Controlled Assessment of Love Relationships

Controlled Assessment

We see many themes presented in the literatures I will be writing about in this essay. However, the themes we see in 'Romeo and Juliet', 'The Sun Rising' and 'To His Coy Mistress' are mainly similar. The main themes in these three pieces of literature that are similar are the way women are treated by men, marriage and love. These three pieces of literature all explore love or falling in love. However, in all three of these literatures, there is something that obstructs either the couple's love to work out, or to expand. Overall, we see that women are treated by men as prized possessions, but this can change according to what kind of relationship the man has with the woman.

In 'Romeo and Juliet', Shakespeare presents the treatment of Juliet by different characters in the play very differently. Capulet, Juliet's father, does usually treat Juliet in a kind manner. He believes that his 'will to her consent is but a part', suggesting that he will respect Juliet's choice on whom she marries and will agree to that. However, when Capulet thought Juliet had agreed to marry Paris and then later changed her mind, he treats Juliet in a very violent and extreme way. He regards her as an animal at this point in the play and tells her to 'graze where you will, you shall not house with me'. The word 'graze' emphasises that Capulet is treating Juliet as an animal. We also see that his reputation is very important, almost more important than his daughter. He would rather have his daughter dead than have her unmarried to Paris, which emphasises the point that Juliet is seen as a possession and animal.

The Friar, on the other hand, seems to understand everything that Juliet is going through. We see this when he tells Juliet...

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... that time are 'rags'. This word suggests that time is constricting and is ageing everyone. This therefore shows us that both speakers, from both poems, want time to stop so they can both be able to live with their lovers and have a pleasurable life. Another similarity seen in both poems is that both speakers seem very proud of the love they feel for the women. In 'The Sun Rising' the speaker feels that the love he has for the woman is at the centre of everything and he has everything he ever needs, which is similar to the poem 'To His Coy Mistress'. In this poem, the speaker says he 'will make (the sun) run'. This quote suggests that their love, if experienced fully and make the most of it, can make something very powerful like the sun 'run'. These similarities could show that woman, as a possession, are very valuable and can make men seem very powerful and strong.