Views of love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a play about love and hate. During the course of the play Shakespeare conveys his views on different types of love portrayed by each of the different characters throughout the play. The types of love that Shakespeare explores are true love, fashionable love, practical love, bawdy love, unromantic love and moderate love. In this essay I am going to explain these different views of love that the characters have.
At the beginning of the play Romeo loves a woman named Rosaline. The love that Romeo feels for her is full of lust and longing. It seems as though Romeo is using Rosaline as an object of affection to satisfy his own longing for love. Romeo's interpretation of love is 'fashionable love'. Through this fashionable love Romeo has made himself believe that he is in true love with Rosaline and therefore lusts and longs for her. Romeo constantly talks about Rosaline being 'rich in beauty', 'fair', and being 'the all seeing sun' and says that that she 'ne'er saw her match since first the world began'(Act 1 scene 1 line 14) and refuses to believe that there is anybody 'fairer than [his] love'(Act 1 scene 2 line 94). Romeo's view of love is very shallow and lacks emotion. Romeo is in a confused state in act 1 scene 1 as he has been rejected by Rosaline 'out of her favor when I am in love', even though he has tried all of the conventional approaches to woo her. Shakespeare conveys Romeo's bewilderment and frustration to the reader by using oxymorons such as 'o brawling love, o loving hate', 'o heavy lightness', 'feather of lead', 'Mis-shapen chaos of well seeing forms' (Act 1 scene1 lines 176-9). It is ironic that Romeo complains about the harshness of love even though he is so eager to be in love. For example, Benvolio says that love is 'tyrannous' and 'rough in proof' and Romeo then says 'alas that love' in agreement. As Romeo wallows in his own self pity 'out of her favour when I am in love', neither Benvolio or Mercutio seem to take any notice of Romeo's complaints. This gives us the notion that it is usual for Romeo to go through these phases and that he is not really in love. This paragraph shows that Romeo's view of love is not very emotional. It gives the impression that Romeo believes that love is just a means of showing off, hence the idea of fashionable love.
Romeo is a petrarchian lover towards Rosaline. He loves Rosaline and believes that he lives only for her. Romeo uses conceits to show and describe his love. For example he calls Rosaline 'the all seeing sun'. Shakespeare use hyperbole phrases to show that Romeo is exaggerating and trying to dramatize the situation. Shakespeare often writes Romeo's line in verse to convey a similar feeling. Romeo believes that his love for Rosaline is like a religion and that anybody who does not believe that is a heretic; "When the devout religion of mine eye maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires and these who often drowned could never die, transparent heretics, be burnt for liars. (Act 1 scene 2 lines 90-3). By saying this Romeo is trying to emphasize his love for Rosaline and show how much it means to him. As well as using conceits, Romeo's language is elaborate and Romeo tries to adopt a sophisticated tone;
"For beauty starved with her severity, cuts beauty off from all posterity" (Act 1 scene 1 lines 218-9). Overall, the fact that Romeo acts like a petrarchian lover shows that he is eager to be in 'fashionable love'. We can make this assumption as it was fashionable in Shakespeare's time to use the kind of petrarchian language that Romeo uses.
Romeo's love for Juliet is very strong and intense, unlike his lust for Rosaline. When Romeo first sees Juliet he admits that his love for Rosaline was not true. "For did my heart love till now? ...
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"For beauty starved with her severity, cuts beauty off from all posterity" (Act 1 scene 1 lines 218-9). Overall, the fact that Romeo acts like a petrarchian lover shows that he is eager to be in 'fashionable love'. We can make this assumption as it was fashionable in Shakespeare's time to use the kind of petrarchian language that Romeo uses.
Romeo's love for Juliet is very strong and intense, unlike his lust for Rosaline. When Romeo first sees Juliet he admits that his love for Rosaline was not true. "For did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight, for I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 52-3). This shows how much love Romeo feels for Juliet, as he is able to completely forget Rosaline even though he had pined away for her for such a long time.
The quote indicates that the love between Romeo and Juliet is love at first sight. When Romeo and Juliet first meet the text is written in sonnet. This helps us see the bond that is created between them at this meeting. First Romeo speaks in Act 1 scene 5 lines 92-5. "If I profane with my unworthiness hand... /My two lips blushing pilgrims ready stand," Juliet then carries on speaking in sonnet from in Act 1 Scene 5 lines 96-9. "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much... /for saints have hands that pilgrims hands do touch," Romeo refers to Juliet as though she is a 'holy shrine' and that he is a 'pilgrim' and therefore he is drawn to her. The use of these religious terms gives the impression that Romeo worships Juliet. Romeo compliments Juliet a great deal during the ball, he describes her as being a 'snowy dove' and all the other girls being 'crows'. He is trying to say that she stands out from all the other people there. This yet again shows that he is immediately drawn to her. Romeo's language becomes more poetic after he meets Juliet. 'O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright,/ It seems she hangs upon the cheek of the night'.(Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 45-6). Shakespeare uses images of light and dark to show Romeo's feelings 'arise fair sun and kill the envious moon' (Act 2 Scene 2 line 4) The sun represents Juliet and the moon represents Juliet. Romeo continues to speak in verse from Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 45-52. When Romeo says this he does not realize that he is being poetic just as he does realizes that he has fallen into true love. This shows that Romeo's love for Juliet is true as he does not try to force himself to love her or use poetic language.
A tenderness creeps into Romeo after he meets Juliet and he loses some of his self- conceitedness. An example of this is when Juliet tells him that the guards will find him and he says 'life were better ended by their hate,/ Than death prorogued'(Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 77-8). He is trying to say that he would rather have her love and die on the spot rather than live without her love. This shows that Juliet is more important to him than his own life. Another example is that Romeo tries to avoid having a fight with Tybalt ' Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage'(Act 3 Scene1 Line 88). This reflects how strong Romeo's love for Juliet is as it is Romeo's 'instinct' to give rise to conflict with the Capulets but he rebukes it. Romeo becomes a lot more positive after he meets Juliet as he spends less time moaning and wallowing in self pity. It seems as though Juliet gives Romeo the will to live, this is ironic because she is a Capulet. An example of this is that he calls Juliet the 'peace' within his breast (Act 2 Scene 2 line 188).In conclusion we can see that Romeo's love for Juliet is love at first sight. This can be shown by Romeo's change in language and actions.
Juliet's love is strong and practical. The practicality of Juliet's love is apparent from the beginning of the play. In the balcony scene, Act 2 Scene 2, Juliet cannot stop worrying about the guards finding Romeo even though he constantly tells her that he will be safe. 'I would not for the world they saw thee here' (Act 2 Scene 2 line 74). Another example of Juliet's practicality is that Juliet is the one that brings up the idea of marriage. 'thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow'(Act 2 Scene 2 Line 143). The language that Juliet uses contrasts strongly with the language of Romeo. Juliet's language is very basic, concise and almost crude in comparison with Romeo's which is full of description and poetic inference. For example when Romeo and Juliet are exchanging vows of love Juliet simply says 'my bounty is as boundless as the sea' whereas Romeo says that his love is 'too flattering-sweet to be substantial'. Juliet is not at all interested in fashionable love and tells Romeo that she does not like his 'fashionable' style of speaking ' conceit, more rich in matter than in words brags of his substance, not of ornament'. From these examples we can see that Juliet is very practical and always thinks of the future and reactions of her choices.
The depth of Juliet's love is shown by the fact that though she does not have a deceptive character and she is well brought up she willingly deceives her parents about her marriage to Romeo and seems not to be perturbed about the feud between her and Romeo's families. The faithfulness of Juliet is shown when Capulet attempts to persuade her to marry Paris and the Nurse agrees with him, she shuns her Nurse and calls her a 'most wicked fiend' for the 'dispraise' (Act 3 Scene 5 line 234) of Romeo. Another example of Juliet's faithfulness is when she says that she wants to live an 'unstained life' to her 'sweet love'(Act 4 Scene 1 line 89). These points show that Juliet is very faithful to and deeply in love with Romeo.
The Capulets have a very unromantic view of love. The relationship between Capulet and Lady Capulet is very weak and there are signs that Capulet may not have been completely faithful to Lady Capulet as she says 'ay you have been a house hunt in your time , but I will watch you from sun watching now' (Act 4 Scene 4 line 11-2). As well as this we can see that Lady Capulet may have married Capulet for social status and wealth as it seems as though Capulet is older than Lady Capulet. Possibly Lady Capulet wants Juliet to do the same . An example of this is when Lady Capulet, Juliet and the Nurse are talking about Paris. 'so you shall share all that he doth possess,/ By having him, making yourself no less'(Act 1 scene 3 lines 93-4).
At first Capulet shows great affection towards Juliet. He tells Paris to woo her and tells him that she would be the one to make her decision on the marriage . 'and she agreed, within scope of her choice'(Act 1 Scene 2 line 18). This shows that Capulet has strong parental love for his daughter, and later on, because of this Capulet feels inclined to control Juliet's future. He believes that in Act 3 Scene 4 it is his duty to betroth Juliet to Paris to rid her of her unhappiness. 'I think that she will be ruled in all respects by me; nay more, I doubt it not. Capulet becomes enraged because he is frustrated and disappointed at Juliet's lack of gratitude. 'doth she not give us thanks?' (Act 3 Scene 5 line 142). After that Capulet becomes cruel and dismissive. These feelings are born of frustration because Juliet shunned plans which he had arranged to make her happy. Capulet insults Juliet out of anger. 'tallow face' (Act 3 Scene 5 line 157), disobedient wretch Act 3 Scene 5 line 160. In conclusion we can see that Capulets have a very unromantic view of love. Lady Capulet shows little love at all and seems to marry for personal gain and social status i.e. material love whereas Capulet shows parental love towards Juliet but it is withdrawn by Capulet when Juliet rebukes him.
The Nurse has a very bawdy view of love. This means that she sees love as being sexual. The Nurse is a strong contrast to the love of Romeo and Juliet. The love between Romeo and Juliet is very emotional whereas the Nurse's view of love is very crude and sexual. The Nurse only takes people at face value and does not take their emotions into account. An example of this is when Capulet instructs Juliet to marry Paris and the Nurse says 'I think it best that you be married with the County..., Romeos a dishclout to him..., I think you are happy in this second match'(Act 3 Scene5 Lines 218-223).
The Nurse also cracks bawdy jokes about Juliet's relationships and sexuality 'thou wilt fall backward when though hast more wit' (Act 1 Scene 3 line 42), 'you will bear the burden soon at night'. The Nurse enjoys teasing Juliet. This is shown when Juliet is waiting to find out about her wedding day. 'Jesu, what haste! Can you not stay awhile? Do you not see that I am out of breath?'(Act 2 Scene 5 Lines 29-30). The Nurse is not afraid to be blunt with her views in comparison to Romeo who uses elaborate poetic verses to explain his views. As well as this the Nurse has a very physical perception of love and appears to be very image orientated, she always comments on the features of Romeo and Paris. For example 'though his face is better than any mans yet, his leg excels all men's; and for a hand' (Act 2 Scene 5 Line 40-12). From this we can see that the Nurse is very upfront about her opinions and has a very bawdy view of love.
Mercutio, like the Nurse has a very bawdy view of love and makes sexually orientated jokes. Mercutio is a character which is very cynical, jesting and entertaining. He sees love sordid, dirty and impure. Mercutio is very cynical about love and tells Romeo that he would 'sink in I, should you burden love' (Act 1Scene 4 line 24). Here Mercutio is trying to say that either Romeo will sink more and more into love or that he will literally 'sink' into the woman and become a burden to her. Mercutio tries to tell Romeo that his love sickness is caused by a lack of sex. 'prick love for pricking, and you beat love down'(Act 1 Scene 4 line 28). We can see from Mercutio's advice that he believes in a sexual view of love. As well as this we can see that Mercutio teases Romeo about being a petracian lover, similar to how the Nurse teases Juliet. 'now is he for the numbers that Petrach flowed in". This brings to our attention Mercutio's cynical view of any sort of love. Mercutio scorns women because he believe love is based on sex and laughable. This is shown when he calls the Nurse 'an old hare hoar' (Act 2 Scene 4 line 134).
The Friar has a moderate view of love. He seems to see love more like a responsibility. An example of this is when Romeo tries to kill himself in the Friar's cell. The Friar tells Romeo that if he kills himself he would have violated his vow to cherish her because if he dies then she would kill herself to. 'thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury, Killing that vow that thou hast vowed to cherish' (act 3 scene 3 line 128-9). The Friar tries to tell Romeo to love 'moderately' (Act 2 Scene 6 line 11) to ensure that his love lasts for longer. This gives the impression that he believes that he sees love as something which is not eternal and therefore can be used up. The Friar has been led to believe that young men fall in physical love rather than emotional love. 'Young men's love then lies,/ Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes' (Act 2 Scene 3 Lines 67-8). This shows that the Friar has a view of love built up by his view of love from other people as he has sworn his life to the church. The Friar tells Romeo not to rush into love and marriage. An example of this is when he says 'wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast'(Act 2 Scene 3 line 94), when he is talking to Romeo. The Friar strikes a balance with Romeo's impetuous nature.
In conclusion we can see that the characters each have their own view of love based on their own personal circumstances. And Shakespeare attempts to show his views through all of them. The point that Shakespeare tries to make is that love cannot survive in a place full of hatred no matter what type of love it is. Shakespeare is probably commenting on the types of love that were circulating in his own time and those that he had experienced. It shows us that Shakespeare is skeptical of love but he believes that he it is eternal. As well as this Shakespeare may be trying to send out the message that if love is rushed then it will not work.
Romeo And Juliet
Amar Amin
