Love In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Love In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The legend of Romeo and Juliet had been popular for more than a

hundred years; by the time Shakespeare wrote his play. Shakespeare's

primary source for 'Romeo and Juliet' is a popular poem-'The tragicall

Historye of Romeus and Juliet', by Arthur Brooke (1562). Brooke's poem

is based on Luigi Da Porta's tale of Romeo and Giulietta. Da Porta was

the first to insist that the lovers were historical figures, which

still exists today. Shakespeare uses the moral of the original and

turns his young lovers into the victims of parental control. In

Shakespeare's version it is the adults who must accept responsibility

for their children. This is what time was like when Shakespeare was

writing. As was with women even though there was a Queen Elizabeth,

women were very much controlled they were told what to do and even

forced to marry whomever their father wished for them to marry. Romeo

and Juliet is a tragedy, there is a great amount of love and passion

in this play and the characters have very different perceptions of

love. Romeo and Juliet was first performed at Shakespeare's Globe

theatre in London around 1594. It has inspired music, opera, ballet,

literature, musical comedy and film.

During the play there are several types of love depicted in the play.

In the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet the audience meets Samson and

Gregory who both have very based views about love. The conversation

between these two characters, shows their love is vulgar and

unpleasant. Their views on love are a complete contrast to the views

of Romeo and Juliet's love, which is pure and special.

Samson says "Tis t...

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...nd hide me with a dead man in his shroud- Things that

to hear them told, have made me tremble-And I will do it without fear

or doubt, to live an unstained wife to my sweet love.' Her love for

Romeo has given her a desperate strength. She's scared but will do it

for Romeo.

Again, Juliet shows huge courage just before she takes the potion. She

has terrible fears, but goes through with the plan, for her love for

Romeo. Act 4 scene 3 Juliet drinks to him 'Romeo, I come! This do I

drink to thee.' Her love for Romeo allows her to kill herself because

she can't live without him.

Shakespeare provides us with several aspects of love from that of the

more basic love of Mercutio through to the courtly love of Paris and

Romeo's love for Rosaline to the special love of Romeo and Juliet,

which still enchants audiences today.