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Discuss Romantic Love in Romeo and Juliet

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Discuss romantic love in Romeo and Juliet
Romantic love is a recurring theme throughout the play. Shakespeare introduces Romeo at the beginning of the play when he is depressed about love. “Out of her favour, where I am in love” He’s been rejected by Rosaline despite his efforts to court her. However, this is not seen as romantic love, but just infatuation. Romeo is portrayed as innocent towards love and has not yet experience so-called “true love”. The idea of romantic love is shown all the play. Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature. This idea is established in the play’s prologue “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.”

When Romeo meets Juliet at the Capulet’s party, Romeo’s feelings towards Rosaline are completely forgotten. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” this shows how awestruck Romeo is with not only with the possibility of love but also with Juliet’s beauty. Romeo and Juliet's love can be seen as fate. Romeo and Juliet’s love is not prevented by the Capulet and Montague households, and Juliet is to marry Paris. Yet, they find themselves drawn together.

Juliet’s attitude to love is rather different to Romeo’. In the beginning, she appears to be very mature towards the feelings of love when discussing the prospects of marrying Paris. “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move” Paris’ love for Juliet is borne out of tradition, not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage. Although this was the tradition at the time, it also says something about Paris’ staid attitude towards love.
Many of the friendships in the play are as sincere as Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another. The close relationships between Juliet and her Nurse and between Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are meaningful and heartfelt. They care

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