love for him and is unaware she is listening. She then appears and Romeo expresses his love for her. I think Luhrmann has clinched this well and has shown the importance of this scene. This would have been done differently on an Elizabethan stage as they would have used old props, but I still think it worked well with Luhrmann. Also Romeo says that He would give up his family name, to be with Juliet:
‘Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptis’d; henceforth I will never be Romeo.’
This is important as it says Romeo is willing to do anything for Juliet, he wants to sacrifice his whole family for one person. This is much different to his actions towards Rosaline as he failed to do anything about his ‘love’, before. But now he wants to do anything, for his new, true love. Juliet is the only thing he needs in his life.
The love is also physical and erotic, as shown when they first meet; they kiss almost straight after, showing their affections with each other. Romeo advances more on Juliet but they both show affection, but in act 2 scene 2 she wants to slow down a bit, she wants to slow down the physical side of their love, as well as the fact they are in a relationship so quick. Juliet is more aware of people finding out about them both, unlike Romeo who does not care who knows: ‘I have no joy of this contract tonight’. Juliet is saying they should take things more slowly. Also in act 3 scene 2 Juliet longs for Romeo and to have a physical affair with him.
‘That runaways’ eyes may wink, and Romeo leap to these arms, untalk’d of and unseen: lovers can see do their amorous rites by their own beauties, or if love be blind.’
She is saying she wants Romeo, and is more confident about being physically with Romeo; she wants to sleep with him. But the nurse soon shatters this by telling her of his banishment and Tybalts death.
Because there love is so strong for each other, this helps to lead to the tragedy; because of the society they live in. Verona is without true love and is filled with hate, out of this hate brews a love, which changes the society. Because society would not accept this love, Romeo and Juliet are forced to keep their love a secret, and can only confide in the few they trust, which inevitably leads to the tragedy; the death of them both. It is the pressures of the society that force Romeo and Juliet to conceal their love from public; this heightens the stakes in their love. However, neither of them back down and they both would do anything for their love to continue. Juliet is forced to take a poison from father Lawrence to make her appear dead, even from her own family. In the end, both of them sacrifice their lives for love, at the end of the play, Romeo gives Juliet one last kiss, almost to purge the sins of both families and end the feud; this again shows the purity in their love.
‘The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death! … Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.’
Here he expresses that with one last kiss he has rid the sins of both families and that they both be reunited; but at the cost of his life. Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead, she takes her own life to be with Romeo, even, in death they be together.
In Romeo and Juliet love is portrayed as holy and pure. This is illustrated many times throughout the play. Even when Romeo and Juliet first meet they refer to each other as ‘saints’ and ‘pilgrims’, and also in other parts of the play. They symbolise a prayer with a kiss, which shows the holiness of their love. This is very Christian, and relates to Christ himself, who sacrifices his life for beliefs, as Romeo and Juliet did with their beliefs about love, in Verona. Romeo and Juliet’s love in the loveless society has completely changed it, the hatred that once was the only thing people had talk about, has now been overcame with their love and restored Verona into a city with love. There were no motives behind Romeo and Juliet’s love at least as there were with the hatred between the two families, that had gone on for so long no one even knew where it started. The hatred only led to suffering. Love in this play also proves to be powerful, the saying ‘Love conquers all’ certainly applies here as the power of love conquered what seemed an endless hate. The sacrifice Romeo and Juliet made also seems religious and also shows the purity and holiness in their love. So the love between Romeo and Juliet was enough to purge the sins of the Capulets and the Montague’s and the people of Verona; love certainly conquers all.
