Rosaline In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

376 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Romeo and juliet romeo character critical analysis

In Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is love-struck with Juliet and Rosaline. However, Romeo defines his love for Juliet and Rosaline solely on their physical appearance, thus defining his sentiments towards them as lust, rather than love. Romeo is left forlorn after the woman he dotes on, Rosaline, swears chastity; dismissing the relationship that Romeo desires to have with her. When expressing his woes to Benvolio, Romeo continuously references Rosaline’s appearance, stating that “she is rich in beauty, only poor that, when she dies, with beauty dies her store” (I.i.223-224). The concern Romeo has about Rosaline's rejection is that he will have to watch her beauty fade, in addition to the chance to have the sexual relationship …show more content…

In an attempt to forget Rosaline, lovesick Romeo attends the Capulet’s party with Mercutio, and is instantaneously struck in the heart with Eros’s arrow when he sets his gaze upon Juliet, raising the question “[d]id [his] heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For [he] ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (I.v.54-55). Juliet’s beauty is so captivating to Romeo that he is willing to let go of the angst from Rosaline’s rejection entirely, and inquire himself if he saw true allure before his encounter with Juliet. Romeo’s perception of love is presented as his attraction to someone’s physical appearance, opposed to what love truly is, a deep emotional bond. For example, the initial reaction Romeo has to Juliet’s beauty reflects how he defines love, as when he sees Juliet, someone who objectively appears more beautiful to him than Rosaline, he completely omits his previous lust for Rosaline and in turn lusts over Juliet. Romeo’s obsession with Juliet’s beauty expresses that what Romeo calls love in actuality is defined as

Show More
Related

  • Obsession and Infatuation in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    552 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love tales, but what if the play is not actually a tale of love, but of total obsession and infatuation. Romeo has an immature concept of love and is rather obsessive. Romeo is not the only person in the play who is obsessed though. Many people throughout the play notice his immaturities about love. Very rarely was true love actually shown in the play. attention. Romeo childishly cries to his friend, Benvolio because Rosaline will not love him back and says " She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow/ Do I live dead that live to tell it now" (I i 219-220). Romeo is stating that he's ready to die for loving Rosaline. This is exactly the same attitude Romeo had towards Juliet a little later in the play. During Scene I, Act ii, Romeo's friend, Benvolio tries to get him to go to the Capulet's party to help him get over Rosaline and meet other women Romeo gets very angry and emotional when he suggests this. “Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, / Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” (II 5-6). The chorus expresses Romeo’s juvenile way...

    Read More

  • Essay On The Ancient Feud Between Romeo And Juliet

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    This slide shows Romeo and Juliet at the Capulet’s banquet or gathering. Romeo wears a mask to prevent being seen, for Montagues were not allowed, or even invited to this gathering. Romeo went to this gathering only for the sole purpose of meeting Rosaline again, which was Romeo’s first crush. But halfway through this “party”, Romeo saw Juliet, in which he stated he never saw true beauty until this night. He compares her to many things, such as a bright torch, a rich jewel, beauty too rich for earth, and a snowy dove among crows. This is truly true love at first sight, not founded on lust, for he shows true loyalty to Juliet later in the play.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Fate Quotes

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Romeo first set his eyes on Juliet he had forgotten all about Rosaline and had fallen in love with her. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” (Shakespeare 66). At a Capulet party Romeo spots Juliet when he decides to go to her and grab her hand and ask her for a kiss. This demonstrates how he only had to lay his eyes on her for him to fall in love with her it is a sign of fate and destiny. After Romeo and Juliet have experienced their first kisses they suddenly saw a future with each other. Later on, Romeo sneaks over the wall that entered into the Capulet’s house and hears Juliet speaking about how she loves him. “O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet” (Shakespeare 80). 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy: Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Dynamic Character Essay

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    Through his motivation to find love, Romeo, a dynamic character, changes from a subdued individual, into a jovial lovesick character. In the early sections of the play, Romeo is in love with a woman named Rosaline who does not reciprocate those feelings. This leads him to drone on about, “sad hours “ (I.i.146) and how he would, “rather weep” (I.i.167) because he is, “out of her favour” (I.i.154). The importance of Romeo’s affection for each of his women is essential to address. The feelings that Romeo possesses inevitably leads him to become sorrowful over rejection but then, optimistic for Juliet. Later on in the play, once Romeo meets Juliet, he is quick to forget the love that he had for Rosaline and the grieving that he had underwent. After meeting her at Capulet’s ball Romeo states that she is, “my

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Impulsiveness Essay

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play Romeo states being in love with Rosaline and quickly forgets her once seeing Juliet. Romeo first laid eyes on Juliet at the Capulet's Ball where there it was love at first sight and forgetting about his once love Rosaline. Romeo then feels that hes fell in love over again and states “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,Who is already sick and pale with grief,That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious;Her vestal livery is but sick and green And...

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet Essay

    814 Words  | 2 Pages

    Physical love is portrayed throughout the book as the normal love that everyone needs. For example, on Act 1, Scene 3, lines 65-67 Lady Capulet states "Marry, that “marry” is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your disposition to be married?" Even though marriage is supposed to signify emotional connection between two people but in this case, it is a way for families to carry children in their bloodline, which implies physical love. In addition, another example of physical love is in Act 1, Scene 1, lines 199-203 Romeo says about Rosaline. "Well, in that hit you miss. She’ll not be hit With Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit. And, in strong proof of chastity well armed from love’s weak childish bow, she lives uncharmed." This quote means that Rosaline has sworn herself to be a virgin for eternity, and Romeo is not happy about that because that is what he was looking for from her. He also claims that he loves her, but in reality he just physically loves her. Finally, a lot of bawdy humour is written throughout the book. For example, in Act 1, Scene 1, lines 18-24 a conversation Sampson and Gregory is heard "'Sampson: Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant. When I have fought with the men, I will be civil with the maids. I will cut off their ...

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Haste Quotes

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s impulsiveness contributes to the tragedy of the play. There is no doubt that Romeo rushes into love throughout the play. One example of this is when he falls in love with Rosaline. Although Rosaline is not a major role in the play, it shows the sorrow and uncertainty Romeo goes through after not being loved back. Marilyn Williamson said “During the time in which he was infatuated with Rosaline, he was … withdrawn into darkness” (6). The fact that Rosaline never shares the same feelings with Romeo, shows how quickly Romeo is to fall in love. “Out of her favor, where I am in love” (Rom. 1.1.158). Ironically, Romeo falls in love with Juliet during his plan to get closer to Rosaline. He is at a Capulet party when he first sees Juliet and

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Reckless Quotes

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    The lover’s immediate connection is established at the Capulet feast, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” Through doing this, it shows that Romeo is reckless and continues even though he recognizes that they come from different families, “o dear, my life is my foe’s debt”. Throughout the play, it establishes that Juliet allows herself to behave impulsively and be persuaded by Romeo into a impetuous and thoughtless marriage, “The exchange of thy love’s faithful vowel for mine” Juliet expresses her concern that it is too soon to promise to love Romeo when they have only just met, “It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden / Too like the lightning” This simile is used to convey Juliet’s thought on their sudden love. Although Juliet has recognized how spontaneous they are acting, it does not prevent her from continuing her relationship with Romeo, proving that Juliet is just as impulsive as Romeo. Thus, Shakespeare has skillfully utilized the lovers to demonstrate that their own reckless actions is a reason for their untimely

    Read More

  • Obsession in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo has an obsessive personality. The morning before he meets Juliet, he is obsessing on Rosaline. To see Rosaline, Romeo snuck into a Capulet’s party; once there, he meets Juliet and instantly he forgets his obsession of Rosaline, thinking Juliet is the most beautiful creature on earth. Friar Lawrence even acknowledges this when he states, “Young men’s love then lies / Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes” (II iii 67-68). Romeo’s affection is easily swayed from Rosaline to Juliet.

    Read More

  • Romeo is More to Blame in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Furthermore, Romeo starts the whole tragedy. True, Juliet acts nave, nonetheless Romeo acts hastily by encouraging the relationship. Prior to Romeo and Juliet’s encounter, Romeo is in an infatuation with Rosaline. In Act 1.1, Romeo depicts Rosaline's beauty and says, "She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair." Romeo’s love for Rosaline is only deep and faces heartbreak when she chooses to be celibate.

    Read More

  • Romeo Montague of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare uses Romeo’s internal feelings as a method to draw a full character and prove his impulsive and emotional outlook. Generally, Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting plays a huge part of determining Romeo’s true demeanor. At Capulet’s party, Romeo encounters Juliet for the first time. Love at first sight definitely takes place in this scene; upon seeing Juliet, Romeo denies ever previously experiencing love. He changes his feelings for Rosaline, his old love, in an instant as he gazes at Juliet and says to himself, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight,/ For I ne’er saw true beauty til...

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Infatuation Essay

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    Romeo attends the Capulet’s feast as a part of a masquerade. When his eyes suddenly catch a glimpse of Juliet, he exclaims, “o she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/ As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear” (Shakespeare 1.5.43-45). When Romeo compares Juliet to a torch, he makes a metaphor, suggesting that her beauty and radiance resemble the light of a torch. He continues to refer to Juliet’s beauty when he compares her to a sparkling jewel that catches the eye of the night sky (the “Ethiop” being a person of dark skin). Romeo correlates Juliet to a torch and a jewel, but never once mentions anything about her personality, even when he has his first interaction with her at the feast. Romeo simply feels desire towards Juliet and seems to over exaggerate his feelings for her. He relentlessly speaks about how beautiful she is when he questions, “did my heart love till now? forswear it sight!/ For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Shakespeare 1.5.51-52). It is evident that Romeo cannot focus on anything else but Juliet’s looks, which is a sign of physical attraction rather than love at first sight. Romeo proclaims to “love” Juliet the minute he lays eyes on her. However, if he falls in love with just the sight of Juliet, there is no other reason he can claim to be in “love”

    Read More

  • Romeo's Impetuousness

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Romeo meets Juliet, he claimed to be immediately in love. Although he has been sulking over Rosaline, when he met Juliet, he states, “Did my heart love till now? forswear it sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Act 1.5 Lines 51-52). The entire time as he envisions love with Rosaline, it was all incoherent. Romeo’s impulsive attitude causes him to fall head over heels with Juliet, which begins the drama in this play.

    Read More

  • Love And Infatuation In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even before Juliet is introduced, Romeo considers himself to be in love with Rosaline. Although he says that it is true love, stating “.. Doth add more grief to too much of mine own. Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes.” (Shakespeare, I.1.23), it is clear that his obsession with Rosaline is purely surface-level.

    Read More

  • Why Is Sight Important In Romeo And Juliet

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    Here it can be seen that Romeo’s attraction to Juliet is purely based off sight, as he only describes her physical attributes. This lustful attraction towards Juliet is based on the fact that she stands out among and outshines the other partygoers for being more beautiful. Romeo directly makes the connection between sight and love when he states, “Did

    Read More

More about Rosaline In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Open Document