Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Essay Question: What representations of love are shown in the tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet?

Essay by ScooterbabyHigh School, 10th gradeA, March 2004

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Love plays an important role in William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. The play has been centered mainly around the burning love shown between Romeo and Juliet, however other representations of love are shown throughout the play as well. Some of the representations of love in the play are friendship, duty, support and passion which cause the audience to respond in different ways to each different portrayal of love. Throughout this essay I will be exploring the different representations of love and how the audience is positioned to respond to the different types shown throughout the play.

Romeo's love for Juliet in the play is recklessly strong. It is so strong that he was prepared to die for her. When we think of this we have to consider if he would have done the same thing for Rosaline, who didn't return his love of her, 'Out of her favour where I am in love', act 1 scene 1.

Romeo admits to the Friar that because Rosaline didn't return his love for her, he fell out of love with her quickly, so obviously his love for her was not genuine, 'Her I love now doth graces for graces and love for love allow. The other did not so', act 2, scene 4, so given all this, I feel that Romeo would not have died for Rosaline, even if she had returned his love Romeo would have still have met Juliet at the party and fallen in love with her, this would have complicated the feelings between Romeo, Juliet and Rosaline but in the end Romeo would have chosen Juliet, as when Mercutio is describing Rosaline he says that she is 'that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, torments him so that he will sure run mad', act 2, scene...