"Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare is a play that sends out many messages about the love between Romeo and Juliet. Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, have families that have a long history of rivalry and loathsome. As "star-crossed lovers", their fate puts them in many difficult situations making it hard for them to be together. Because of this, Romeo and Juliet make many detrimental decisions that affects them negatively. Through the strenuous process of only one goal of getting together, Romeo has made many rash decisions for Juliet. Superficially, the choices that Romeo chooses, shows the impetuous behavior he sets for the audience. However, those decisions also reveal his true affection for Juliet. Talking to himself, Juliet, and other people, Romeo demonstrates his feelings and thoughts about Juliet, taking the audience into a journey of figuring out how Romeo truly feels for her. Overall, although Romeo makes many rash decisions, throughout the course of the play, Romeo's dialogues and actions discloses his endearment for Juliet in every way.
One of the ways that Romeo conveyed his love for Juliet was by talking about
her with other people. Not only does this show how much he thinks about her
when he is not even with her, but it also shows how much he loves her. During
his conversation with the priest, Friar Lawrence, he said, "With Rosaline,
my ghostly Father? No. I have forgot that name and that name’s woe,"
(2.3.48-49) which divulges the truth about him and Rosaline: he no longer had
feelings for her because of Juliet. Even though the line demonstrates his
youthful and rash behavior, it shows more than that. Forgetting about Rosaline
very easily, falling in love with Juliet in just a day, and coming to the
priest to get them married the next day, all demonstrates his rash decisions.
However, the line mostly shows how "love in first sight" is not just
a saying; it can happen. By falling in love with Juliet right after he saw her,
he is showing how there are many possibilities that people think that are
impossible. Romeo was overtaken by Juliet's love and Juliet made him forget
about Rosaline, which gives away the fact that she made his miseries vanish.
This makes it quite obvious for the audience that Romeo is truly in love with
Juliet, which is why he made the decision of marrying her. Moreover, during the
same conversation with Friar Lawrence, Romeo said, “Then plainly know my
heart’s dear love is set on the fair daughter of rich Capulet,” (2.3.61-62)
which reveals many reasons for how much Romeo loves Juliet. By saying “heart’s
dear love”, Romeo is convincing the priest that he loves Juliet from his heart
and not from his eyes. His use of language represents his deep feelings and
thoughts he had started to feel after falling in love. Also, when he
said, “fair daughter of rich Capulet,” it showcases his love for Juliet despite
being in his family’s worst rivalry. He doesn’t care that Juliet is the biggest
enemy of his family, because all that matters to him is how much affection he
has for her. This can also be seen as rash behavior because of his impulsive decision
of risking it. On the other hand, being “in love with love” only shows how much
Romeo thinks of love. Love is something very special to him and loving Juliet
makes her special for him. As can be seen, although his rash behavior coveys
Romeo as an impulsive person, his decisions only really shows how far he can go
for his love, Juliet.
Additionally,
Romeo expresses most of his feelings by stating the things he would do for
Juliet no matter what the cost is; many of which are reckless. Romeo is quick
at making choices and doesn’t think through the consequences he might end up in
because of his decisions. This demonstrates Romeo’s change of behavior from
only a young and thoughtful young man to a person who is able to take risks for
their loved ones. Romeo acts differently around Juliet or whenever he does
something for her, which shows how he feels very differently for her than he
does for anyone else. For instance, Romeo said, Then love- devouring death
do what he dare, it is enough I may call her mine,” (2.6.7-8) which basically
means that Romeo would die for Juliet if he had to. The fact that he is so
willing to die for their love shows how irrational he can be around Juliet and
how his love for Juliet can make him do anything. Also, when Romeo snuck
outside of Juliet’s balcony, he told her that he wanted to marry her because he
loves her. He didn’t want to marry her for anything else, which shows that he
actually loves her. Men these days marry people for the wrong reasons, however Romeo
proves that wrong by showing that some people are actually good. By clearly telling
Juliet why he wanted to marry her, he is demonstrating the trust and love he
has for her.
Toward the end
of the play, Romeo and Juliet make choices that depend on their lives. They end
up dying for each other which was what their destiny held for them. Although
they died, their last thoughts were of each other and how they were doing this
also because of each other. As Romeo had said, “Unfold the imagined happiness that
both receive in either by this dear encounter,” (2.6.28-29) clearly revealing
that he hadn’t only cared about his happiness but he also cared about Juliet’s
happiness. This line tells the audience that marriage would truly bring two
lovers at last. No one is too young to fall in love and to understand what love
is. Obviously, Romeo did a lot for Juliet and quickly decided to marry her
after confirming that he loved her. Marriage is a lot more than caring, and
Romeo shows this by constantly making impulsive decisions for Juliet.
All in all,
Romeo uncovers his youthful, rash behavior for his only true love, Juliet. From
the beginning to the end of the play, he acts out his emotions and says things
that show a lot of meaning and power. Although as a young man, Romeo never
cared about what people thought of him loving his family’s enemy or even what
the consequences would be to all of his decisions. His love for Juliet nearly
made him crazy and to show it all, he got very impulsive. All of his actions relate
to how teenagers today deal with love. It is not an easy feeling until someone
actually has fallen for someone. To sum up, Shakespeare subtly threw in many
useful lessons through Romeo. Using his delicate language and structure, Shakespeare
is showing the audience that you don’t know love until you have made countless
and reckless decisions for that person.
