How Did Romeo And Juliet Fall In Love

Two young lovers claim to have been brought together by love at first sight, or perhaps just infatuation. In William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers encounter each other at a party only to discover that their families are rivals, separated by a never ending feud. However, they refuse to give up on their love and impulsively decide to get married hours after they first meet, ultimately provoking more problems to arise and more people to get involved ending in the two lovers’ suicides. Their problematic relationship arose the question of whether or not their love was in fact real. Romeo and Juliet’s over exaggerated perspective on love ultimately causes the rushed development of their relationship to be
In Act 1 Scene 5, Romeo agrees to go to the Capulet’s party to get over Rosaline, a girl who had rejected him, he then lays eyes on Juliet for the first time and instantly falls in love, “Did my heart love till now? For swear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (1.5.59-60). Romeo is already known to have overwhelming emotions and being rejected by Rosaline only worsened his situation. He exclaims that Juliet is the most beautiful woman in the world, however, he thought the same of Rosaline, “To call hers, exquisite, in question more [...] What doth her beauty serve but as a note” (1.1.237-244). Romeo is heartbroken over Rosaline’s rejection, yet he gets over such a severe state of depression by laying his eyes on another beautiful woman and then claims he has fallen in love with her after knowing nothing, but her physical appearance. Once Romeo discovers that Juliet shares the same mutual physical attraction he is ecstatic, which propels him to make the extremely rushed decision of marriage, due to the fact that he is too afraid to lose another beautiful woman. Ultimately, revealing that physical attraction and lust is all that matters for Romeo in a romantic relationship. Friar Lawrence, a respectable holy figure, even expresses that he is
As these reasons do help build a foundation for a relationship, it was all Romeo focused on rather than getting to know Juliet’s true personality. Hours after Romeo first laid his eyes on Juliet, he breaks into the Capulet’s castle to instantly profess his love, or perhaps just his lust, for her after only knowing her physical appearance, “Her vestal livery is but sick and green, and none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!” (2.2.8-9). Romeo blatantly tells Juliet that she should pursue him only hours after meeting, demonstrating that their proclaimed love for one another shows signs of being driven solely by lust rather than love. They have had one conversation consisting only of the topic of losing their virginity and back and forth complementing each other on their looks, yet they are already convinced that they are meant to be together. During the same conversation on Juliet’s balcony, Romeo continues to only make comments about Juliet’s physical appearance, “As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, as is a wingèd messenger of heaven, unto the white, upturnèd, wondering eyes” (2.2.30-32). While physical attraction does play a role in relationships, it is the only feeling Romeo bases his love on rather than taking the time to get to know Juliet’s personality and who she truly is. All