Romeo and Juliet Romantic Love Essay

Submitted to: Ms. Saplys
Submitted by: Joey McGuire
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
The play of “Romeo and Juliet” is truly a tragedy that is based by the romantic love these two characters share and how this acts as the compass for all the other events that. Firstly, once Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time their moods completely change surrounding their hatred of each other’s families. Next, when Romeo and Juliet become split up because of the expulsion of Romeo from Verona, they still remain loyal to one another and vow to be able to live together. Finally, after noticing being together would be hard, their feelings change, and they develop a sense of willingness to die for each other so they could be together. Throughout the play, “Romeo and Juliet”, the love that exists between them is romantic exemplified in their permanent mood change, their constant loyalty, and their willingness to die for one another. Near the beginning of this play Romeo is infatuated with Rosaline, which eventually changes when Mercutio convinces Romeo to go to the Capulet party that they were invited to, so Romeo could meet another woman. Once at the party, Romeo notices Juliet for the first time and they become instantly in love. Juliet figures out that Romeo is a Montague, while Romeo finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. They both put this hatred aside that exists between the two families, and experience permanent mood changes. The hatred that is supposed to exist between these families is overcome by their love when they meet, especially when Juliet says; “My only love sprung from my only hate!/ Too early seen unknown, and known too late!/ Prodigious birth of love it is to me/ That I must love a loathed enemy.” (Shakespeare 1.5, 61). When Juliet says this she is upset how she loves one person that she is supposed to hate. This refers to Juliet liking Romeo, but no supposed to since he is a Montague. This is the first indication of romantic love between Romeo and Juliet and their permanent mood change that is going to occur. Furthermore, not only do they expect to not hate one another’s family, but they start to support each other’s family. Romeo and Juliet no longer want the feud between the Montague and Capulet families to exist anymore, represented when Romeo says; “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee/ Doth much excuse the appertaining rage/ To such a greeting. Villain I am none/ Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.” (Shakespeare 3.1, 119). By saying this, Romeo is expressing that even though he does not like Tybalt he is not going to fight him just because he is part of the Capulet family. This relates back to the mood change Romeo has undergone, in supporting the Capulet family and wanting the fighting between the families to stop. Overall, after Romeo and Juliet meet they undergo permanent mood changes portrayed in their feeling about one another’s family, which would not occur if they were infatuated. As soon as Romeo and Juliet meet they continue to be loyal towards one another for the rest of the play, including not meeting anyone new when they are separated and trying to figure out ways to be together again. To start, even when Romeo and Juliet become separated they always convey their feelings to be together in any way possible, even if it includes taking extreme measure, such as killing yourself. They do not express their feelings to meet new people while they are not together, exemplified when Romeo says; “Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide!/ Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on/ The dashing rocks thy seasick bark!/ Here’s to my love. O true apothecary,/ Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (Shakespeare 5.3, 227). When Romeo says this, he is expressing his truly loyalty towards his wife, Juliet. He thinks Juliet has died and is willing to take his own life in order to be with her again. This portrays