William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

548 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Romeo and juliet romeo character critical analysis

Character Essay Romeo

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, one of the main characters, Romeo, is described as a passionate yet immature person. Throughout the play Romeo is in search of love, which is why he is seen as passionate, but how he looks for love, it is seen as immature. In the beginning his need for Rosaline was very passionate but the fact his mind was changed so easily shows his immaturity. His love for Juliet was very passionate but the fact that he went for her so quickly shows his immaturity.

“Ay me! Sad hours seem long” (Pg 22). This is a quote of Romeo’s distress of being away from Rosaline. He is so passionate about his love for Rosaline that the thought of being away from her makes him unhappy. Throughout this scene Romeo talks of her beauty “she is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair, to merit bliss by making me despair” (Pg25). Romeo is saying that she is too wise and beautiful that she could not find happiness in making him despair. This quote shows that passion and supposed love he feels for Rosaline is so great that it makes him despair when she does not love him like he loves her.

Romeo’s immaturity is showed when he attends the Capulet ball and gets sight of Juliet. He meets Juliet and proclaims his love for her and describes her beauty in the same passion as he did Rosaline. This shows his immaturity because it shows he doesn’t truly know what love is yet he proclaims it to every woman he is attracted to. “did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Pg65). In this quote Romeo denies that he has every loved before this night when only a few hours earlier he convinced himself he was in love with Rosaline. This shows his true immaturity because he is in love with an idea in his mind of love. He does not feel what he says he only thinks he does.

Romeo’s passion is shown when he pronounces his love for Juliet. “O, she doth teaches the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a jewel in an Ethiop’s ear” (65). In this quote Romeo is saying her beauty surpasses the light of torches. Romeo shows his passion when he meets Juliet and automatically asks for a kiss before he knows her name or anything.

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

  • Romeo is His Own Worst Enemy in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    928 Words  | 2 Pages

    For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." Here, Romeo is asking himself, did he really love Rosaline?

    Read More

  • Language and Dramatic Devices in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rosaline feels the way Romeo does for her. He talks of her as wise. as well as a portrayer of beauty when he expresses the phrase, “She. hath Dian‘s wit“

    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

  • Immaturity in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo's inclination to fall in love easily was first shown in his love for Rosaline. It was illustrated perfectly when he first met Juliet. "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight. For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night". (Lines 50-51, Scene 5, Act 1) He say this but he seemed to have forgotten Rosaline like old news, even though he speaks of Juliet as he spoke of Rosaline only a few short hours before.  "One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sun ne'er saw her match, since first the world begun" (Lines 94-95, Scene 2, Act 1). Romeo immaturity was further shown by the way he handled Tybalt's slaying of Mercutio.

    Read More

  • Examining the Characters and their Weaknesses in Romeo and Juliet

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    Juliet’s weakness to be controlled by love leads her to make unadvised and irresponsible decisions that contribute to her choice of ending her life. Characterized as a young and rash teenager, with no interest in love and marriage at first, Juliet wants to be independent. However, after she first lays eyes on Romeo, Juliet’s perception of love is quick to change. Their strong love easily manipulates and clouds her judgment. Even if she is cautious and realizes their love is too fast, the rush of feelings from having a first love overcomes her. Her soft-spoken words symbolically foreshadow the journey of Romeo and Juliet’s love. “Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, / I have no joy of this contract tonight. / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;…/ This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, / May prove to be a beauteous flower when next we meet” (2.2. 117-123). The blooming flower is indicative of their growing love, especially Juliet. Being her first experience of true love, her actions become more rash the deeper she falls in, even ...

    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

  • Grief In Romeo And Juliet Essay

    953 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo has a very extreme look towards love. To him love is almost exclusively about what is on the outside; not what they act like. His love is pithy; he was

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Risks Analysis

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    After being rejected by Rosaline, a member of the Capulet family, Romeo rests his gaze on Juliet, her cousin. His methods to win Juliet’s heart consisted of sneaking into the Capulet’s party, however he receives a vision that “some consequence [was] yet hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin [with] this fearful date” (I,v). The consequence was slowly becoming more realistic from that day, the day that the two ‘star-crossed’ lovers met. Romeo made the decision of attending the event despite his predicted vision of demise, risking his own safety for the sake of being in love. From that specific day, Romeo had been a changed man. His mindset had been corrupted to the point at which he could not see clearly, being blinded by love. This ultimately resulted in Romeo to make additional poor decisions in the future. The love that he felt for Juliet was so immense that he questioned any prior ‘love’ he felt, "did [his] heart love till now (meeting Juliet)? Forswear it sight, for [he] ne 'er saw true beauty till this night". Romeo’s perception of ‘true love’ differs from the accustomed apprehension. He is a petrarchan lover, essentially meaning that he is in love with the idea of being in

    Read More

  • The Consequence of Love in Shakespeare's Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet choose their own actions through their judgments, which were caused by their belief of everlasting love. Due to their unsound and absurd attitudes, both characters are dazed by love in a puerile manner. The relationship they created was actually built on lust and desperation. Firstly, Romeo is the first character whom shows immature love in the story as a whole. Once Capulet’s party is over, Romeo’s attitude leads him to jump over the wall to Juliet’s house and exclaim to her,” And what love can do, that dares love attempt./Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me”(2.2.68-9). The effect of love caused Romeo to not pay attention to the consequences of jumping over the wall and talking to the daughter of his enemy. The flaw is that he is beginning to think that his love is as hard as nails. It is illogical for Romeo to think this...

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Conflict Essay

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    He asks his cousin, Benvolio, for his advice and remorse. Therefore, when Romeo is with Benvolio in the first scene, he is in a deep agony from Rosaline’s love. He describes her love as “a choking gall” (1.1.185) that he can’t resist and brings a deep sadness in his heart. Showing the audience that he is in love with Rosaline, but she does not love him back and that is why he is sorrow. Also, Shakespeare is using an oxymoron to empathize how sweet, wonderful, and magnificent love is; however it’s showing how depressing, sorrow, and the agony that comes from it. Secondly, Rosaline doesn’t want to be loved and that emphasizes Romeo’s situation. Romeo tells Benvolio that she is “not [to] be hit with cupid 's bow [or]…hath Dian’s wit” (1.1.200) meaning that she refuses to be hit by Cupid’s love arrows and has Diana 's virginity. Making Romeo upset because he loves Rosaline, but she does not want to be love by Romeo. Also, to exaggerate her virginity and deflection of love, Shakespeare uses Greek mythology as metaphors that can empathizes his words’ meanings. In conclusion, Romeo’s depression comes from Rosaline’s virginity and not wanting to love

    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

  • Impulsiveness in Shakespeare’s Tragedy "Romeo and Juliet"

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo’s numerous rash decisions demonstrates his great impulsiveness. Romeo at first grieves over his unreciprocated love for Rosaline, but after he sees Juliet; he forgets about Rosaline entirely. His hastiness leads him to make decisions that are not intelligent or to his benefit. Shortly after meeting Juliet, he asks her to “exchange [her] faithful vow” for his ( 2.2.132). Romeo’s recklessness is evident that he does not think before he makes important decisions; prompting him to propose to Juliet just hours after their first meeting. Yet the morning before, Romeo was suffering from depression because he could never have his Rosaline. After what seems like a lifetime of loving Rosaline and promising to never love anyone but her, Romeo sees Juliet and instantaneously all his thoughts of Rosaline vanish. Romeo becomes infatuated with Juliet, with whom he exchanges less then fifty words before “falling in love.” The next morning he begs Friar L...

    Read More

More about William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Open Document