True Love In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet
The tragic play of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is widely acknowledged as a profound example of true romance that all should grow up in admirance of. Many perceive this to be true, yet within this great romance, Romeo does not have true love for Juliet. He is infatuated with the idea of being in love. Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline, his rebound to Juliet in rejection, and just being overtly emotional all points to this conclusion.
When Romeo is first introduced in act one scene one, he is portrayed as a poetically love sick fool, who cares not about what brawl had just broken out, but how dreadfully in love he is. However, this love is not directed at Juliet but none other than fair Rosaline, of who Romeo says “The all seeing sun never saw her match since the world first begun” (act 1. scene 1. line 96). Upon meeting Juliet at Capulet’s party, to which he came only to see Rosaline, he suddenly supposedly falls heads over heels for her at first sight. Consequently the next morning, Romeo decides to marry Juliet, when it was only yesterday morning that he was groaning about being so terribly in love with another woman. Friar Laurence notes this to Romeo who had just burst into his cell, saying “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their …show more content…
hearts but in their eyes” (act 2, scene 3, line 68). This holds true, as Romeo knew not of Juliet’s personality but only of her appearance, yet claimed his everlasting devotion. To have the Friar, who knows the young man well, doubt Romeo’s love is a true indicator that Romeo’s supposed true love is baseless. While it can be argued that their true love eventually convinced the Friar to marry the two, it was rather that the Friar saw this engagement to be an end to the Montague and Capulet feud. The human heart is not so easily persuaded, as presumably it has been for Romeo.
Romeo saw Rosaline as a conquest, as revealed within his verbose monologue to his friends of how Rosaline “will not stay the siege of loving terms” (act 1. scene 1. line 207). He has also attempted to buy her out like a prostitute, saying how she would “nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold” and then try to play it off that he is not incredibly aroused but just wanted her beauty to be passed on to his children “that, when she dies, with her beauty dies her store” (act 1. scene 1. line209). The audience of the play is not told of how his supposed love for Rosaline began, but when they first caught eyes he likely felt the same as how he felt toward Juliet in their initial moments of interaction. Had Juliet refused Romeo, or sworn herself off of men as Rosaline had, likely this pure “love” he supposedly felt for her would soon turn to the angered lust as it had for Rosaline. Therefore, Juliet, or rather the idea of someone as beautiful as Rosaline to accept his advances, attracts him. He only seems to feel love for Juliet as a way to vent his love for Rosaline, and hopefully eventually get over her. It is a little surprising how he did not fall for Juliet’s nurse upon their first contact, based on Romeo’s track record, for if he had encountered any other lady during this time, he undoubtedly would have proclaimed himself utterly stuck in love.
The entire story of Romeo and Juliet falls within the timeline of five days., making this romance rather a little quick and unbelievably rushed.
Having been just recently put into the mind of marriage from her parents’ mention of Paris’ proposal and inexperienced in love at thirteen years of age, Juliet wants to rush into this love. Before Romeo can think over if his feelings are true, Juliet proposes that “if that bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,” (act 2. scene 2. line 150). Through his sudden flood of emotion that he has suddenly pushed from Rosaline unto Juliet, he agrees in glee, unthinking. Romeo is emotionable to the point where logic holds no bounds in his
actions.
Romeo loves the idea of love, not Juliet and nor Rosaline, for he is obsessing to be under the spell of love no matter who is is for. The false attraction toward Juliet that was pushed from Rosaline was only strengthened by Rosaline’s rejection and how emotionally influenced Romeo is as a person, leaving the only conclusion to be drawn that Romeo’s love for Juliet was not true.
When Romeo is first introduced in act one scene one, he is portrayed as a poetically love sick fool, who cares not about what brawl had just broken out, but how dreadfully in love he is. However, this love is not directed at Juliet but none other than fair Rosaline, of who Romeo says “The all seeing sun never saw her match since the world first begun” (act 1. scene 1. line 96). Upon meeting Juliet at Capulet’s party, to which he came only to see Rosaline, he suddenly supposedly falls heads over heels for her at first sight. Consequently the next morning, Romeo decides to marry Juliet, when it was only yesterday morning that he was groaning about being so terribly in love with another woman. Friar Laurence notes this to Romeo who had just burst into his cell, saying “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their …show more content…
hearts but in their eyes” (act 2, scene 3, line 68). This holds true, as Romeo knew not of Juliet’s personality but only of her appearance, yet claimed his everlasting devotion. To have the Friar, who knows the young man well, doubt Romeo’s love is a true indicator that Romeo’s supposed true love is baseless. While it can be argued that their true love eventually convinced the Friar to marry the two, it was rather that the Friar saw this engagement to be an end to the Montague and Capulet feud. The human heart is not so easily persuaded, as presumably it has been for Romeo.
Romeo saw Rosaline as a conquest, as revealed within his verbose monologue to his friends of how Rosaline “will not stay the siege of loving terms” (act 1. scene 1. line 207). He has also attempted to buy her out like a prostitute, saying how she would “nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold” and then try to play it off that he is not incredibly aroused but just wanted her beauty to be passed on to his children “that, when she dies, with her beauty dies her store” (act 1. scene 1. line209). The audience of the play is not told of how his supposed love for Rosaline began, but when they first caught eyes he likely felt the same as how he felt toward Juliet in their initial moments of interaction. Had Juliet refused Romeo, or sworn herself off of men as Rosaline had, likely this pure “love” he supposedly felt for her would soon turn to the angered lust as it had for Rosaline. Therefore, Juliet, or rather the idea of someone as beautiful as Rosaline to accept his advances, attracts him. He only seems to feel love for Juliet as a way to vent his love for Rosaline, and hopefully eventually get over her. It is a little surprising how he did not fall for Juliet’s nurse upon their first contact, based on Romeo’s track record, for if he had encountered any other lady during this time, he undoubtedly would have proclaimed himself utterly stuck in love.
The entire story of Romeo and Juliet falls within the timeline of five days., making this romance rather a little quick and unbelievably rushed.
Having been just recently put into the mind of marriage from her parents’ mention of Paris’ proposal and inexperienced in love at thirteen years of age, Juliet wants to rush into this love. Before Romeo can think over if his feelings are true, Juliet proposes that “if that bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,” (act 2. scene 2. line 150). Through his sudden flood of emotion that he has suddenly pushed from Rosaline unto Juliet, he agrees in glee, unthinking. Romeo is emotionable to the point where logic holds no bounds in his
actions.
Romeo loves the idea of love, not Juliet and nor Rosaline, for he is obsessing to be under the spell of love no matter who is is for. The false attraction toward Juliet that was pushed from Rosaline was only strengthened by Rosaline’s rejection and how emotionally influenced Romeo is as a person, leaving the only conclusion to be drawn that Romeo’s love for Juliet was not true.