Shakespeare - a Quest for Love

English-102
Synthesis Paper

“A Quest for Love”

Love controls our lives
Love fuels our passions and beholds our hearts
Love is pure
Love is driven
Love never judges
Love only listens to our desires as they course through our blood
As love works its spell of bewitchment upon us

Rather we read Bronte, Tolstoy, Austin, or Shakespeare, there is one common thread among our favorite classic writers, and that is the theme of love. Love has been written about for centuries and for most of us, rather you are a peasant or a queen, love is something that each of us seek. We want to be swept off our feet, by that proverbial “Knight in Shining Armor,” and ride off on his white Stallion into the setting sun, to live happily ever after. We seek love to fill our hearts, and enrich our lives: “Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.” (Shakespeare)

From the first meeting between Romeo and Juliet (2.2, 1-190) we find that them talking about love. (2.2, 35-36)
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Juliet is ready to go to him and be his wife. She is ready to give up her life, her heritage and her name. She shall do all these things, if he only swears his undying love for her. Much can be deduced from this simple statement, as is this not what we all want? If we think about love from a romantic standpoint, yes would be the answer to that question. However, romantic love is not necessarily the only or the most important type of love.

Another type of love that is just as strong as romantic love is the love of one’s family.
As You Like It, (1.3, 89-90)
Pronounce the sentence then on me, my liege.
I cannot live out of her company.

Celia clearly does not want to live without Rosalind. The love of family is clearly seen here. This type of love is the same undying unyielding type of love as romantic love can be, but we have a tendency to sometimes take family love for granted. Family love can be just as strong as romantic love, stronger perhaps as these relationships tend to last over the course of an entire lifetime.

Romeo and Juliet (5.3, 119-120)
Here’s to my love. O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. This with a kiss I die.

The story of Romeo and Juliet is tragic. It is tragic because before the love shared by these two began, we find their love ending in death. The death of two young souls is sad, but it proves the point that romantic love can overwhelm us and the responsibility of being in love is indeed a huge burden to bear: “Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known?” (Shakespeare) Even though my relationship did not end in death as theirs did, the relationship died nevertheless.

We see another example showing how diverse love can be between Adam and Orlando.
As You Like It (2.3, 70-71)
Master, go on, and I will follow thee
To the last gasp with truth and loyalty.

True, Adam is characterized as “servant to Oliver, and friend to Orlando,” but I feel there is an unusually strong bond between Adam and Orlando, one that I would expect to find in a father/son relationship. This could be classified as a “psychological” kind of love. Nay, he was not the biological father, but I believe he fulfilled the role of father none the less. Adam was ready to give his life to help Orlando, and that action is nothing more than a simple act of love.

As You Like It (2.7, 136-138)
Limped in pure love. Till he be first sufficed,
Oppressed with two weak evils, age and hunger,
I will not touch a bit.

Both men are tired and hungry, but Orlando is younger and stronger than Adam so he demands food from the Duke and his men. He realizes that if he cannot procure food, Adam will perish.
This simple yet poignant statement from Orlando, gives insight to how concerned he is with Adam’s well being. He will not eat until Adam eats and I believe the underlying message that Shakespeare wants us to gleam is quite simple: Orlando loves Adam.

We have witnessed many forms of love throughout our readings of William Shakespeare. Romeo drank poison to be with Juliet. Celia banished herself, to be with Rosalind. Adam will leave everything he has known for Orlando. Although there are many passages I could note here, I felt these were the most compelling in referencing the different kinds of love that Shakespeare wrote about. Shakespeare wrote so eloquently, and was such a renowned writer. Shakespeare wrote from his heart, and more importantly, he wrote from his soul. I believe that the only way he could write such heartfelt sentimental expressions of love are because he wrote what he felt. Love knows no boundaries, it has no limits, and love has the ability to overwhelm our thoughts and take over our feelings. Love can be elusive and maddening. It is the one thing we all desire to behold, and strive for. Shakespeare shared part of himself with us; he shared with us the gift of love.