"Two households, both alike in dignity... From forth the fatal loins of these two star-crossed lovers take their life."(Prologue Act 1) These lines are found in the beginning of William Shakespeare's famous play, Romeo and Juliet. This world-renowned tragedy is centered on the love between the characters Romeo and Juliet, as the lines above bring out. Although these two teenager's love is the focus of the story, many other views of love are expressed and presented by various characters. Three of these many views include Romeo's love for Rosaline, the Friar Lawrence's view of love, and most significantly, Romeo and Juliet's love for one another.
One other view of love presented in Romeo and Juliet is Romeo's love for Rosaline. This love is completely different and opposite from his love for Juliet. Near the beginning of the play, Romeo is revealed as a depressed and melancholy person. This is because of his love-sickness for Rosaline. More importantly, she does not love him back, which fuels his depressing mood. As Romeo describes himself as, "Out of her favor where I am in love." (Act 1, Scene 1, 159) There is a major difference shown between Romeo's love for Rosaline and his love for Juliet. When he is "in love" with Rosaline, Romeo is downhearted and in the dumps. But, when he sees Juliet, it is a whole different story. He suddenly experiences uplift from before. Also, when Romeo and Benvolio are talking, Romeo himself says, "Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feels I, which