Shakespeare’s presentation of love before the wedding of Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

not at this fray." An alternate interpretation of this is that she is annoyed and wants to know where he is. In contrast to the fierce blind devotion to house shown by the participants in the fight, this maternal love is more caring and instinctive. The exclamation "O" could be interpreted in several ways; it could be seen as exasperation, woefulness, or just that she has only just realised Romeo isn't there. However, in my opinion the "O" is an expression of concern for her son.

Benvolio appears to be concerned about Romeo and is more pro-active in finding out what's wrong with him. "Benvolio: Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad; Where,--underneath the grove of sycamore That westward rooteth from the city's side,-- So early walking did I see your son:"This suggests that Benvolio is very concerned about Romeo and is even willing to get up early to go and find him. Shakespeare presents this type of love as noble because whereas family love has led to a feud that has divided the community, and Romeo's erotic love for Rosaline has made him woeful to the benefit of no one, Benvolio's brotherly love for Romeo has led to people trying to help Romeo. The word sycamore, makes the reader think of sick amour (amore being the French word for love) which is very apt considering Romeo's love sickness.

Romeo also appears to be more comfortable around Benvolio than his parents. "Benvolio: Good morrow, cousin. Romeo: Is the day so young? Benvolio: But new struck nine. Romeo: Ay me! sad hours

seem long.

Was that my father that went hence so fast? Benvolio: It was.--What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours? Romeo: Not having that which, having, makes them short." Their use of rhyming couplets shows that they share a close bond with each other. Romeo appears to be literally driven to distraction, not aware of the time and so obsessed with Rosaline that he doesn't care about anything else.

Nurse appears to have a deep love for Juliet."Nurse: Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she ..

. well, Susan is with God; She was too good for me: ... I remember it well.

'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years; ...For then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood She could have run and addled all about; For even the day before, she broke her brow: And then my husband,--God be with his soul! 'A was a merry man,--took up the child: 'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit; Wilt thou not, Jule?' and, by my holidame..

. I warrant, an I should live a thousand years, I never should forget it;"From this it appears that after her daughter and husband died Nurse shifted the attention she used to give to her family onto Juliet we can see this because she remembers some of Juliet's first steps and says she shall not forget it for "a thousand years". From this passage we can also see that Juliet is only fourteen whereas previously we are told that Romeo is in his late teens so is considerably older than Juliet, this difference in age makes the

reader consider that Romeo may be taking advantage of Juliet.In Act 1 Scene 4 Mercutio describes love as acting out of character, "Mercutio - O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.

... And in this state she gallops night by night Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love; .

.. True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy; Which is as thin of substance as the air, And more inconstant than the wind, who wooes Even now the frozen bosom of the north, And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence, Turning his face to the dew-dropping south." In this passage Mercutio uses Queen Mab as a metaphor for unusual deeds.

It also shows an uncommonly presented view of love at first sight, describing it as acting out of character and parallels it to priests wishing for more money. Instead of a joyful thing Mercutio believes that love is where two people hide their true personality. This shows the reader a slightly pessimistic side to Mercutio's character.The meeting of Romeo and Juliet at the party is a classic example of stereotypical love at first sight. "Romeo: O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do: They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

Juliet: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. Romeo: Then move not while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg'd." In contrast to 'true love, it could be said that their love at first sight is not real love because the two know nothing about each

other. The ecclesiastical analogy used by Romeo reflects the importance of religion at the time the play was written; in fact religion was so important that people were still burned for believing in the wrong part of Christianity. Representing religion as pure and comparing it to love would have made Shakespeare popular with the church leaders of the time.

The famous balcony scene, perhaps one of the most well known scenes in theatre, is an example of people's judgement being clouded by emotions. "Juliet: If that thy bent of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow," Juliet has only known Romeo for a few hours and knows nothing more about him than that he is the son of her families greatest enemy, yet already she wants to be married.In Act 2 Scene 3 Romeo goes to see Friar Lawrence, "Friar Lawrence - what a change is here! Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? young men's love, then, lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. ...

The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears, Thy old groans ring yet in mine ancient ears; Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet: If e'er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine, Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline; And art thou chang'd? Pronounce this sentence then,-- Women may fall, when there's no strength in men."In this passage he warns Romeo about moving on so quickly and discarding Rosaline who just a day ago he was so obsessed with. He also asks Romeo which of

his personalities was the true Romeo, was it the one that loved Rosaline or the one that loves Juliet. Friar Lawrence's statement that, "Women may fall, when there's no strength in men." Is a warning to Romeo that if he is so fickle the women he loves could be hurt.

In this the friar displays a kind of concern often shown by close friends. Alternatively it could be seen that Friar Lawrence is angry with Romeo for being so inconsistent and wasting his time with his love troubles.However Friar Lawrence does see an advantage in Romeo and Juliet's marriage so agrees to marry them. "Friar Lawrence - In one respect I'll thy assistant be: For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households' rancour to pure love." This is an example of someone choosing the lesser of two evils.

The friar must have been aware that it is quite possible that this hasty marriage could ruin both Romeo and Juliet's lives; however he sees that an "alliance" or marriage between the two households of Capulet and Montague might end the feud that has divided Verona for years.Following this Nurse comes to see Romeo and shows concern for Juliet. "Nurse - but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing." This shows that Nurse is aware of the vulnerability of her charge and shows

an almost motherly concern for her.In conclusion it appears that the subject of Love is a major component of the first two scenes.

Multiple facets of love are presented by Shakespeare, but the most prevalent is obviously Romeo and Juliet's romantic love at first sight. Personally I believe that Shakespeare believed this kind of love to be careless and unwise. In contrast family love is blamed for a bloody feud that has torn a whole city apart. Overall love is seen by Shakespeare as being able to cause terrible suffering. However he also shows that it can cause great joy, this is shown by the wedding of Romeo and Juliet which concludes act two.