Kinds of Love in Romeo And Juliet Essay

Romeo and Juliet is often prompted as a romantic love story between two teenagers. To what extent would it be more accurate to say that Shakespeare explores many kinds of love between people?

Romeo and Juliet is known as one of the greatest love stories of all time, the love shared by Romeo and Juliet is not the only love explored throughout the play.

One kind of love becomes evident when Mercutio lays down his life in order to prevent Romeo from dying. This form of bravery demonstrates the strength of Romeo and Mercutios love and friendship. Following the death of Mercutio, Romeo decides to avenge the death of his friend and pursues his killer.

One form of love demonstrated in the play is Although Mercutio jokes about

The love that the nurse feels for Juliet is that of a mentor. Through reading the book the impression is gained that the nurse looks upon Juliet as her own daughter. The nurse is willing to joke around with Juliet, this

Romeo and Juliet has become forever associated with love. The play has become an iconic story of love and passion, and the name Romeo is still used to describe young lovers.

Shakespeares treatment of love in the play is complex and multifaceted. He uses love in its many guises to thread together the key relationships in the play.

Fickle Love

Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play, which is presented as an immature infatuation. Today, we might use the term puppy love to describe this. Romeos love for Rosaline is shallow and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence:

Romeo. Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline.

Friar Laurence. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.

Similarly, Paris love for Juliet is borne out of tradition, not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage. Although this was the tradition at the time, it also says something about Paris staid attitude towards love. He even admits to Friar Laurence that in his haste to rush the wedding through he hasnt discussed it with his bride-to-be:

Friar Laurence. On Thursday, sir? the time is very short.

Paris. My father Capulet will have it so;

And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.

Friar Laurence. You say you do not know the lady's mind:

Uneven is the course, I like it not.

Paris. Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death,

And therefore have I little talked of love;

Romantic Love