Romeo And Juliet Research Paper

Different Kinds of Love

One of the universal ideas that is important to Romeo and Juliet is the power of love in Shakespeare’s play. The reader clearly sees through the action of the play that love can be comforting as well as destructive. Though Shakespeare’s characters’ relationships, he proves there are types of love that can be powerful in a positive and negative fashion. Shakespeare shows this through the love of friends, family, and romantic love. Friendships within the play are a strong example of the power of love. Benvolio and Romeo have a strong and positive friendship. Benvolio convinces Romeo to get over Rosaline. He says, “Take thou some new infection to thy eye/ and rank of old will die” (1.2.50-51). Benvolio tries to convince

Lady Montague has a strong love for her son Romeo. She cares about his safety. Her Juliet’s love for Romeo is so strong it causes a negative effect on the both their family's’ lives because of their death. Later Montague says, “My wife is dead tonight grief of my sons exile has stopped her breath” (5.3.214). The love she shows by dying of a broken heart shows a tremendous love for her son even though Romeo is not dead at the point of her death. She can not live without the love she receives from her son Romeo. The nurse and Juliet’s love for Tybalt shows a major negative effect on Juliet’s life. The Nurse is so distraught and does not realize Juliet is asking about Romeo, when she talks about the death of Tybalt: “O Tybalt, tybalt, the best friend I had.../ that I should see thee dead” (3.2.61-63). She is so overwhelmed over Tybalt she does not see Juliet’s feelings. Juliet loves Tybalt and Romeo equally she can not decide who to take the side of. Montague and Capulet have an unconditional love for their only children. They both care about who they love and marry. They honor Romeo and Juliet in a very special way: “For I will raise her a statue of pure gold.../ there shall no figure at such a rate be/ set as that of the true and faithful Juliet” (5.3.303-305). Even though Juliet was married behind his back her father sees the good of her by staying faithful to Romeo. Romeo’s father sees the

Rosaline has a negative effect on Romeo but then it turns around into a positive effect. Romeo is depressed without Rosaline. He says, “My griefs of mine lie heavy in my breast/ which thou wilt propagate to have presses with more of thine” (1.1.180-184) Romeo is trying to convince Benvolio that he is okay with what has been done but can not get past all of his sorrow. Romeo tries to forget Rosaline with the help of his friends. Romeo meets Juliet at the party because of the events with Rosaline, having a positive effect on the play. Romeo and Juliet’s relationship has both positive and negative effects on the play. Romeo for Juliet causes a negative effect on his life, Juliet’s life, and his whole family’s life. Romeo falls in love with Juliet once he first sees her at the Masquerade party: “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (1.5.50-51). While Romeo is trying to get over Rosaline he sees Juliet across the room. Romeo is deciding if he was truly in love with Rosaline because he has never felt the way he does with Juliet before. In the end, Romeo thinks Juliet is dead so he drinks poison to be with her as soon as he can in the afterlife. Juliet for Romeo and Romeo’s love for Juliet has negative effects on everyone around her. Juliet tricks her family into thinking she is dead so she can be a faithful wife to Romeo. Not knowing about how Friar Lawrence