Romeo and Juliet

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The theme of love is highlighted effectively in Romeo and Juliet. At the play's beginning, Romeo describes his infatuation for Rosaline. His feelings are not returned and this means that he feels desolate: he shuts himself away from his friends and family. Shakespeare allows his audience to see that unrequited love can be painful. However when Romeo meets Juliet, all thoughts of Rosaline disappear. Romeo and Juliet's attraction for each other is immediate. The love they feel is passionate and based on a genuine understanding of each other's feelings. Romeo declares, "Did my heart love till no?" (Act 1, Scene 5) and Juliet realizes their love is special. Shakespeare encourages his audience to consider the qualities people need to fall in love and to remain in love.

Shakespeare shows that unrequited love can make people feel sad and unhappy. Romeo falls in love with Rosaline and Paris falls in love with Juliet. Romeo sees Rosaline as the earth and sky, calling her fair, wise, and as well as beautiful. Rosaline does not return the love he has for her, and is therefore forced to grieve over her. In the first act Romeo is talking of his love for Rosaline with Benvolio. Romeo uses oxymorons such as "Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!" (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 101) this shows how he is confused by his relationship with Rosaline as she does not return his love. Romeo continues to speak about the pain of love as he says he has been "Shut up in prison, kept without my food, / Whipped and tormented..." (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 31, 32). Mercutio says Romeo’s love for her is based on a weak foundation, much like how dreams do not hold strong ground.

When Romeo first sees Juliet, Shakespeare explores the idea of love at first s...

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... Juliet is anxious for them to get married and as it will be "tis' twenty years till then." (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 128). Mercutio never stops teasing Romeo about his unrequited love for Rosaline, even after Romeo has lost all interest in her.

Shakespeare uses a variety of love In Romeo and Juliet to show the difference between them, sexual love, romantic love, true love, mother-daughter love, unrequited love and love at first sight. Romeo and Juliet being romantic love, true love, sexual love and love at first site, the mother-daughter love between the Nurse and Juliet, and the unrequited love between Romeo and Rosaline. There is also sexual love, romantic love, true love, spiritual love, unrequited love and love at first sight. In Romeo and Juliet their love was very visual. Romeo never would have fallen in love with Juliet at the start if it wasn't for her looks.

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