When he is in love with Juliet, he cannot stop thinking about her, yet after seeing another woman for another night, he has completely forgotten about Rosaline
“With Rosaline…I have forgot that name, and that name's woe.”
The manner in which Romeo acts when he is infatuated with Rosaline, is completely different to how he acts when he is in love with Juliet. Romeo even admits that he has never felt true love, it is only when he sees Juliet that her realises the difference between pretending he is in love, and really feeling love. “Did my heart love till now?” This is used to show how Romeo questions the fact that he was in love with Rosaline, yet with Juliet he automatically knows he is in love – he does not need to pretend. Both Romeo and Juliet know they are in love as soon as they see each other (as discussed above). Romeo no longer talks in forced clichéd sonnets, but flowing sonnets, which are inspired by his true feelings for Juliet – not what previous poets have written about their feelings.
He does not bribe Juliet for her love or for sex, he speaks using religious terms, and shows Juliet great respect.
“If I profane with my unworthiest hand. This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this”
His love has matured over the course of a few days within the play form the shallow desire to be in love he experienced with Rosaline, to a profound and intense passion for Juliet. The fact that these hugely differing views of love from Romeo are in scenes set side by side makes the contrasting views of love even more obvious. Shakespeare sets the very different views of love together in order to show how much they conflict.
Juliet is no longer like a child either. Although she is truly in love, she knows what to say to Romeo, and is able to see and criticize Romeo’s rash decisions and his tendency to romanticize things. For example in the balcony scene, she tells him not to swear his love by anything, but just to promise that he loves her just by being himself. She is indeed in love, but she is not completely overpowered by it.
Romeo: I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; And but thou love me, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
Juliet: By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Romeo is completely blinded by love, and is declaring he does not care if he is killed, as he is in love. However Juliet is worried about them finding him, and questions how he found her. Shakespeare uses this to show how Juliet has matured – how much she has grown up in one night, and to show that she is in love, yet in control. Romeo’s deep love however is only a part of his intense feelings for everything – he seems to lack the ability to have emotions in moderation – whether it be love or hate. His love is very extreme, and very rash. The extreme feelings that he experiences dominate the character throughout the play and contributes to the tragedy of the play. Had Romeo stopped himself from killing Tybalt, or waited even one day before killing himself after hearing the news of Juliet’s death, the play may have ended happily. However, if Romeo did not have the deepness of emotion he had, the love he shared with Juliet would never have existed in the first place. This is the reason for Shakespeare’s choice of character for Romeo, as we can begin to understand where it all went wrong. Also, by having these strong emotions, it shows that Shakespeare was not interested portraying a nice, dainty version of love, the kind that bad poets write about, and whose bad poetry Romeo reads while pining for Rosaline, but an intense love.
Juliet shows her view of love as it being so strong that there is no metaphor to describe it.
“But my true love is grown to such excess…I cannot sum up some of half my wealth”
This sums up her view in that love is too powerful to be contained, summarised, or compared to anything on earth.
She also shows her intensity in love – and view of how love is to her – by wishing to deny her name; she no longer wants to be a Capulet if it means she cannot be with Romeo.
“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 her view of love – that nothing else matters if she can be with Romeo. She is willing to disown her family, her background and her name so that they can be together. However this could be seen as a childish attachment, as without her family, Juliet would have nothing. In a world where fathers make decisions daughters have no say in what they want – and if she disowned her family she would be homeless. Therefore I believe she is not thinking through the consequences and is just acting upon rash feelings.
The two views of love from Romeo and Juliet stay in contrast right to the end of the play. Romeo does not wait to find out what happened to Juliet – but rushed and committed suicide with the potion. However this is not from being fickle – it is of true love. His view is that his love for Juliet is too strong to allow him to live without her. The same applies to Juliet. When she is the tomb, she does not kill herself out of feminine weakness, but out of an intensity of love, just as Romeo did. She is no longer innocent and naïve, she knows that there is no other option for her; she cannot marry Paris when she is so in love with Romeo. Shakespeare creates these emotions so that love is not a simple thing. The two lovers are going against every tradition in Verona as they are from enemy households, however their view of love is not understood by anyone else, and so they result in suicide.
A completely different view of love comes from Lady Capulet. From very early on in the play (Act 1, Scene 3) it is revealed to us that she is not interested in Juliet falling in love, but getting married and receiving all the benefits of her husband’s money.
Lady Capulet: So shall you share all that he doth possess
This shows how by getting married – Juliet will share the wealth of her husband.
Shakespeare then moves on to Lady Capulet speaking about a certain man, and how Juliet would be perfect for him. Shakespeare does this to show that Lady Capulet has been thinking about her daughter being married, and who would be suitable.
Lady Capulet: This precious book of love, this unbound lover, To beautify him, only lacks a
cover: The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride. For fair without the fair
within to hide: That book in many's eyes doth share the glory
In this dialogue, Shakespeare has Lady Capulet comparing Juliet to the cover of a book – the book being Paris. This is a very strange comparison to make, however Shakespeare uses it in order to make Lady Capulet’s views of love to simply be marriage – not love at all. Juliet will be the woman to complete him, as it is the aim in a man’s life to have the money and power, but also to be married. By using the phrase “to beautify him”, Shakespeare is making it Lady Capulet’s viewpoint that Juliet will just be the woman by his side – the one who looks beautiful.
In the first place it was Lord Capulet’s idea that Juliet should marry Paris. Although Lady Capulet believes he would be suitable as well, she is keen to follow her husband. By making Lady Capulet like this – eager to stay on the right side of her husband because she has nothing without him – Shakespeare sets the background for why Lady Capulet would think of Juliet as just being the “beautiful wife” for Paris.
In the last line of the above quote – “that book in many's eyes doth share the glory” – another view of love from Lady Capulet is shown – or more specifically the fact that you do not have to be in love with the person – but just like their looks. By marrying a man who lots of other women like, people will be jealous of the fact that Juliet has a good looking man, who is also wealthy. Shakespeare does this to increase the feeling that Lady Capulet is only interested in the marriage aspect of “love”, so that Juliet have something (Paris) that other women want, meaning Juliet becomes the woman on the arm of a sought after man.
In the same scene, the nurse’s view of love shown. Her view of love is earthy and ribald, and she is interested in Juliet being happy, not marriage for money. This provides a contrast with Lady Capulet, whose view is completely the opposite. By putting these views side by side in the same scene, there is a sharp focus on the contrasting views of love of people around Juliet.
The fact that Lady Capulet only wants money as compared to the nurse just wanting happiness is shown in this scene clearly.
“That in gold clasps locks in the golden story; so shall you share all that he doth possess. By having him, making yourself no less”
In saying this it shows that Lady Capulet’s view of love is not only to do with marriage – but marrying for money. Shakespeare’s use of the word “gold” in describing the book (Paris) shows that Lady Capulet has chosen Paris as a suitable bachelor for Juliet because of the money he has. By then saying that when they are married everything will be shared, shows her motives for marriage.
Whereas the nurse says “Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.” Which shows that the nurse is only interested in Juliet being happy. By putting these different comments of the nurse and Lady Capulet so close together, it is very easy to see the complications that could arise because of the very differing views of love from the nurse who has acted as Juliet’s mother for her whole life, and from her real mother – Lady Capulet.
The Friar has another different view of love. However many of his quotes about love, and more specifically the speed at which people can fall in love, are very true to the ending of Romeo and Juliet. For example in Act 2 Scene 6 he says: “These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder”
Shakespeare uses the friar as a man who does not know how the ending will be – as he agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet thinking it will bring the houses together – but who brings omens. The friar is cynical of how love can take over people so quickly, and how it will all end in tragedy. The majority of the audience are aware of how the play ends, and so the friar’s words are clear to the audience as an omen. The friar’s words are more than just a difference of opinion with Romeo; they reinforce the presence and power of fate, and possibly the power in religion – that the friar knows something.
It is still unclear to the characters that the friar’s words relate to Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare does this for dramatic irony, to give clues to the audience that perhaps the friar knows something about how Romeo and Juliet will end, or just perhaps he has had a premonition – or maybe the friar just believes this about all people in the lovers’ case, however the audience are aware that the play ends with the lovers’ death. Therefore, by using the friars words
A theme running through the play is people giving advice about things they are not aware of – mainly about love. For example Mercutio makes jokes about Romeo being in love and that he should get over it, as all he wants a woman for is sex. In the case of the friar, he advises Romeo and Juliet to “love moderately”. The friar has never been in love because of his job, and only loves God. This prompts his comment about loving moderately. Shakespeare uses this to create a sense of interest, and difference. All the other characters in the play live rashly, whether it be making quick decisions about love, or about hate. The friar’s belief that people should live their lives in moderation is completely different to all this, and shows a divide in society. As before, the comment to love moderately may be seen as another omen in the play. It is used to make the audience think that maybe if they lovers’ had listened to the friar, and not been willing to go to such extremes as to die for each other, they would have survived. The friar only gives his words as advice, but again Shakespeare has used it to make the friar appear as if he knows what will happen to Romeo and Juliet because of their strong love.
The friar once more shows his pessimistic view of love (that it is not true) in Act 2, Scene 3. It shows his thoughts that love to men is not really love, but just sexual attraction.
“Young men's love then lies; not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes”
By saying this, it gives the friar the seeming ability to know what men in love are like. Shakespeare uses the friar as a man who tells the truth and tells things they way they are – that men are not truly in love, but only like women for the way that they look. On the other hand, he talks about something he does not known about (love), and so causes a conflict with the audience of whether to trust what he says and like him, or to think he is just a cynical man who does not believe in love. Similarly to Lady Capulet’s view, that love is only really about the looks of the other person, and their status, the friar comments on the fact that love with people as young as Romeo and Juliet is not true.
Shakespeare uses this view of love to show how little the two figures (Friar and Lady Capulet) know about the love between Romeo and Juliet. The way they take such risks to be with each other, even after the consummation of the marriage – which would satisfy lust, shows that it is not just sexual attraction.
The Nurse again shows a completely different view of love to each of the other characters. The first the audience sees of her view is in the scene with Lady Capulet near the beginning of the play (Act 1, Scene 3). The nurse reveals that she will be happy when Juliet is married
“An’ I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish”
However, the way Shakespeare uses this quote is in a different way to Lady Capulet. Although they both want they same thing for Juliet – marriage – the Nurse is willing to wait for Juliet to find the man she loves, and marry him. Although she has no authority to choose which man Juliet marries, it is well within her rights to suggest and persuade Juliet to marry a certain man. Nevertheless, the way Shakespeare has written the first line to say that the Nurse hopes she is alive when Juliet is married, creates an air of less urgency compared to Lady Capulet. The words also portray that the Nurse knows Juliet will be married when she is ready.
On the other hand the nurse sees love as being related to sex. She provides a contrast with Juliet, given that her view of love is sexual, and very true, whereas Juliet is idealistic and intense.
In Act 2, Scene 4, another view is shown by the Nurse when she is talking to Romeo about Juliet’s response to his marriage proposal.
“But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour”
The quote is used to show not only the Nurse’s deep love for Juliet – in that she cares very much about her happiness – but also that she perhaps does not trust men. This is because she seems to know what men are capable of, that they are capable of hurting women and breaking their hearts. Not only does she show concern for what Romeo may do to Juliet if he is not truly in love, but also expressing a view that love is a dangerous thing, and if it is just a game to Romeo – there will be trouble. Shakespeare uses this to reinforce the Nurse’s role as being honest. Verona was a masculine dominated place, and women had no say in how they felt or what men did, therefore the Nurse shows her concern, and knowledge of men. Her view is that women have to be very careful when they are in love, as the man may not feel the same.
It is perhaps true to say as well, that the nurse does not understand how important Romeo and love is to Juliet as she often teases Juliet about the fact that she is wrong for choosing Romeo.
“I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man; but, I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world.”
By using this, it supports the view that the Nurse cannot comprehend the deepness of the love that Juliet feels, as she teases Juliet about not being able to choose a suitable man – that she has chosen an enemy rather than a rich prince (Paris).
The final differing view of love comes from the Montague kinsmen – more specifically Mercutio, Benvolio and their friends. The beginning of the play shows how one of the kinsmen is different from all the others. When Benvolio is talking to Romeo about why he is so depressed, Benvolio seems concerned. When Romeo says he will leave, Benvolio offers to go along with him.
“Soft! I will go along; An if you leave me so, you do me wrong”
Shakespeare has used Benvolio as the sensible one – who believes in love and does not make fun of Romeo for feeling love.
However he is the only member of the Montague kinsmen to have this view – that love can be pure. In Act 1, scene 4, Mercutio is attempting to console Romeo for his unrequited love of Rosaline, however it is clear to Romeo that he does not understand love.
Mercutio: And, to sink in it, should you burden love; Too great oppression for a tender thing.
Romeo: Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
Mercutio mocks Romeo for being in love and letting it take over his life. Shakespeare uses this as a device to show the differences between the lovers, and the people who on look Romeo and Juliet – who do not understand their love.
The main scene to show “the boys’” view of love is Act 2, Scene 1. In this scene Mercutio makes fun of Romeo, and imagines he is going into the orchard to have sex with Rosaline, but in fact he is going to simply see Juliet – to see if he can catch a glimpse of her, or talk to her again. Mercutio shows his view of love of not being love at all – but being simply about sex.
“By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh and the demesnes that there adjacent lie.”
He does not summon Romeo by his name, but by Rosaline’s femininity. He makes Romeo’s feelings all about wanting to sleep with a woman. Throughout the whole of the scene, Mercutio makes references to what Romeo might be doing with Rosaline – however Shakespeare uses this as dramatic irony. The audience knows exactly where Romeo is, and who he wishes to find, it is Mercutio who is so wrong.
Perhaps more offensively, Mercutio makes a comment about Romeo’s love being like that of a king and beggar-maid – forbidden, and wrong.
“Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim, When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid!”
This is used to show that even Romeo’s best friend thinks that being with one of the enemy is wrong, and by using the comment in a joke, Shakespeare makes it sound almost nasty – that Mercutio finds it funny that his love is so wrong.
When Romeo hears what they are saying, he comments “He jests at scars that never felt a wound.” Romeo feels that Mercutio is commenting on something he knows nothing about, and so why should he have the right to speak.
What makes the differing views of love stand out more, is the fact that they are all side-by-side. For example, straight after the scene with Mercutio making sexual jokes, Romeo and Juliet meet in the orchard, and declare their true love for each other, and express their true, pure views of love. By doing this Shakespeare makes the divide between the people who truly know what they are feeling, and the cynical characters who do not understand, or do not believe the love Romeo and Juliet feel.
The same happens the scene after Romeo and Juliet in the balcony scene, with the friar. Shakespeare puts the lovers’ declarations of love right next to the friar’s cynical comments about men only loving what they can see with their eyes. This again shows the different views of love even more clearly. It provides more contrast of what people think, and it also shows the audience how hard it is for Romeo and Juliet to be together, when people have such differing views of how they apparently feel for each other – even though they know nothing about their love.
The same theme of differing views of love occurs throughout all the scenes I have covered. It occurs earlier on in the play when Lady Capulet has suggested the idea of marriage to Juliet, as straight after Mercutio is trying to persuade Romeo to come to the feast as he is refusing out of his sorrow, as Rosaline does not return his love.
Therefore, out of all the scenes and characters I have covered, I can conclude that they all have different, conflicting views of love, which are highlighted by putting each of the contrasting views next to each other, scene after scene. Not only does Shakespeare show the conflict of the two households by surrounding the different views of love by violence or death, but Shakespeare puts each of the conflicting images of what love is next to each other. This is effective, as the audience can see how Romeo and Juliet feel about each other, but by surrounding all their love for each other by people who have doubting or purely sexual views of love, it makes the audience feel resentful that people do not understand Romeo and Juliet’s love. No one but the young teenagers understands what each other feels, and the trueness of their feelings, and so the story can only end in tragedy.
Michelle Bailey 11N
