Romeo Falls in Love Essay Example

Benvolio the difficulties he is facing and wonders why the day feels so long when he can't find peace in sleep.

He says, while contemplating, that the hours feel incredibly drawn out.

"Ay me, sad hours seem so long."

Romeo expresses that he feels like he is losing his sanity and not acting like himself.

"This is not Romeo, he is elsewhere."

Romeo converses with Benvolio about the hardships of love and the agony of a broken heart.

Romeo is greatly troubled by the situation, lamenting the transgression of love. He also expresses his anguish, stating that the love shown to him only adds to his existing grief. Romeo employs oxymorons, such as "loving hate," "feather of lead," "bright smoke," "cold fire," and "sick health," to convey his confusion. Furthermore, he refers to himself as a madman because the girl he loves does not reciprocate his feelings. Benvolio attempts to advise Romeo to move on from Rosaline, reminding him that he has plenty of options among the girls in Verona. However, Romeo insists that he would still choose Rosaline over any other girl in the entire world.

Upon discovering that Rosaline would be attending the ball, Benvolio advises Romeo to go and admire the other beautiful women in Verona. However, Romeo's sole motivation for attending is the opportunity to be near Rosaline. Despite Benvolio's attempts to persuade him otherwise, Romeo believes that Rosaline will be the most stunning woman at the event. He even goes as far as to claim that she is the most beautiful girl in history, saying "Ne'er saw her match since first world begun." In fact, he claims that she is even more beautiful than anyone the sun

has ever seen, stating "One fairer than my love? The all seeing sun." Romeo expresses his contentment with being in the same room as Rosaline, saying "But to rejoice in spendour of mine own."
On his way to the ball, however, Romeo starts reconsidering his decision. He tells Benvolio and Mercutio that he will be a torch-bearer, indicating a change of heart by saying "Give me a torch; I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy, I will bear the light." Mercutio responds by suggesting that Romeo should be dancing and socializing instead of carrying a torch.

"Nay gentle Romeo, we must have you dance"

Earlier in the text, Romeo expresses his reason for attending the ball solely to admire his love, Rosaline. He utilizes metaphors to convey his emotions. The first metaphor he uses involves describing his heavy-heartedness, stating, "I have a soul of lead, so stakes me to the ground I cannot move." This illustrates his profound sadness and feeling of being immobile. The second quote expands on his emotions, questioning if love is indeed gentle or if it is too harsh, rough, and painful like a thorn: "is love a tender thing? It is too rough, to rude, to boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn."

Romeo not only experiences emotional pain but also physical distress as he describes the pricking sensation. He realizes that his concept of love is conflicting with reality, where he now feels rough and opposite of what he believed love to be. Romeo has a foreboding feeling that attending the ball will lead to unfortunate consequences. He expresses his fear that something bad will occur, declaring: "I

fear, too early, for my mind misgives, some consequence, yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's reveals and expire the term of a despised life closed in my breast, by some vile forfit of untimely death."

In this lengthy quote, Romeo reveals his anticipation of impending doom and his unwillingness to face more sorrow in his life. He believes that all his problems are tightly contained within his heart and any additional difficulties will overload it, resulting in his untimely demise.

On the way to the ball, Romeo is still feeling miserable and depressed. He plans to only be a torch-bearer near the walls, so he can avoid gazing at Rosaline and getting involved in the dancing. However, everything changes when he sees Juliet. Upon laying eyes on her from across the room, all thoughts of Rosaline fade away and Juliet takes over his mind. Romeo is captivated by Juliet's beauty and thinks she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He approaches a serving man to inquire about her identity. Romeo gives a passionate speech, using vivid descriptions to convey Juliet's beauty.

He compares her to "a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear," suggesting that Juliet is like a beautiful white diamond that stands out against a black man's ear. Another comparison he uses is "a snowy dove trooping with crows," emphasizing Juliet's attractiveness compared to others who appear plain and unattractive.

Tyblat hears Romeo's speech and approaches Lord Capulet to inform him that the son of his enemy is present at the ball, the Montagues. Tyblat reveals to Lord Capulet that Romeo is professing his love for his

beloved daughter, Juliet. However, Lord Capulet instructs Tyblat to simply tolerate Romeo's presence and refrain from causing a scene, as he does not desire any disturbances at his ball.

Romeo perceives Juliet as being superior to him and feels unworthy of her. This lack of confidence stems from his previous experience with Rosaline and his fear of rejection. The first statement Romeo makes is, "Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright." This indicates that Juliet's extraordinary beauty illuminates the room, and he regrets not noticing her before Rosaline. To further express his unworthiness, he quotes, "And touching hers make blessed my rude hand." In this line, he acknowledges that while Juliet's hand is sacred, his own is crude and unworthy. Consequently, he believes that he was never truly in love with Rosaline, and he compares her to Juliet. He affirms, "For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
Upon meeting Juliet, Romeo employs abundant religious language to describe his love for her, creating a romantic atmosphere. He declares Juliet to be a holy shrine that he desires to worship. However, he views himself as insufficient for her. Juliet contradicts this belief by stating that he is a good pilgrim who criticizes himself excessively. By referring to himself as a pilgrim, Romeo implies that he has not yet visited the sacred shrine of Juliet but desires to do so in order to worship her. In line 100, he asks, "Have not saint's lips and holy palmers too?" This inquiry suggests that just like saints and palmers, who desire to utilize their lips for a purpose, Romeo also possesses the longing to express his affection.

Juliet appears

to want to kiss Romeo but is hesitating. Romeo tells her, "Oh, then let our lips perform the same actions as our hands."

Romeo desires to join his lips with Juliet's, comparing it to the act of praying when people put their hands together. However, Juliet responds saying that saints do not move even when prayers are granted. Romeo insists that she should not move while he kisses her, believing that his kiss will have a powerful effect. He proceeds to kiss her, feeling that his lips are now blessed and he can honor her. This mutual affection brings confidence to Romeo and he no longer considers himself unworthy of Juliet. Thus, their love becomes requited.

Romeo displays profound sadness upon discovering that his beloved is a member of his family's arch-nemesis. He fears his parents will forbid his marriage to Juliet, as she belongs to the very family they despise. This revelation causes Romeo significant distress and turmoil.

Throughout the play, Romeo remains relatively unchanged but undergoes significant transformations in certain moments. One such moment occurs when he first sees Juliet, while his lowest point is reached upon the discovery of Juliet's Capulet identity.